Articles by Dave Thomas

Independent Agents Feel Hurricane Katrina’s Full Force

Residents in many areas of the Gulf Coast watched their lives change forever on Aug. 29, 2005. When all was said and done, Hurricane Katrina went in the record books as the country’s worst natural disaster, leaving a large swath …

States Urged to Prepare for Catastrophes by Enforcing Smarter Land Use

The country needs to consider where and how it builds if it is to avoid the worst effects of another Hurricane Katrina or Sept. 11 attack, according to experts at the recent National Conference of Insurance Legislators annual meeting in …

States Urged to Prepare for Catastrophes by Enforcing Smarter Land Use

The country needs to better consider where and how it builds if it wants to avoid the worst effects of another Hurricane Katrina or Sept. 11 attack, according to experts at the recent National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) annual …

Los Angeles All Industry Day Highlights Education, Emerging Trends

Issues including low cost auto insurance, the changing environment of international insurance and successfully reducing injuries and workers’ compensation costs were among the topics discussed at the annual CPCU All Industry Day in Los Angeles. According to Jim Brown of …

NCOIL Panel Addresses Lessons Learned from Disasters

Is the insurance industry able to handle another 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina in the very near future? That was one area of discussion debated last Saturday among several panelists at the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) Annual Meeting – …

Washington Voters Reject Malpractice Caps

Voters in this month’s election voted no to a pair of Washington ballot proposals that would have, if passed, reportedly protected patients and removed a burden for doctors when it comes to climbing malpractice insurance premiums. Initiative 336, mainly sponsored …

Continuing Battle against Wildfires Fuels Need for Insurance

As firefighters battled into last week trying to contain one of a number of brush fires in the Los Angeles area, residents throughout California are keeping a close eye on weather conditions and their insurance policies, as the 2005 fire …

NAPSLO Prepares for Record Attendance at Annual Conference

Leadership Says Surplus Lines Industry in Good Shape; Ready for Softer Market As the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices gathers in San Francisco this month (Sept. 14-18) for its annual national conference, Insurance Journal recently caught up with …

Big ‘I’ Fields Busy Agenda at Annual Meeting in Big Apple

The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America will convene in New York City this month for their annual national convention, Sept. 10-12. Just as agents and brokers prepare to discuss the challenges of mergers and acquisition strategies, marketing and …

IIHS Study Says Low-Cost Road Alterations Can Reduce Urban Road Crashes

Spending a small amount of money on busy roadways in cities can lead to the ultimate goal of reducing the number of crashes reports a recent study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Recently released statistics show that while …