Has anyone ever filed a claim with AMA? or fpvuk.org?

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Theres been a lot of discussions here and there in different threads about who and where to buy insurance.A lot of people have suggested AMA because you get a lot of coverage for very little money.
So I'd like to know has anyone on here or do you know of anyone that has actually tried filing a claim with them and what were the results?
Same goes for fpvuk.org which looks similar to the AMA,especially in membership cost for the insurance
The reason for this thread is to see if either one of these organizations actually pay out anything on a claim,what were the reasons for denial,etc.
 
If it's like any insurance company, they're your friend until you actually need their service then they turn on you!
 
AMA has an excellent history of paying claims.

Here's the most recent summary I could find (January 2012):

http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/500-q.pdf

From that document:

 Since 2001, AMA and its insurance company have paid out approximately $5,000,000, mostly to settle injury claims. In addition, recent serious injury cases that are in litigation have “reserves” (estimates) for future payments in excess of $1,100,000.

Keep in mind that AMA offers members 3 types of coverage:

1) Liability for damage caused by you to other people or property ($2.5 million)

2) Medical coverage for injuries to yourself ($25,000)

3) theft/fire/vandalism coverage ($1,000)

Yes, it is secondary to any other coverage, but if there is no other coverage it is primary. The liability claims I know about have all exceed the homeowners coverage, so AMA works.

One other thing, AMA also helps members in legal need due to fly models. In one case I have personal knowledge of a group of slope pilots were being sued by an unhappy homeowner. AMA stepped in to defend the pilot group, and ended up prevailing. Legal fees were near $100,000. Legal fees like this are separate from actual insurance costs. Something else to think about.
 
SilentAV8R said:
AMA has an excellent history of paying claims.

Here's the most recent summary I could find (January 2012):

http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/500-q.pdf

From that document:

 Since 2001, AMA and its insurance company have paid out approximately $5,000,000, mostly to settle injury claims. In addition, recent serious injury cases that are in litigation have “reserves” (estimates) for future payments in excess of $1,100,000.

Keep in mind that AMA offers members 3 types of coverage:

1) Liability for damage caused by you to other people or property ($2.5 million)

2) Medical coverage for injuries to yourself ($25,000)

3) theft/fire/vandalism coverage ($1,000)

Yes, it is secondary to any other coverage, but if there is no other coverage it is primary. The liability claims I know about have all exceed the homeowners coverage, so AMA works.

One other thing, AMA also helps members in legal need due to fly models. In one case I have personal knowledge of a group of slope pilots were being sued by an unhappy homeowner. AMA stepped in to defend the pilot group, and ended up prevailing. Legal fees were near $100,000. Legal fees like this are separate from actual insurance costs. Something else to think about.

Well thats good to hear.Still be good to hear first hand account from someone on the forum
 
Interesting. 15 injury claims annually, mostly minor out of roughly 250,000 members. Those numbers aren't bad.
 
ianwood said:
Interesting. 15 injury claims annually, mostly minor out of roughly 250,000 members. Those numbers aren't bad.

My dad was a member all through out his RC hobby days. I just joined this week (I was a junior member back in the day) and the reason mainly that number is low is that AMA members are required to abide by common sense flight rules. You have to agree to adhere to them when you sign up or if something should happen and you don't abide by them, the AMA insurance won't proceed with the claim.

I know a lot of members on here who wouldn't qualify. :D
 
BigTulsa said:
you don't abide by them, the AMA insurance won't proceed with the claim.

That is not entirely accurate. Claims are handled on an individual basis and while flying outside the Safety Code will not be in your favor, it is not an automatic rejection either. I was an Associate VP for about 12 years and have also served as an expert witness in a model aircraft accident lawsuit, so I have a better than average insight to how the insurance operates.

But overall, the best practice is to operate within the Safety Code.

Here is the AMA Safety Code: http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/105.pdf

Here is their policy on FPV: http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/550.pdf

Here is the Insurance Benefit summary: http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/Insu ... embers.pdf
 

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