E&O Coverage for Government Engineers?
E&O Coverage for Government Engineers?
(OP)
Hello all,
I am a somewhat freshly licensed PE working for a State DOT. I'm about to be moved into the PE-1 pay grade, so it will be a part of my job description to sign and seal drawings and specs for our construction projects. The question that shows up in my mind is if I need any sort of professional liability or E&O insurance. Arguably the state does not have any such insurance, and is simply covered by a governmental immunity law, but should I as an individual engineer have my own coverage? It doesn't seem inexpensive, so it's not straightforward if it's worth it.
We don't have any given policy to guide us as individuals, and most of the other licensed engineers in my workgroup haven't been involved in delivering designs in quite some time.
Any thoughts or advice? Thanks!
I am a somewhat freshly licensed PE working for a State DOT. I'm about to be moved into the PE-1 pay grade, so it will be a part of my job description to sign and seal drawings and specs for our construction projects. The question that shows up in my mind is if I need any sort of professional liability or E&O insurance. Arguably the state does not have any such insurance, and is simply covered by a governmental immunity law, but should I as an individual engineer have my own coverage? It doesn't seem inexpensive, so it's not straightforward if it's worth it.
We don't have any given policy to guide us as individuals, and most of the other licensed engineers in my workgroup haven't been involved in delivering designs in quite some time.
Any thoughts or advice? Thanks!
RE: E&O Coverage for Government Engineers?
Do you have an employee manual specific to professional employees? Does it mention anything about immunity or indemnification?
RE: E&O Coverage for Government Engineers?
As an individual you don't have a lot of assets, and those assets you do have are hard to go after. Insurance actually makes you more of a target in that respect bc the lawyers know how to get paid.
RE: E&O Coverage for Government Engineers?
Read what the General Counsel for the National Society of Professional Engineers has to say on this subject: Liability of Employed Engineers
Here is an excerpt:
I worked for a quasi-state agency, sealed drawings on rare occasions, never had E&O insurance, and have never lost one second of sleep for having done so. What you decide depends on your risk tolerance.
www.SlideRuleEra.net
RE: E&O Coverage for Government Engineers?
RE: E&O Coverage for Government Engineers?
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Chris Enright
PE, Colorado
Roads and Trains