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Booster Seats Safety Improved in 2012

Fifteen of 17 booster seats introduced in 2012 earn the top rating of BEST BET from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, evidence that more than ever, manufacturers are designing seats to provide good safety belt fit for booster-age children.

The improvements mean that BEST BET boosters now outnumber seats in any of the three other categories for the first time since the Institute released its inaugural booster ratings in 2008. Boosters are supposed to improve how adult lap and shoulder belts fit children so the belts can properly restrain them in crashes. BEST BET boosters correctly position belts on a typical 4-to-8-year-old child in almost any car, minivan or SUV.

“Booster manufacturers have risen to the Institute’s challenge to improve seat design, giving parents more choices than ever when shopping for a booster that will provide a good, safe fit for their children,” says Anne McCartt, Institute senior vice president for research.Read More »Booster Seats Safety Improved in 2012

How to Protect Against Identity Theft in College

By Menachem Wecker In interviews ahead of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which runs through the end of October, cyber security experts—both here and abroad—said identity theft is a serious problem, which may require extra vigilance on college campuses. Identity theft can mean anything from users’ online bank accounts being compromised to their E-mail accounts being hacked and used to mass-distribute spam. “Universities are, by their nature, open, trusting environments. Nobody thinks that they will be subject to an attack, and that isn’t just isolated to students,” says Alan Woodward, a cyber security specialist and visiting professor at the University… Read More »How to Protect Against Identity Theft in College

How to Reduce False Alarm Alert

What is a false alarm? A false alarm is when law enforcement finds no evidence of a criminal act or evidence of an attempted criminal act when responding to a commercial or residential alarm. Three main causes of false alarms are: User errors Poorly installed or maintained equipment Failure of equipment More than 66% of false alarms are caused by user error and 20% of alarm users cause 80% of all false alarms. Check with your local police department, some cities have ordinances regarding false alarms which allow for fines or charges for responding to false alarm calls. Steps for… Read More »How to Reduce False Alarm Alert

How to respond to fraud with my Facebook account

Step 1: secure your account. Choose a password that is the same strength as one you would choose for online banking (but don’t use the same password). Having a strong password will help prevent someone from hacking into your account. Step 2: take precautions with where you access your account. If using a mobile phone, free network, or an unsecured network, or public computer (at a library, in school, even at work) it may not be worth updating your status for the sake of your privacy. Step 3: read the privacy terms and agreements of any applications you might download… Read More »How to respond to fraud with my Facebook account

The Danger of Distracted Walking

Okay, we have said enough about the distracted driving. The cell phone use laws being adopted by the U.S. states are describing how and when the mobile phones can be used while driving. But what about pedestrians distracted with their smartphones? Can we blame them for major increase of fatal accidents involving pedestrians? Apparently yes. According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Transportation, 4,280 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 70,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the United States in 2010 — a 4% rise from the number reported in 2009. On average, a pedestrian was killed every two hours… Read More »The Danger of Distracted Walking

Study lists top 10 consumer criticisms of insurance companies

For P&C, the top 10 criticisms are: Failure to acknowledge, to pay, or deny claims within specified time frames Using unapproved forms, unfiled rates and/or misapplication of rating factors Failure to cancel policies or non-renew policies in accordance with requirements Failure to provide required compliant disclosures in underwriting processes Failure to process total loss claims properly Failure to provide required compliant disclosures in claims processing Improper documentation of underwriting files Failure to adhere to producer appointment, termination and/or licensing requirements and adjuster licensing requirements Failure to pay correct amount under policy Improper documentation of claim files And, for life and… Read More »Study lists top 10 consumer criticisms of insurance companies

Protection for Water and Sewer Districts

Serving the public is a serious, round-the-clock responsibility. It’s your job to protect, plan for, and serve the needs of your community as it grows. And it’s our job to protect you with thoughtfully designed, tailored insurance coverages. Our dedicated underwriting, claims and risk control teams work specifically with water and sewer districts and can provide you with one source for your insurance and risk management needs.

WE UNDERSTAND YOUR GENERAL LIABILITY HAZARDS

• Training modules for unique risks such as flagging/traffic control
• Risk control specialists to assist in analyzing digging sites for pipe-laying hazards
• Coverage available for failure-to-supply services and sewer back-up liability
• Utilization of immunities and tort caps where applicable
• Coverage for members of boards, commissions and sewer authorities

WE HAVE AN INDUSTRY-LEADING WORKERS COMPENSATION PROGRAM

• Co-located medical and claims professionals promptly handle, thoroughly investigate and fairly resolve claims, with a focus on return-to-work
• Discounts and savings through carrier’s preferred medical provider network

WE KNOW YOUR MACHINES

• Specialized equipment breakdown  coverage and certified boiler and machinery inspections and consultations through carrier’s Boiler & Machinery

WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES

• Complimentary EPL hotline provides access to EPL attorneys* to answer your questions
• Discounts for employee training to help protect against “failure to train” exposures

WE UNDERSTAND EMOTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SEWER BACKUP

• Our dedicated Sewer Backup Claim Unit  understands the importance of balancing residents’ emotional reactions to water backup events with prompt claim handling
• Specialists work with sewer backup adjusters for valuation of residents’ personal items, antiques, etc.

WE OFFER CYBER LIABILITY PROTECTION

• Coverage to protect against cyber and ID fraud for entities that store data electronically

Read More »Protection for Water and Sewer Districts

Enhanced Cyber Coverage

Did you know that the average organizational cost for data breach in 2011 was $5.5 million and the average cost per compromised record was $194*? With a growing body of law directed at protecting personal information, our carriers are constantly looking for ways to improve cyber liability offerings so that our customers have the best coverage in place to protect their businesses. We are excited to introduce the enhanced version of The Hartford’s CyberChoice 1.0® Policy. Now known as The Hartford Data Privacy ~ Network Security Liability Insurance Policy, this policy builds industry leading terms onto one superior platform. Reliable… Read More »Enhanced Cyber Coverage

Rising Cost of Homeowners Insurance

The cost of homeowners insurance claims has been rising rapidly because of the combined effects of rising claim severity and increases in claim frequency, according to an insurance industry report. A new Insurance Research Council (IRC) study of homeowners insurance claim trends found that from 1997 to 2011, the average claim payment per insured home countrywide rose 173%. In the study, “Trends in Homeowners Insurance Claims,” the IRC examined separately claim trends for claims that were not related to catastrophic events and those that were related to catastrophic events. Trends in average claim severity (the average claim payment per paid… Read More »Rising Cost of Homeowners Insurance

CGL Independent Contractor Exclusion

Many insurance policies include the following standard provision: “This insurance does not apply to bodily injury, property damage, personal injury, advertising injury, or medical payments for operations performed for you by independent contractors or your acts or omissions in connection with your general supervision of such operations” (exclusion). Relying on this exclusion, your insurer may deny coverage for injuries sustained by subcontractors and decline to defend you in the underlying litigation or personal injury suit. A Massachusetts court recently ruled in favor of insurer Lloyd’s in a dispute over a general liability policy excluding coverage for independent contractors. The case is No.… Read More »CGL Independent Contractor Exclusion