The pleasant ambiance of a meal with friends at the Good Earth Restaurant was pierced by the sound of my phone ringing. I glanced at my watch. It was 7:33pm. With senses honed I got up from the table to return the call. My worst fears were realized; I was informed that there was a new assignment, and they needed me on the scene NOW.
Complex loss incidents require thorough and detailed investigations. As the name implies, "complex" or "major" losses require experts and litigation professionals with the knowledge and experience to efficiently complete the investigation and claim or dispute resolution.
Whether you are an insurance adjuster or fire investigator, when out on a loss site, such as a fire scene, it is important to always be aware of your surroundings and maintain situational awareness, the conscious knowledge of the immediate environment and the events that are occurring in it.
Those who practice insurance coverage law in Missouri understand the potential perils associated with an 065 agreement. Missouri passed legislation to help protect the insurers interests and thwart collusive arbitration awards and settlement agreements between plaintiffs and insureds. Missouri legislators introduced SB-HB 345 which amends two statutes—Missouri Revised Statutes 435.415 and 537.065. The bill was signed into law on June 29, 2021 and became effective August 28, 2021.
Although many states have relaxed regulations, cannabis remains a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, meaning that under federal law it is illegal to manufacture, sell, or distribute cannabis. This has meant that many large commercial insurance carriers, and particularly those that are publicly traded, have been hesitant to offer cannabis coverage due to the fear of federal illegality and reputational damage.
As property insurance claims slowed due to COVID-19 lockdown measures and quarantines, the frequency of cyber-attacks exploded. A study of more than 6,000 businesses by Hiscox, Ltd found that 43% of the companies had suffered some type of cyber-attack in 2020, with the victims of these attacks ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
On May 7, 2021, Colonial Pipeline, the largest U.S. pipeline system for refined oil products, was hit by a ransomware attack that forced the company to shut down its entire fuel distribution pipeline.
A lot of people own motorcycle(s). Not a lot of people have experience riding motorcycles. More people have motorcycles stored in their garages, covered with all kinds of things, than ride motorcycles.
We are all accustomed to using a refrigerator in our homes to store food and beverages, and many of us can relate to the inconvenience of a power outage and the frustration that comes when the refrigerator fails and your cold and frozen food spoils. Replacement of the spoiled food and potentially the refrigerator itself can be a costly experience for a homeowner.
The catastrophic winter weather events that occurred this week in southern parts of the U.S., especially in Texas, wreaked havoc on the electric utility grid. Millions of people lost power and some areas were on mandated rolling blackouts. Many people suffered in the cold, without power, wondering how this could be occurring in 2021 in the United States.
Thousands of new criminal cases take place every year where the location of a cell phone is of critical importance and the activity of a person holding a cell phone can be the deciding factor in a case. From drug overdose fatalities and homicides, to terroristic acts, bomb threats, carjacking, and other major crimes, phone records are a common and reliable source of evidence.
Insurtech has been a buzz word in the industry for several years now. Originally, the term was used to label insurance start-up companies that were disrupting the status quo and incumbents.
When it comes to diagramming a crash scene, there are several methods to complete the task. Forensic Mapping, (locating, positioning, and documenting the evidence of a collision scene to scale) is essential to having the answers to the questions “Who, What, Where, When, and Why”.
Drone-Based, Touchless Property Inspections Enhance Claims Processes During COVID-19 and Storm Season
As states across the country continue to report increases in COVID-19 cases, it's clear that the pandemic is far from over. Natural disasters and severe weather events during the pandemic are creating further problems for states that are left to battle everything at the same time.
