In the 2023 E&S edition of PIA Magazine, I wrote about the perils and pitfalls that insurance producers face when placing business in the nonadmitted—or excess & surplus lines—marketplace through the lens of Lord of the Rings. [EDITOR’S NOTE: You can access...
N.J. commercial auto liability minimum limits increase 7/1
The minimum limits for commercial automobile insurance customers in New Jersey will increase effective Monday, July 1, 2024. Under P.L. 2023, c. 276, intrastate commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds are required to carry...
N.Y.: Proposed legislation would expand business interruption coverage
Business interruption was the insurance buzzword for much of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many business owners closed their businesses without experiencing physical damage to their property. Insureds who sought coverage for interruption of their businesses...
N.Y.: Senate and Assembly insurance committees to consider parametric insurance
Last year, in a previous blog article, I explored the concept of parametric insurance and how its novelty presents an attractive insurance option for both insurers and consumers—especially when traditional insurance products may fall short in managing and mitigating...
Clients don’t want insurance, they want convenience in their experience
When it comes to delivering on the promise of an improved customer experience, property/casualty agency principals often feel like they are caught in the middle of a tug-of-war. Pulling the rope on one end are younger digital-native customers, as well as baby boomers...
PIANY-priority excess-line reform bill reported out of committee, heads to Senate floor
Over the last several legislative sessions, PIANY has been pushing for reforms to the way business is placed in the excess & surplus marketplace to ensure that agents and consumers have access to the insurance producers they need. During the 2021-22...
Selling business interruption insurance: Strategies for agents in a changing market
In the ever-evolving landscape of the business world, the significance of safeguarding operations against unforeseen disruptions cannot be overstated. Business interruption insurance emerges as a pivotal safeguard designed to protect businesses from the financial...
Best practices to assist clients during a claim
Rarely is the role of the insurance agent or broker ever more important to a client than when that client has experienced a claim. Guiding clients through the claims process is a critical component of the agent’s or broker’s job. It involves not just a deep...
4.8 magnitude earthquake hits Northeast
On Friday, many Northeasterners felt the effects of a 4.8 magnitude earthquake, which rocked our world with shaking buildings from Philadelphia to New Jersey to New York City to Connecticut to Westchester, N.Y. The earthquake was centered near Whitehouse Station,...
The insurance implications and economic impact of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse
On the early morning of March 26, 2024, the container ship MV Dali hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Md. The bridge collapsed within the span of a minute, sending the bridge, cars, machinery, cargo, and even people in the chilly depths of the Patapsco...