Research and Trends News

Here’s How European Satellites Can Help Predict the Next Weather Disaster

Spain began the new year battling Storm Filomena, a once-in-a-generation weather event that blanketed Madrid in snow and paralyzed the economy. Health workers were stranded, supermarkets shut, and the army was called in. At least four people died. “Now, consider …

AM Best, Moody’s Rate Personal Lines Insurance Market Outlook as Stable

AM Best kept its stable market segment outlook on the U.S. personal lines insurance segment for 2021, citing the segment’s strong risk-adjusted capitalization and profitable underwriting performance in private passenger automobile, as well as underwriting actions benefiting the homeowners segment. …

As Production Declines, Coal Miner Fatalities at Historic Low

Five miners died in U.S. coal mines in 2020, an all-time low mark for an industry in a year that saw continuing declines in production as electric providers move away from burning coal. The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, …

How COVID Effect on Workers’ Compensation Claims Has Varied by State, Industry

The percentage of COVID-19 claims among all workers’ compensation paid claims has varied greatly among states and occupations, as has the decrease in non-COVID claims, new research shows. The percentage of COVID-19 claims among all workers’ compensation paid claims ranged …

Driving Declined But Traffic Deaths Rose 13% After Lockdowns Ended

U.S. traffic deaths jumped dramatically after coronavirus lockdowns ended in 2020, rising 13.1% in the three months ending Sept. 30 to the highest rate since 2005 despite a decline in driving, auto safety regulators said on Wednesday. In total, 11,260 …

Courts Allow COVID-19 Claims by Insureds With Policy Endorsements for Diseases

While insurers continue to win four out of five cases in early rounds, in the past month two property owners with policies that contained endorsements specifically providing coverage for diseases survived motions to dismiss their COVID-19 business interruption claims. On …

The Gig Economy, Auto Insurance and Surplus Lines

Automobile insurance looks very different today than it did a generation ago. The means by which people (and goods) travel via motor vehicles continue to expand and evolve, as do businesses and their automobile insurance needs, especially in the gig …

Personal Auto Insurance Rates Fall Across the County: Value Penguin

Auto insurance rates are falling across the country an average 1.7 percent, with drivers in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Arkansas and Louisiana seeing the biggest drops of more than 4 percent. This is the first time rate have fallen across the …

Earth Draws Closer to Climate Change Tipping Points After Another Year of Record Heat

Another year of record-high heat punctuated a decade-long increase in global temperatures that has placed the Earth’s economies dangerously close to climate tipping points. Those are the conclusions published Friday by European Union scientists. Despite pandemic-induced lockdowns of the global …

1 in 100,000 Had Severe Allergic Reaction to COVID Shot: CDC

Roughly 1 in 100,000 people have had a severe allergic reaction to the first Covid-19 vaccine, a rate that’s higher than the flu vaccine but still quite rare, U.S. health officials said. A study by the Centers for Disease Control …