In an effort to bring more insurers back into California’s homeowner’s and commercial property insurance market, the state Department of Insurance (DOI) has approved a system that will allow insurers to use forward-looking wildfire risk models to price policies in areas susceptible to wildfires. The DOI hopes this and other measures it’s been taking, will […]
Construction defect lawsuits, a constant presence in the building industry, are on the rise, and legal observers expect the trend to continue over the next few years. There are several factors driving the increase, including a continuing construction industry labor shortage, contractors working on tight schedules to rebuild properties in areas devastated by natural disasters […]
A new survey has found that in 46% of ransomware incidents in the U.S., CEOs or other executives were physically threatened if their organizations did not pay the ransom demanded by hackers. The findings in Semperis’ “2025 Ransomware Risk Report” highlight other pressure tactics, such as ransomware criminals threatening to file regulatory complaints to force […]
The California FAIR Plan on July 25, 2025, started offering a new “high-value” commercial property coverage option for larger housing developments, farms and businesses with multiple buildings at one location. The new limits are up to $20 million per building, with a total maximum of $100 million per location — up from the previous limit […]
President Trump’s sweeping return to tariff-heavy trade policies in 2025 is sending ripples across the economy, including the cost of property insurance claims. The latest round of tariffs, which include steep duties on imported construction materials and auto parts, many of which are sourced from China, threatens to drive up claims costs in both personal […]
As wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense due to rising temperatures, utilities in high-risk areas are increasingly using public safety power shutoffs to prevent fires sparked by electrical equipment, one of the leading causes of wildfires. These proactive outages can leave communities without power for hours — or even days — especially during dry, […]
For companies that rely on fleets of vehicles to deliver goods, transport equipment or provide services, distracted driving is a risk that can pose an existential threat to the company. Collisions resulting from inattentive driving can lead to serious injuries, costly vehicle damage and insurance rate hikes or cancellations. Most fleets are comprised of vehicles […]
Rapidly rising commercial building construction costs could result in your facility being underinsured if you suffer a major loss and haven’t increased your insurance policy replacement cost limits lately. Your policy has a maximum amount it will pay to rebuild your building, and that limit should reflect current construction costs. Otherwise, the policy may […]
As the Trump administration returns to aggressive tariff strategies, business owners across the country are once again bracing for impact. On-again, off-again tariffs aimed at key trade partners like China, Mexico and Canada are creating a volatile environment where forecasting costs, securing materials and delivering products on time are increasingly difficult. The unpredictability of these […]
The Department of Labor on May 1, 2025, announced it would no longer enforce a Biden-era rule on independent contractors, setting the stage for a drastic overhaul that will likely result in a more employer-friendly regulation. While the DOL reviews the rule, which has been in effect since March 2024, it announced in a field […]