Florida Tort Reform: Big Changes May Be Coming
Florida’s insurance market is troubled, with many people pointing to tort law as part of the problem. New efforts for Florida tort reform are underway, meaning big changes could be coming to the …
Year in Review: Notable Insurance Developments of 2022
As 2022 comes to an end, it’s time to look back on some of the notable insurance developments of the year. For Florida, 2022 has been a busy year characterized by increased pollution …
Severe Weather Increases Environmental Liability Risks
Pollution claims are on the rise and concerns over global warming are prompting increased scrutiny of environmental pollutants and the companies involved in releasing them.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says extreme …
How Businesses Can Recover from Hurricane Ian
Florida’s recovery from Hurricane Ian may take some time. Axios estimates that the insured losses from Hurricane Ian will total around $67 billion, making it the costliest storm in Florida’s history. Businesses that …
The Risk of Violence at Florida Nonprofits
Florida nonprofits serve many of the state’s most vulnerable residents. In the course of this work, there is an ongoing risk of violence and assault. By keeping up with the latest trends and …
Inflationary Impacts on Property Insurance
Inflation is driving up prices and adversely affecting property insurance claim outcomes. If you haven’t adjusted your property insurance limits lately, the cost to rebuild or replace your building could exceed the maximum …
Food Recalls: New Trends in Food Industry Safety
Amid supply chain issue and worker shortages, food safety is critical. When contamination occurs, both serious health problems and costly recalls can follow. Although food recalls have dropped recently, food safety remains a …
Taking Control of Workers’ Compensation During a Challenging Labor Market
Preventing workplace injuries can be challenging during the best of times. With employers now reeling from record-breaking turnover and onboarding a new crop of inexperienced employees every month, diligent workers’ compensation risk management …
Business Interruption in Manufacturing: Managing Common Exposures
Your manufacturing company normally runs like a well-oiled machine. Unfortunately, various events can disrupt your business. From cyberattacks and supply chain issues to hurricanes and flooding, here’s a look at the business interruption …
What Businesses Need to Know about Ransomware, Log4j and Other Cyber Risks
Cyberattacks continue to be a major threat for organizations of all types and sizes. In addition to the old and familiar dangers, new dangers have emerged, including the recently discovered Log4j vulnerability. It …
The Importance of Workplace Safety Year-Round
Planning for your best year ever in 2022? Be sure your plans include a robust workplace safety program. With the current labor and supply shortages and the pandemic, normal working conditions may be …
Wilson, Washburn and Forster Insurance: Protecting Clients The World Class Way for 60 Years
It was a day that Sarah Washburn will never forget. A North Miami church was engulfed in flames, while her clients stood by her side watching their place of worship burn. The four-alarm …
EPLI Rates Continue to Climb
Employers have always had to navigate claims of wrong termination, wage and hour disputes, and other employment liability issues. Now, employers are also having to deal with heightened awareness of diversity, equity and …
State of the Commercial Property Insurance Market
According to the Q2 2021 P/C Market Survey from the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB), the second quarter of 2021 marked the fifth consecutive quarter in which premiums increased for all …
Managing Your Product Liability Risks
Product liability is a serious risk for manufacturers and suppliers. If a product is linked to injuries, multiple lawsuits may result, and each one can lead to expensive court fees and large awards, …
Sexual Molestation Coverage for Religious Institutions
Allegations of sexual molestation continue to impact religious institutions. With a rise in claims and new laws that give claimants more time to file lawsuits, securing sexual molestation coverage is increasingly important.
The Rise …
Preparing for Hurricane Season’s Impact on the Construction Industry
The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season saw a record-breaking number of named storms. It looks like this year’s hurricane season may also bring above-normal activity. Construction managers in Florida and other hurricane-prone states should …
Preventing Slip, Trip and Fall Claims
Whether you manage an office, a retail store or a construction site, slip, trip and fall accidents pose a danger. According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), falls result in more than …
Reasons Behind the D&O Insurance Rate Spike
If your Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance policy is renewing soon, you may need to brace for a rate increase. Commercial insurance rates are going up across the board, but certain lines, including …
Strategic Partnerships Key To Hospitality Sector’s Insurance Challenges
The past year has been a tough road for the hospitality industry. The COVID pandemic has hit this sector especially hard, particularly in places like Florida, New York, and California. Here in Miami-Dade …
Can Employers Mandate COVID-19 Vaccines?
