Monthly Archives: <span>March 2016</span>

Most Powdered Surgical Gloves Likely to be Banned

Federal health officials are moving to ban most surgical gloves made with powder, a feature designed to make them easier to wear, but which actually poses health risks to patients. The Food and Drug Administration said Monday that the powder …

Texas Hail Damage Could Cost $300M in Car Repairs

Hailstorms that rolled through the Fort Worth area last week could result in $300 million in vehicle repairs. Mark Hanna, a spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas, estimated Friday that 50,000 vehicles were damaged by the Thursday morning storms, …

Benefits of Surveillance, Social Media in Workers’ Comp Claims Investigations

As workers’ compensation fraud costs top out at an estimated $7.2 billion a year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, insurers are looking at ways to combat the crime. There are several warning signs that a workers’ compensation claim …

Erie: Multi-tasking Drivers Distracted by Texting and Snapping Pics

People aren’t just multi-tasking at work and home; a new analysis shows they’re also doing double duty while driving. Erie Insurance analyzed social media data to coincide with Distracted Driving Awareness Month and gain insight into what drivers are doing …

Oregon Supreme Court Finds That Covenants Not to Execute are Not Releases

Insuring clauses of many insurance policies obligate the insurance company to indemnify the insured for sums that the insured is “legally obligated to pay as damages …” Long ago, insurance company challenged covenants not to execute that were used as …

Crash Risk Higher for Truckers Who Fail to Follow Sleep Apnea Treatment

Truck drivers who have obstructive sleep apnea and who do not attempt to adhere to a mandated treatment program have a fivefold increase in the risk of a severe crash, according to a new study co-authored by Virginia Tech Transportation …

Report Suggests More Planning Needed for New Hampshire Coastal Hazards

A report says New Hampshire’s coastal communities’ exposure to future flood risks is significant, and now’s the time to plan to minimize that. The New Hampshire Coastal Risk and Hazards Commission spent 2 1/2 years looking at areas vulnerable to …

CDC Opioid Guidelines Could Aid in Workers’ Comp Claims Mitigation

Recently published U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines effectively address the epidemic of prescription opioids in the initial treatment of chronic pain. However, workers’ compensation insurers, claims managers, employers and beneficiaries may be scratching their heads about application …

Insurance Costs 6 Times Greater for Wood Frame Versus Concrete Buildings

A new study of the property insurance costs for wood frame and concrete mid-rise residential buildings conducted by GLOBE Advisors and released by the Concrete Council of Canada reveals a substantial gap in the risks and insurance rates between the …

Industry Claims Conference Keeps up with Changes

Going for Gold was the theme of the annual Combined Claims Conference held in Orange County, California, earlier this month. The theme was selected, according to Caryn Siebert, conference chairperson, because “claims professionals are really the champions of the insurance …