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How to Ease the Insurance Claims Process

Here are some simple things you and your loved ones can do now to ease the insurance claims process should you suffer property damage or loss. Review your insurance policies. When a disaster hits, a lot of people realize they aren’t familiar with the terms of their policies. You might think you have more coverage than you actually do. Reviewing your insurance policies now gives you the chance to make adjustments and have those adjustments take effect before a storm comes our way. Also, remember that flooding is not covered under your homeowners insurance policy; you need to buy a separate flood insurance policy.… Read More »How to Ease the Insurance Claims Process

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

September is National Preparedness Month

A recent Travelers survey found that 48% of small business owners do not have a written business continuity plan. That’s especially troublesome considering that The American Red Cross estimates as many as 40% of small businesses do not reopen after a major disaster. We have partnered with Travelers Insurance Company to offer Business Continuity tools that help business owners plan for the unexpected so they do not become part of a statistic. You can start building your plan today using resources on Small Business Safety, Protecting Your Business, Plan Ahead, at travelers.com pages. Should you have any questions, please feel… Read More »September is National Preparedness Month

Ballot Health Insurance Companies Must Justify Their Rates

Initiative To Make Health Insurance Companies Publicly Justify Their Rates Qualifies for the California Ballot – Excessive Rates Could End In 2012 Santa Monica, CA – The California Secretary of State announced on 08/24/2012 that a ballot initiative to require health insurance companies to publicly justify and get approval for rate increases before they take effect has qualified for the 2014 ballot. The Insurance Rate Public Justification and Accountability Act made the ballot after county registrars of voters certified that more than 549,380 valid signatures from California voters were submitted by Consumer Watchdog Campaign.  The initiative would require health insurance… Read More »Ballot Health Insurance Companies Must Justify Their Rates

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

Sexual Abuse Awareness

No one ever wants a child or client to be harmed. Sometimes, however, we can miss child safety keys and best practices. We suggest that employer will educate himself on effective, efficient, and inexpensive tools one can use to reduce the risk of sexual abuse in his company. In particular, we want to bring your attention to the following topics: The definition of sexual abuse Common errors and misconceptions related to sexual abuse and sexual abusers Abuser characteristics Grooming process (grooming children and gatekeepers) Common grooming behaviors Peer on peer abuse Impact on children – long and short term Reporting responsibilities –… Read More »Sexual Abuse Awareness

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

Electronic Proof of Car Insurance

Have you ever got a ticket because you did’t have the proof your current insurance coverage (ID card) with you? Well, good news for residents of 7 U.S. states. As of today – August 6, 2012, 7 states have passed Electronic Proof of Insurance Laws. Alabama Arizona California Colorado Idaho Louisiana Minnesota Mississippi and Maryland have a version of these laws before their state Assemblies. A Great Step Forward for You These laws all make an electronic image of the paper copy of a Proof of Insurance card a legal proof of insurance.  Louisiania’s wording is typical… ” an image of… Read More »Electronic Proof of Car Insurance

What is “Manifestation Provision” in Insurance Policy Means

The “first manifestation” provision may significantly modify or deviate from the most recent ISO Commercial General Liability policy form, CG 00 01 12/07, commonly referred to as an “occurrence” form. The principle difference between the ISO “occurrence” form and a manifestation form is what is being referred to as “trigger of coverage.” The trigger of coverage is the event or circumstances that activate the insurer’s defense and indemnity obligations under the policy. According to ISO rules the standard ISO form is intended to provide coverage for an injury that occurs during the policy period, regardless of when the injury becomes… Read More »What is “Manifestation Provision” in Insurance Policy Means