Write Up:

Keeping employees and the public safe is the department’s highest value. Controlling damage to vehicles and reducing personal injury in work zones, on right-of-way and other areas under the department’s control helps MoDOT accomplish this goal.

Compared to 2024, there was a 34% decrease in general liability claims in the first quarter of 2025 and a 10% increase in the amount paid. Most of the claims filed against the department are attributed to pavement defects and accounted for 90% of all claims filed.

In the first quarter of 2025, payments were made on 711 claims against the department, totaling $1,708,426.69. Three claim types accounted for 55% of first quarters payments. The department paid 602 pothole claims totaling over $636,728.00. Fifteen design geometric claims were paid totaling $190,901.00. Lastly, 10 inadequate signing claims were paid totaling $109,965.00.

To improve results, the department’s focus should be concentrated on the most common general liability. Historically, the top five most frequent claim types are pavement defects, debris on the roadway, chip seal, mowing and striping operations.

Purpose of the Measure:

This measure tracks the number of general liability claims and the amount paid.

Measurement and Data Collection:

General liability claims arise from allegations of injuries or damages caused by dangerous conditions on MoDOT property and claims that directly resulted from the condition. In addition, an employee must be negligent and create the dangerous condition or MoDOT must have actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition in sufficient time before the injury or damage to have taken measures to protect the public. Claims data is collected from Riskmaster, the department’s risk management claims administration software.

The target for this measure is updated annually and is calculated by determining a 5-year average and subtracting 10%. Exceptionally high or low years are excluded from the 5-year average calculation to determine a practical target.