Declarations

Failed to Operate

“The current system for assessing, determining, and applying windstorm mitigation discounts has failed to operate as intended and has contributed to problems in the residential property insurance marketplace.”

—Florida’s Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology in its report on the state’s program of insurance credits for mitigation efforts by property owners.

TV Comes Alive

“I’ve only ever seen snow on TV till now.”

—Steve Pace’s 6-year old grandson, Kaleb, in the Florida Panhandle town of Century. Kaleb was one of many Southerners who were snowstruck as winter took a big whack at the region, coating areas from Texas to the Carolinas and grounding many flights.

No Super Claims

“We reviewed data from the last 10 Super Bowls and found there are very few accidents — no more than any other time.”

—Cheryl Downey, senior vice president at Willis who is in charge of the broker’s National Pizza Program, explaining to Insurance Journal that despite an increase in pizza deliveries during the Super Bowl, there is no unusual claims activity.

Dead Issue in S.C.

“This was not a charge or fee for regular duties of the fire departments, such as responding to a residence or fender-bender accidents. It was for catastrophic events that require more than a normal response… Now it’s a dead issue. The council did not sit back and blindly approve this ordinance, which seemed to be the public’s perception.”

—Cherokee County, S.C. Council Administrator Ben Clary after the council voted unanimously to repeal an ordinance creating fees to be charged nonresidents and their insurance companies for volunteer fire department response. Clary said the ordinance was never intended to impact routine responses. The Cherokee County Fire Chiefs Association had backed the ordinance.

Toyota Troubles

“This type of unforeseen event is what insurance is for. If the pedal is a factor, the insurer will pay the claim for the driver and then likely seek to be reimbursed by Toyota. This is one less thing for the consumer to worry about.”

—Robert Passmore, senior director of claims for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), reassuring insured drivers they have coverage.