Wind Mitigation Discounts Alone Won’t Stop Property Insurance Premium Surge, Studies Say
Two new studies conclude that mitigation discounts encourage home hardening for some property owners but fail to overcome affordability barriers for many households, even as climate-driven insurance costs continue to rise across much of the Southeast.
July 9
Catastrophe
Property
Risk Management
Underwriting
California
Florida
Louisiana
North Carolina
South Carolina
NHTSA Orders Autonomous Vehicle Companies to Fix Emergency Scene Interference by End of July
Federal regulators say autonomous vehicles have repeatedly blocked first responders, entered active emergency scenes, and failed to recognize emergency traffic controls. The directive could shape future liability and claims involving robotaxis.
July 9
Auto
Legislation & Regulation
Liability
Risk Management
Technology
Manhattan High-Rise Evacuated After Buckled Columns Raise Collapse Concerns
Structural columns failed during a major office-to-residential conversion in Midtown Manhattan, prompting evacuations, street closures, and an engineering assessment as officials work to stabilize the building.
July 7
Liability
Litigation
Property
Risk Management
Technology
New York
Smucker Wins Coverage Fight Over 2022 Salmonella Peanut Butter Recall
A federal appeals court ruled that the 2022 Jif peanut butter salmonella outbreak was a single occurrence under Smucker’s liability policies, rejecting an insurer’s effort to treat hundreds of contaminated product lots as separate occurrences.
July 6
Liability
Litigation
Risk Management
Ohio
FIFA World Cup Referee Also Runs Insurance Advisory Business
A FIFA World Cup referee who operates an insurance advisory firm highlights a specialty insurance market that is expanding as abuse, liability exposures, and retention challenges increase for sports officials worldwide.
July 6
Insurance Industry
Liability
Risk Management
Underwriting
Plastic Surgery Malpractice Study Finds Clinical Judgment Drives Highest Claim Costs
A review of nearly 2,000 closed malpractice claims found technical skill issues were the most common contributing factor, but clinical judgment failures produced the highest average indemnity payments. The findings offer new insight for underwriters, adjusters, and healthcare risk managers.
July 6
Liability
Life & Health
Litigation
Risk Management
Underwriting
Strong El Niño Forecast Signals Higher Weather Loss Risks for Insurers
The World Meteorological Organization says confidence is growing that a strong El Niño will develop, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather, record temperatures, and catastrophe-related insurance claims through 2026 and into 2027.
July 6
Catastrophe
Property
Risk Management
Heat Dome to Bring Dangerous Triple Digit Heat Across Much of the U.S.
Triple digit heat, wildfire conditions, severe storms, and a tropical disturbance are creating multiple exposures for insurers and claims professionals as millions of Americans face dangerous weather during the holiday week.
June 30
Catastrophe
Property
Risk Management
Workers' Compensation
Water Damage Tops Home Insurance Claims Despite Homeowners Fearing Fire
A new PEMCO survey shows many homeowners overestimate fire risk while underestimating costly water damage, creating opportunities for insurers and agents to promote leak detection technology during policy renewals.
June 30
Property
Risk Management
Technology
Underwriting
Oregon
Washington
How IoT Sensors Are Improving Construction Claims and Water Loss Prevention
Construction IoT has matured from passive monitoring into automated environmental control that helps prevent losses, strengthen claims documentation, reduce litigation exposure, and support faster project recovery.
June 30
Litigation
Property
Risk Management
Technology
JetBlue Reports Suspected Drone Strike on JFK Approach as FAA Investigates
A JetBlue Airbus landed safely after the crew reported a drone strike during its approach to JFK. The incident highlights unresolved questions about aviation liability, subrogation, and insurance coverage when drone operators cannot be identified.
June 30
Insurance Industry
Liability
Property
Risk Management
Subrogation
New York
Miami’s Super Yacht Boom Leaves Derelict Boats, Rising Marine Risks, and Insurance Challenges
As luxury yacht ownership expands across South Florida, abandoned vessels, marina shortages, and rising boating accidents are creating new risks for insurers, marine adjusters, and local governments.
June 29
Insurance Industry
Liability
Marine
Property
Risk Management
Florida
Rising Insurance Costs Put Performance Car Ownership Out of Reach
Higher theft rates, expensive repairs and underwriting changes are making high-performance vehicles increasingly difficult to insure, even as used prices become more attractive.
June 29
Auto
Insurance Industry
Risk Management
Underwriting
California
Florida
New York
NAIC Confirms 3.1TB Data Published After Cyberattack by ShinyHunters
The publication of stolen NAIC data has interrupted investment designation activities and highlights how attacks on insurance regulators can ripple across the industry. Investigators continue to assess the breach while insurers monitor potential operational and cybersecurity impacts.
June 29
Insurance Industry
Legislation & Regulation
Risk Management
Technology
Supreme Court Rules Roundup Cancer Claims Barred by Federal Pesticide Labeling Law
The 7-2 decision overturns a Missouri jury verdict and finds federal pesticide labeling law preempts state failure-to-warn claims. The ruling could significantly reduce Bayer’s exposure in thousands of pending Roundup lawsuits.
June 25
Legislation & Regulation
Liability
Litigation
Risk Management