COVID-19 vaccines are now available, and many employers want to get their workers vaccinated as soon as possible. Making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for workers is one way to do this. However, there …
Ransomware Alert: What to Do if Your Systems Are Taken Hostage
It’s one of the scariest risks a business owner can face. Rogue hackers gain access to your computer system and data, lock you out, and hold your data hostage until you pay a …
Realities of a Hard Commercial Auto Insurance Market
Commercial insurance rates are up. According to MarketScout, property and casualty rates rose 7.1% in the fourth quarter of 2020. Commercial auto insurance rates were up 8.3%, but even higher rate increases were …
Employment Practices Liability Insurance: Third Party Coverage and the Case of the “Stolen” iPhone
An incident that occurred at a New York City hotel over the weekend caught my attention for many reasons, including the potential insurance ramifications and coverage gaps that could arise.
A white woman accused …
Your 2021 Commercial Insurance Strategy – What to Expect in 2021
In many ways, 2020 has been a tumultuous year. The pandemic, civil unrest, natural disasters and cyberattacks have put pressure on businesses and the carriers that insure them. As we head into 2021, …
How to Support Mental Health When Your Team is Remote
Employers are dealing with a lot right now. From shutdowns and business interruption to outbreaks and workers’ compensation claims, navigating the pandemic is not easy. However, while employers are focusing on keep their …
Construction Risk Management: The Latest OSHA Updates
Construction can be a dangerous industry. According to OSHA, 21.1% of the 4,779 private industry worker fatalities that occurred in 2018 were in the construction sector. The most frequently cited OSHA standard in …
Five Steps to Avoid Expensive Slip, Trip and Fall Claims
Don’t underestimate slip, trip and fall risks. According to the CDC, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries each year, and one in five falls causes broken bones, …
Trending Issues in Employment Practices Liability
Commercial insurance rates have been increasing, and this includes rates for employment practices liability insurance. According to Business Insurance, a recent survey from the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers revealed that employment …
The State of Florida’s Homeowners Insurance Market
If you own property in Florida, you already know that homeowners insurance costs a lot. Now rates are climbing even higher.
The Miami Herald says that major insurance companies have been raising premiums again …
Hurricane Safety: How Businesses Can Prepare
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is expecting an above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, with 13 to 19 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes and three to six major hurricanes.
A major hurricane can be devastating …
Important Precautions to Contain the Risks of Reopening
Businesses are reopening in many states across the country. While this is an important step toward economic recovery, there are many risks involved. Businesses must take important precautions to keep everyone safe and …
An Insurance Agent Studies the Supply Chain
Throughout my almost 20-year career in the insurance industry, I have placed a strong emphasis on learning and professional development. Some of it is required as a licensed insurance agent in Florida a. …
Cyber Exposures Surge as the Workforce Moves Home
Around the country, governors are issuing shelter-in-place orders to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Many businesses have had to close as a result, sometimes laying off or furloughing workers. Other businesses are …
Audits with Admitted vs. Excess and Surplus Lines Carriers: You’ll Get a Bill. You Won’t Get a Check.
