Articles by Jim Sams

Sams is editor of ClaimsJournal.com, the online resource and daily newsletter for property/casualty insurance claims professionals. ClaimsJournal is a member of the Wells Media Group. Sams can be reached at jsams@wellsmedia.com

States Vary Widely in How They Control Workers’ Comp Medical Costs: WCRI

Workers’ compensation medical costs vary widely among the states both in terms of price and how often services are used. The differences appear to relate closely to which cost-drivers each state legislature tried to control and which were overlooked, according …

Private Flood Insurance Growth Could be Boon for Claims Professionals

A nudge into the market by carriers offering private flood insurance is becoming more of a shove, which might bring new opportunities for claims adjusters and maybe create a more efficient claims process along the way. An executive for Munich …

InsureTech Connect: The Insurance Industry Needs to Understand What Business It’s In

People who buy gasoline generally don’t care for the product or enjoy the experience of pumping gas: They just want to drive. Chris Colborn, chief experience officer for the Lippincott creative consulting firm, opened with that analogy during a keynote …

InsureTech Connect: Insurance Industry Needs to Understand What Business It’s In

LAS VEGAS — People who buy gasoline generally don’t care for the product or enjoy the experience of pumping gas: They just want to drive. Chris Colborn, chief experience officer for the Lippincott creative consulting firm, opened with that analogy …

AJG Not Liable for Late Notice that Cost Illinois Firm $1.34M

An Illinois construction company that waited six years to inform its excess insurer it had been sued cannot expect coverage from that carrier, and it can’t go after the insurance brokerage that sold it the policy, a federal appellate court …

Broker Not Liable for Late Notice that Cost Illinois Client $1.34M

An Illinois construction company that waited six years to inform its excess insurer that it had been sued cannot expect coverage from that carrier, and it can’t go after the insurance brokerage that sold it the policy either, a federal …

In Review of Hail Claims Cases, Texas High Court Clarifies Bad Faith in Appraisal Process

An insurer’s payment of the appraisal value after disputing a claim does not establish that it was liable, nor does that payment prevent a policyholder from pursuing penalties under the Prompt Payment of Claims Act, a split Texas Supreme Court …

3rd Circuit: Policy to Limit Extended Transportation Expenses May be Bad Faith

Kyle and Marie Stechert say they rushed to buy another car after their vehicle was “totaled” in an accident because their insurance carrier refused to keep paying for their rental vehicle. The new car was twice as expensive as the …

Texas High Court Clarifies Bad Faith in Appraisal Process

An insurer’s payment of the appraisal value after disputing a claim does not establish that it was liable, nor does that payment prevent a policyholder from pursuing penalties under the Prompt Payment of Claims Act, a split Texas Supreme Court …

Misdiagnosis a Leading Cause of Medical Malpractice Claims, Studies Show

Two recent research papers both point to the significance of diagnostic errors as a source of medical malpractice claims. A peer-reviewed paper published in Diagnosis on July 11 found that inaccurate or delayed diagnoses were cited in 34% of medical …