This subpart explains how to settle and pay claims against the United States, for property damage, personal injury, or death incident to the use of a government vehicle or any other government property on a government installation which are not payable under any other statute.

(a) Government installation. A United States Government facility having fixed boundaries and owned or controlled by the government.

(b) Vehicle. Every mechanical device used as a means of transportation on land.

(a) Settlement authority. The following individuals have delegated authority to settle claims for $1,000 or less and deny them in any amount.

(1) The Judge Advocate General.

(2) The Deputy Judge Advocate General.

(3) Director of Civil Law.

(4) Chief, Deputy Chief and Branch Chiefs, Claims and Tort Litigation staff.

(5) SJA of the Air Force component commands of the U.S. geographic combatant commands.

(6) SJAs of single base GCMs and GCMs in PACAF and USAFE.

(7) The SJA of each Air Force base, station and fixed installation.

(8) Any other judge advocate designated by The Judge Advocate General.

(b) Redelegation of authority. A settlement authority may redelegate it to a subordinate judge advocate or civilian attorney in writing.

(c) Authority to reduce, withdraw, and restore settlement authority. Any superior settlement authority may reduce, withdraw, or restore delegated authority.

(a) How and when filed. A claim has been filed when a federal agency receives from a claimant or the claimant's duly authorized agent written notification of an incident of property damage, personal injury or death accompanied by a demand for money damages in a sum certain. A claim incorrectly presented to the Air Force will be promptly transferred to the appropriate Federal agency.

(b) Amending a claim. A claimant may amend a claim at any time prior to final Air Force action. Amendments will be submitted in writing and signed by the claimant or the claimant's duly authorized agent.

(a) A claim must be presented in writing within 2 years after it accrues. It accrues at the time the claimant discovers, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have discovered, the existence of the act causing property damage, personal injury or death for which the claim is filed.

(b) In computing time to determine whether the period of limitation has expired, exclude the incident date and include the date the claim was filed.

When all of the following are present, payment of a claim in the amount of $1,000 or less is authorized if it:

(a) Is for property damage, personal injury, or death. Payment for a personal injury or death claim is limited to costs of reasonable medical, hospital, and burial expenses actually incurred and not otherwise furnished or paid by the United States.

(b) Was caused by a military member or civilian employee of the Air Force, whether acting within or outside the scope of employment.

(c) Arose from the use of a government vehicle at any place or from the use of other government property on a government installation.

(d) Is not payable under any other provision of law except Article 139, UCMJ.

A claim is not payable if it is:

(a) Payable under any other provision of the law.

(b) Caused wholly or partly by a negligent or wrongful act of the claimant, the claimant's agent, or employee.

(c) A subrogated claim.

(d) Recoverable from other sources such as an insurance policy, or recovered from action under Article 139, UCMJ.

(e) For pain and suffering or other general damages.

(a) The statute does not provide for appeals. The original settlement authority may, however, reconsider any decision. There is no set format for a reconsideration but it should be submitted in writing within 60 days of the original decision.

(b) The settlement authority may either grant all or any portion of the requested relief without referral to any other office, or forward the entire file with the reasons for the action and recommendations to the next higher claims settlement authority for independent review and final action.

Do not pay a claim unless the claimant accepts the amount offered in full satisfaction of the claim and signs a settlement agreement to that effect, in which the claimant agrees to release any and all claims against the United States, its employees and agents arising from the incident in question. Use the settlement agreement approved for use by the Department of Justice for the settlement of FTCA claims, tailored to this claim.