How Macon-Bibb could recoup millions of dollars from traffic accident claims

Macon-Bibb County government may recoup millions of dollars for damages caused in traffic accidents.

The money would come from motorists, companies and their insurance companies whenever a stop sign, guardrail or other county property is damaged in a wreck. The County Commission will vote Tuesday on contracting with Peachtree Recovery Services to collect the money for repairs, cleanup and other costs tied to those accidents.

The company would search a state database of every traffic accident report filed in Bibb County. The company estimates that $3 million in claims could be recovered for Macon-Bibb County from 2018-2020.

Peachtree Recovery Services would receive 16.5 percent of the insurance claims it collects for Macon-Bibb, according to the contract proposal.

“Once we get a contract from that initial date we will go back four years to read every traffic accident report to review and see if we can make any claims on the city’s behalf,” said Todd Rhoad, vice president for business development for Peachtree Recovery Services. “We look for everything down to $100.”

Peachtree Recovery Services is able to dedicate more resources to get back money for the county, said Chris Floore, assistant to the county manager for public affairs.

The company contracts with 16 governments in the state, including the cities of Atlanta, Valdosta, Dunwoody and Columbus.

“We can file claims but this is a company that can do the follow up, knows the ins and outs.” Floore said.

Macon-Bibb officials will have to decide if they want to also go after uninsured motorists.

Some county commissioners questioned whether there could be price gouging since an outside company would handle the claims for the county.

“The insurance company has the opportunity to make the same (cost) assessment we do,” Rhoad said at this week’s County Commission meeting. “Instead of doing it in the courtroom, it’s under an insurance policy so it’s a negotiation.”

This story was originally published March 28, 2019 at 4:28 PM.