Insuring on a stated amount basis usually offers little benefit to the insured. From the insured's perspective, a few things can go wrong when the stated amount fails to exactly equal the cash value of a property at the time of loss. One predicament your insureds...
N.J.: Bill to increase minimum PIP coverage introduced in state Senate
Legislation that would increase minimum personal injury protection coverage, was introduced in the state Senate on Oct. 31. This legislation (S-3266) is the latest in a long line of bills to address auto insurance coverage limits that have been introduced this...
No nightmares this Halloween
You’ve spent weeks preparing for Halloween. Pumpkins are carved. Bowls of candy sit near the front door. Costumes are donned. However, is your homeowners insurance ready? Do you know the answers to the what-ifs? What if a child falls on your walkway and the parents...
N.J. court rules Uber Eats insurer does not have to offer UM/UIM coverage
In the case of Malzberg v. Josey et al., the Superior Court of New Jersey ruled that Uber Eats, the food delivery company, was not obligated by law to provide uninsured/underinsured coverage to drivers using its app. What happened? Scott Malzberg delivered food...
PIANJ members work to change step-down provisions, meet with legislators
PIANJ volunteers spent August and September meeting with the members of the state Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee to discuss PIANJ’s top legislative priority: a ban on step-down provisions in personal auto policies. A step-down provision...
Inflation challenges: Help your clients prepare
Inflation impacts all aspects of our lives—but it is having an outsized impact on the cost to repair or replace cars and homes. Data reveals that 20% of homeowners don’t know how much they pay for home insurance[1]—so chances are, many will not anticipate the impact...
N.J.: Photo inspection bill introduced
A bill (A-4643) that would amend the law related to physical damage inspections—often referred to as photo inspections—was introduced in the state Assembly last week. Currently, insurers are prohibited from providing physical damage coverage for an automobile prior to...
How credit reports affect insurance scoring and how often they need to be updated
Insurance scoring is when insurers use a score, which is based on a policyholder’s credit history, to screen potential customers for underwriting acceptability. Originally, the scoring methodology was developed in the context of evaluating loan applicants. Credit...
Items in storage units may not be covered by a HO policy
So, it used to be that if clients asked you if their homeowners insurance policy covered their property anywhere in the world, you could reply: “Yes. However, if they are in another one of your residences, then coverage is limited to 10% of the limit shown in your...
N.Y.: Auto theft investigator refuted
A letter ran recently in the Albany-based Times Union titled “Commentary: A repeal that would help fraudsters and hurt consumers.” The letter is an opinion piece written by Tod Neifert, an auto theft investigator, which calls for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to veto...