Articles by Amy O'Connor

O'Connor is the Southeast editor for Insurance Journal and associate editor of MyNewMarkets.com.

An Insurance Lyft: CSAA Forms Rideshare Carrier; Allstate, Liberty Mutual Offer Coverage

A new carrier has joined the rideshare insurance market, offering coverage to Lyft drivers in 11 states. At the same time, ridesharing firm Lyft’s drivers now also have access to coverage from Allstate and Liberty Mutual in a handful of …

South Carolina Passes Flood Insurance Law to Boost Private Market

The state of South Carolina is aiming to foster new flood insurance coverage options through the enactment of the South Carolina Private Flood Insurance Act. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed the legislation, passed Sept. 23 by state lawmakers, into …

A Big Agency with an Even Bigger Heart

Employees at SouthGroup Insurance Services don’t just like where they work – they LOVE it. And going through the pandemic has only reinforced their love and appreciation of their employer, selected as Insurance Journal’s Best Agency to Work For – …

Insurer Impact from Sally Expected to be Moderate; Losses Estimated at $1B to $3B

Insured losses from Hurricane Sally could reach as much as $3 billion, according to catastrophe modelers, but ratings agency Moody’s expects a moderate impact on property and casualty insurers and reinsurers. “Because Sally appears to be primarily a flood event, …

Florida Attorney Behind Thousands of Insurer Lawsuits Violated 14 Bar Rules: Judge

Embattled Florida attorney Scot Strems, who, with his firm, has filed thousands of assignment of benefit and first party lawsuits against Florida property insurers over the last several years, has been found by a court-appointed referee to have violated more …

Insurer Impact from Sally Expected to be Moderate; Losses Estimated at $1B to $3B

Insured losses from Hurricane Sally could reach as much as $3 billion, according to catastrophe modelers, but ratings agency Moody’s expects a moderate impact on property & casualty insurers and reinsurers. “Because Sally appears to be primarily a flood event, …

Floridians Concerned About Disaster Recovery, Hurricane Deductibles: Survey

As Hurricane Sally bears down on the Gulf Coast, a new survey is highlighting the concerns many Florida residents have about the impact of catastrophic storms on their communities and everyday lives, as well as if they are adequately insured …

Hurricane Irma’s ‘Last Gasp’: 3-Year Claims Deadline Put to the Test

It’s been 3 years since Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm, and the trail of damage left in its wake is still being felt across the state today, particularly by the insurance industry as it …

FAIA Chief Grady Says Goodbye, Shares Top Moments in 22-Year Career

For 22 years, the Florida Association of Insurance Agents has been led by Jeff Grady, president and chief executive officer, who admits that when he started all those years ago he did not expect to “fall in love with insurance …

Florida Workers’ Comp Rates Going Down, Again

The downward trend for Florida workers’ compensation rates is set to continue next year thanks to favorable loss experiences from policy years 2017 and 2018. The latest filing from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) proposes an average statewide …