There is an important difference between policies written with excess and surplus lines (E&S) carriers compared to admitted carriers when it comes to audits. This difference will become stark as we deal with …
The Business Implications of the Coronavirus Outbreak
A novel coronavirus was detected in the Hubei Province of China. COVID-19 has since spread to dozens of countries and every continent except Antarctica. Although many people experience only mild symptoms, the illness …
Business Interruption Insurance: An Essential Income Safeguard
Is your business prepared to weather a storm? Fires, storms and other natural disasters can force businesses to close their doors. Even when the situation is only temporary, the loss of income can …
Florida Worker Classification Laws and Lawsuits
The difference between independent contractors and employees is significant, but it’s not always clear. In recent years, there has been a surge in litigation over alleged worker misclassification. The growing debate over work …
How to Survive a Hardening Insurance Market
Cycles are a natural part of life, whether it’s the weather or the economy. It’s the same with the commercial insurance market, which fluctuates between soft and hard market cycles.
How do “hard” and …
Marine Liability Insurance: How to Secure the Right Coverage
If you operate a business in the marine industry, you have many liability exposures that must be kept at bay. Ship repairers, yacht clubs, recreational marine repair facilities, marine products distributors, shipping companies …
No Business is Safe from Cyber Risks: What You Need to Know
Your business could be a cybercriminal’s next target. Cyber risks are increasing, and businesses of all sizes and in all industries are feeling the impact. Understand the risks so you can protect your …
Product Liability Risk and Management
The risk of product liability hangs heavy over any company that manufactures goods. When a previously unknown defect or other issue causes injury or illness, many people may be affected. This can lead …
Five Steps to Control Rising Commercial Auto Insurance Rates
It’s not your imagination, and it’s not just you. Commercial auto insurance rates are increasing across the board. In fact, the 2019 Insurance Marketplace Realities report from Willis Towers Watson shows that commercial …
10 Ways to Safeguard Your Ministry with a Safety Culture
These are challenging times for faith-based organizations. Falling attendance, sexual abuse scandals, and increasing numbers of lawsuits have all taken their toll. Tragically, churches and religious organizations are no longer immune from gun …
Distracted Driving Awareness to Lower Rates for Your Fleet
The state of Florida has a distracted driving problem. As a state, we are number one in the nation for careless and distracted driving. In 2015 alone, there were more than 45,000 crashes …
Insurance Needs for the Unique Risks of Operating Breweries and Distilleries
Craft breweries and distilleries are popping up everywhere these days. What was once a garage project or test kitchen hobby is now a major industry across the country. In South Florida alone, 11 …
Listeria Hysteria
Product contamination and recall exposures are a growing source of concern among businesses and the general public. There have recently been several high-profile cases of food contamination that affected the general public. From …
How to Protect Your Business Before a Data Security Breach Happens
Digital communication is inescapable. Businesses regularly communicate electronically and sometimes that includes sharing sensitive documents or storing highly confidential financial information on electronic devices and cloud servers. For companies, this can easily become …
Employment Practices Liability Insurance, Third Party Coverage and the Legend of Thai Toni
If you work in the restaurant or hospitality industry here in South Florida, you have probably heard the famous story of Thai Toni. To summarize, Thai Toni was a popular Thai restaurant on …
Seven Reasons Why You Need to Protect Your Business from Social Engineering NOW
The holidays are notorious for an uptick in seasonal scams and cyber phishing schemes. It’s time we addressed a cyber security issue that’s a big deal in all of our industries right …
Important Information Regarding Upcoming Changes to Workers’ Compensation
Due to three recent court rulings, Florida businesses will soon see a 14.5% average rate increase on their workers’ compensation insurance. While the new rates affect every business that is required to …
Can a Contractor Sue Me?
One of the most common questions people ask me is whether or not a contractor who hurts themselves in someone’s home can sue the homeowner for their injuries.
The bad news is that yes …
Professional Advice for Home Insurance Shoppers: An Interview with Paula Beers of Wilson, Washburn and Forster Insurance
Tell us a little bit about your company and its foundation:
Founded in 1961, Wilson, Washburn and Forster Insurance is a full service property and casualty insurance agency. Agency principals have over 60 years …
Additional Insureds – Who Are They and Why is There a Charge for It?
Certificate holders and additional insureds are a daily activity in our business. Most of our clients need at least one certificate of insurance. Some of them need hundreds of certificates every year. However, …
