Personal

Scenario 1:  A homeowner sought Flood Insurance for a property in New York with multiple structures, including barns and guest houses. RELATED STAT: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) could not adequately cover the property due to its value and the number of buildings. SOLUTION: Burns & Wilcox was able to offer a comprehensive Flood Insurance program in the private…

Inside This Article:  Weather-related losses continue to drive summer Homeowners Insurance claims as severe storms become more frequent and costly.  Many homeowners remain vulnerable to flood losses because standard Homeowners Insurance policies typically exclude flooding.  Liability exposures from pools, trampolines, and other summer activities can create significant financial risks for homeowners.  Regular policy reviews can help homeowners identify coverage gaps and ensure protection keeps pace…

Why It Matters:  Many homeowners know their home\'s market value but may not understand what it would cost to rebuild it. Knowing replacement cost estimates can help determine the amount of insurance needed to repair or rebuild a home after a covered loss.   Rising construction costs, evolving building codes, and home improvements can all increase rebuilding expenses. Additionally, increased demand following a catastrophic event—such as a hurricane, flood, or wildfire—may drive costs even higher.  These factors can create potential…

Why It Matters:  Serious liability claims can arise from everyday situations involving properties, vehicles, recreational activities, pets, and other personal exposures. Rising costs and social inflation are contributing to larger and more severe outcomes.  Individuals with significant assets, youthful drivers in the household, watercraft, swimming pools, trampolines, short-term rental properties, or higher public visibility may face increased liability risks. Reviewing liability limits…

Flood events have surged over the past decade, putting many Residential and Commercial properties, including those outside of traditional flood zones, at risk. Parametric Flood Insurance provides data-driven, trigger-based financial protection for certain exposures, while Traditional Flood Insurance remains a foundational coverage for many property owners. Each product serves a distinct role and can be used independently or together to support a more…

Inside This Article:  A California mother is facing felony charges after prosecutors said her teenage son struck and critically injured an 81-year-old man while riding a high-powered electric motorbike, according to the Los Angeles Times.  Cities and lawmakers across the U.S. are debating new regulations as e-bike injuries and fatalities rise, according to The Guardian.  Incidents involving standard e-bikes…

Key Takeaways: The High-Value Solutions market is stabilizing, with admitted carriers returning to some geographies, increased competition, and expanded Excess and Surplus (E&S) capacity.  Underwriting flexibility is improving for catastrophe-exposed risks, including wildfire, wind, and flood.  Clients may benefit from having their broker market their insurance program including revisiting higher deductibles, water sublimits, and reduced coverages implemented during the hard market.  Product innovation is expanding customization through layered programs,…

Inside This Article:  More homeowners are choosing to rent out their homes when they are unable to sell them in today’s slower housing market, according to recent reports.  When a property becomes tenant-occupied, the owner will typically need to change their Homeowners Insurance policy to a Dwelling Fire policy.  Water damage and fire claims are among the most common risks associated with rental…