Insurance Journal

Report Says Driver of Tanker Truck Lost Control on Off-Ramp, Causing I-95 Collapse

The driver of a tanker truck hauling gasoline lost control on a curved off-ramp on Interstate 95, causing the truck to flip and catch fire, leading to the collapse of the northbound lanes in early June, federal safety officials said …

Posted: Jul 03, 2023

Florida Agents Optimistic About the Market – and They Don’t Fear the A.I. Reaper

Just as some California insurance agents are expressing grave concerns about the future of that state’s insurance market, a number of Florida agents feel like they’ve turned something of a corner. “Things are getting better. They ar...

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

West Texas Dollar General Hit With $294K Penalty

A federal workplace safety inspection at another Dollar General store, this time in Lamesa, Texas, found exit routes and walkways blocked and merchandise unsafely stacked, conditions that exposed employees and others to fire hazards and struck-by inj...

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

The War for Service Talent

By Andrea Wells Customer service representatives and account managers are the heart of agencies. They retain valuable business year after year. They are the guardians and caretakers of the agency’s most valuable assets — its book of busin...

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

U.S. Insurers Hit Hardest by Inflation: Triple-I Study

U.S. insurers have paid more than their counterparts worldwide to repair and rebuild damaged properties and vehicles due to inflation since 2018, according to an executive briefing conducted on behalf of the International Insurance Society (IIS). Inf...

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

Florida Regulators Approve Roof Endorsements That Bar Non-Storm Claims

By William Rabb Despite the Florida Legislature taking major steps to rein in the cost of roof claims and litigation, at least two insurers have come out with broad roof endorsements that seek to bar claims for wear and tear, …

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

Q&A: Consultant Stephen Bushnell Digs into Green Insurance Products

By Allen Laman After learning about green buildings, after examining their structural characteristics that may not be covered by traditional insurance policies, and after studying green rating guides and the commissioning process, Stephen Bushnell ca...

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

Bad Press, Claims Issues, Soaring Premiums Giving Industry Another Black Eye?

By William Rabb It’s no secret that the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry does not always enjoy a sterling reputation among consumers. As one insurance professor recently put it, the industry’s rank in public opinion is somewhere...

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

UBI-Use Rises as Customer Satisfaction Declines

Auto insurance rates are rising and that is leading consumers to look at usage-based insurance (UBI) options to help defray some costs. About one third of auto insurance customers in the U.S. reported a rate increase in the past year, …

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

3 Emerging Risks to Watch: The Rise of Robotics, Infrastructure Spending, Vehicle Subscriptions

Years ago, it may have been hard to imagine a time when robots could have nine-to-five jobs and handle household chores, drivers could subscribe to luxury vehicle features like heated seats and big infrastructure projects would become common across t...

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

The Continual Producer Dilemma

The shortage of good insurance producers is still a valid concern for the industry and the problem has only grown worse over time. Oak & Associates must get an average of one call a week with clients and new potential …

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

The Secret Sauce: The Keys to Long-Standing Client Relationships

Recently I renewed two large accounts for the twenty-sixth time. Over the years, I’ve found the loyalty of these particular clients professionally and personally rewarding. It’s also created a stable source of revenue for a long time. Tho...

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

How the Insurance Universe Deals with Evolving Risks and Dispositions

Insurers have come a long way on climate change, but they have a long way to get where they need to be to deal with a more hazardous planet. That was the assessment from Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, a …

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

How Businesses Can Guard Against Email Scams

Bbusiness email compromise (BEC) is one of the most financially damaging online crimes, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report. In 2022, there were nearly 22,000 related complaints, and businesses lost more than $2.7 billion to these scam...

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

The Industry Shouldn’t Compete on Cybersecurity

With cyber risk growing for small businesses, the insurance industry should cooperate on cybersecurity. The National Cybersecurity Alliance reports that small and midsize businesses are “easy targets” for cybercriminals. Small firms repre...

Posted: Jul 02, 2023

Three Florida Men Charged with Insider Trading on Trump Media IPO

Three Florida men were arrested Thursday and charged with illegally making more than $22 million by insider trading ahead of the public announcement that an acquisition firm was going to take a media company owned by former President Donald Trump &#8...

Posted: Jun 30, 2023

Frustration After Former NFL QB, Nine Others Drown at Florida, Alabama Beaches

A firefighter from Georgia and two fathers who drowned while trying to save their children are among at least 10 recent victims of dangerous rip currents along Gulf of Mexico beaches stretching across Florida’s Panhandle to Mobile, Alabama. Man...

Posted: Jun 30, 2023

Senate Confirms Humphreys as Pennsylvania Insurance Chief

The Pennsylvania Senate this week unanimously confirmed Michael Humphreys to serve as the state’s insurance commissioner. Governor Josh Shapiro nominated Humphreys, who previously served as acting commissioner, to the top position at the Pennsy...

Posted: Jun 30, 2023

Safety Concerns Dominate Norfolk Southern CEO’s Job Since Derailment

Norfolk Southern’s CEO has spoken often of safety and better service since he took the job over a year ago, but it’s safety that has dominated discussions after one of his trains derailed and caught fire in February in Ohio, …

Posted: Jun 30, 2023

Kentucky Official Pleads Guilty to Crop Insurance Fraud

A central Kentucky farmer who is also a county official has changed his plea, admitting to charges of crop insurance fraud. Randall Taulbee, a Bourbon County magistrate, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to defraud the federal government&#82...

Posted: Jun 30, 2023

IIAT Names 2023-24 Board Members

The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas elected board members for the 2023-24 year at its annual business meeting in San Antonio on June 23, 2023. IIAT is the largest state association of independent insurance agents and professionals in the U.S. &...

Posted: Jun 30, 2023

Texas Insurance Agent and Former Elgin Mayor Pleads Guilty to Felony Theft Charge

A Texas insurance who previously served as mayor of Elgin pleaded guilty June 20 to theft of property, a third-degree felony. Christopher Cannon, 38, acquired payments from the company Baker’s Backhoe Services between January 2015 through Augus...

Posted: Jun 30, 2023

Definity’s McDougall Insurance Brokers to Acquire Canada’s Drayden Insurance

McDougall Insurance Brokers Ltd., the Belleville, Ontario-based subsidiary of Definity Financial Corp., announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Drayden Insurance Ltd. for C$208 million (US156.9 million), subject to clo...

Posted: Jun 30, 2023

People Moves: Aon Promotes 4 in Global Reinsurance Clients Team; NFP Hires Perkins to Lead N. Americ...

This edition of International People Moves details appointments at brokers Aon and NFP. A summary of these new hires follows here. Aon Promotes 4 in Global Reinsurance Clients Team Insurance broker Aon plc announced a series of promotions in its &#82...

Posted: Jun 30, 2023