Virtual University

Back to Basics - What is Legal Liability?

What does it mean when an adjuster reports that your insured is not “legally liable,” so the carrier will deny the claim. This article explains the basics of legal liability so that you can explain it to your clients.

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Back to Basics - What’s New in Premises Liability Exposures?

Recent settlements and jury verdicts against property owners and managers hit with premises liability claims continue to climb. Whether your clients own a tavern, a manufacturing plant, manage apartment complexes, or are homeowners, their current liability limits may be insufficient in today’s legal environment.

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Commercial Real Estate Liability and Property Claims Can Cause Devastating Losses, Impact Renewals

Assaults, slip and falls, gas leaks and other liability issues can wreak havoc on a commercial real estate (CRE) insured’s loss history. With property rates expected to climb again next year due to Hurricane Ian’s impact on the reinsurance marketplace, CRE exposures, especially CAT-exposed properties, will be hit hard with rate hikes, according to many industry analysts. There may be more pressure on CRE liability rates, as well, as claims costs and settlements increase. Assaults, slips and falls, water damage, all these types of incidents can decrease the insurability of CRE risks in this harder insurance market. Additionally, with CRE mergers and acquisitions hitting a record pace, a spotty loss history can hurt the portfolio’s resale value and make it a less attractive acquisition.

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From Foreseeability to an Atmosphere of Violence: Unraveling Multifamily Negligent Security Claims

Negligent security claims and other risk management problems plague today’s multifamily housing market. This article outlines the challenges facing multifamily housing owners, explains the standard of care allegations faced in court and offers solutions for reducing complex multifamily liability challenges. Understanding these challenges can help insurance agents educate their multifamily housing clients in the importance of facility security.

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Problems Placing Coverage for Hotel and Motel Risks Only Continue to Grow

If a $177 million liability verdict for a sexual assault occurring at a Hyatt doesn’t raise the antennas of hotel/motel underwriters, we don’t know what will. Placing coverage for hotels and motels has gotten very difficult in recent years and only promises to continue to become more difficult. What’s an agent to do? This article covers many of the hazards facing today’s hospitality injury and how savvy agents can help design proposals that may get underwriters to take a second look.

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What is Vicarious Liability?

You may hear the term “vicarious liability” arise when talking to claims adjusters or an underwriter who may have concerns about the extent of potential liability faced by one of your current or potential insureds. This article explores the concept of vicarious liability to help you understand the liability challenges underwriters and adjusters consider when deciding on application acceptances or when adjusting claims.

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