Skip to content

Building

Increases for Liability Insurance for Construction Firms

The commercial general liability market for the U.S. construction industry continues to firm with underwriters seeking rate increases of up to 15 percent, according to a report published by Marsh. Construction firms with poor loss histories are experiencing even larger liability rate increases and in some cases receiving non-renewal notices from their underwriters. After nearly a decade of rate declines, insurers also are typically seeking to raise rates on umbrella and excess liability insurance of between 8 and 10 percent, according to Marsh’s August 2012 Construction Market Update. According to the report, rates for project-specific general liability, general liability wraps,… Read More »Increases for Liability Insurance for Construction Firms

Common Cause of Fire – Laundry

An estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated $35 million in property losses, according to a new government report. The report by the U.S. Fire Administration said that 84% of clothes dryer fires took place in residential buildings. Also, according to the report:   Clothes dryer fire incidence in residential buildings was higher in the fall and winter months, peaking in January at 11 percent.   Failure to clean (34 percent) was the leading factor contributing to the ignition of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.  … Read More »Common Cause of Fire – Laundry

Business Insurance Market Update

The hardening insurance marketplace has led to a great deal of success for us in a variety of our niches recently. We continue to develop new products at the same time. Below are several items we wanted to highlight: 1) Apartments / Lessors Risk (Office Exposure – Real estate schedules that generate more than $100,000 in premium in the “better weather” states have been a good fit for us recently. We are interested in the properties that are built after 1980 and located in the western US for the most part. If it is large and we can write casualty… Read More »Business Insurance Market Update

Earthquake Deductible Buyback in California

A few facts about earthquake insurance: Fact I:  Most residential insurance policies do not cover earthquake damage – a separate earthquake policy is required. Without earthquake insurance to help you cover the costs of repairs and other expenses that come with catastrophic damage, you will pay out-of-pocket to fix your home, to replace your personal property, and to live and eat elsewhere. Fact II:  Most earthquake insurance policies feature a high deductible, which makes this type of insurance useful if the entire home is destroyed, but not useful if the home is merely damaged. Rates depend on location and the… Read More »Earthquake Deductible Buyback in California

Risk Control: Fire Safety Plan

Introduction

The development of a Fire Safety Plan (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”) will help ensure the optimum use fire prevention and life safety features installed in a building. The complete plan will reflect all the resources available to the building occupants and identify the basic measures that will aid in an orderly and safe evacuation all occupants in an emergency. An effective Plan that enhances the life safety of staff and building occupants requires:
• a commitment by building management and staff to the safety of occupants;
• knowledge of the building and its fire safety protection equipment by supervisory staff;
• a clear understanding by supervisory staff of the fire safety procedures in the Plan and how to implement properly; and
• the cooperation and education of building occupants.

The following information discusses the preparation and implementation of a Fire Safety Plan.Read More »Risk Control: Fire Safety Plan

Cheesy for some Papa John’s

Fireman’s Fund has opened the door to a new eligible risk and franchise for Paperless Insurance! The franchise’s ‘Better Ingredients,  Better Pizza” has made them infamous but their esteemed reputation and recognized leadership practices has made them our goal! Papa John’s Pizza now eligible in Paperless Insurance’s national Pizza Operators Insurance Program. Our program is written on a Business Owners Policy (BOP), which includes Business Personal Property with Tenants Improvements and Betterments, Business Real Property (if insured owns the building) and Business Liability. The BOP also includes Data Compromise, Crisis Management, Food Contamination, and Identity Recovery. Other coverages available in most states include Non-Owned Auto, Hired Auto, Owned Auto, Excess Liability, Liquor Liability, Workers Compensation, Employee Benefits Liability, Employment Practices Liability and Payment… Read More »Cheesy for some Papa John’s

LOSS CONTROL: CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)

Sources of CO Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters; leaking chimneys and furnaces; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces; gas stoves; generators and other gasoline powered equipment; automobile exhaust from attached garages; and tobacco smoke. These products are all sources of CO which can be deadly if proper safety precautions are not taken. Where to Install Detectors According to the USFA (United States Fire Administration) a CO detector should be installed outside all sleeping areas (about 10 feet away from a bedroom). The USFA says that detectors should not be placed within 5 feet of any… Read More »LOSS CONTROL: CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)

Paperless Insurance Now Offers Coverage in New York

SAN FRANCISCO-based independent insurance brokerage Paperless Insurance Services (PIS INC), Inc. has started offering business insurance products in the State of New York, PIS INC announced Thursday. PIS INC will be using their website as the marketing and underwriting base in the State if New York CFO Diana Motseniat said in her announcement. Paperless Insurance also announced that it is in the process of starting operations in the State of Texas. “Starting operations in New York is vital to the continued expansion of our U.S. platform to complement our strong position and build a truly unified small business insurance platform,”… Read More »Paperless Insurance Now Offers Coverage in New York

Fire Safety Checklist

This inspection sheet should be completed at home by the entire family.  Inspect each area of your home to make sure no fire hazards exist. We have ___ smoke alarms in our home. The last time we replaced the battery in our smoke alarm was __/__/__.  It must be replaced once a year. We test our smoke alarms monthly. We never use the batteries in the smoke alarms for toys or anything else. We have a home escape plan. Our plan includes two ways out of every room. Our family has a special place to meet outside if there is… Read More »Fire Safety Checklist

Workers Compensation Statute of Limitations Explained

A workers compensation statute of limitations is a regulation in a common law legal system that sets the maximum time after an event that legal proceedings based on that event may be initiated. For example, such legal proceedings may involve claim subrogation or premium collection. California’s statute of limitations for collecting unpaid insurance premiums begins once an insurer has sent its final audit bill to the policyholder, and continues for 3 years. In a unanimous opinion, the court said the California State Compensation Insurance Fund could collect on $1 million in workers compensation premiums owed by building contractor, even though… Read More »Workers Compensation Statute of Limitations Explained