West Virginia News

States Get Tough on Distracted Drivers in 2010

Illinois, Kansas, New Hampshire and Oregon will bring in the new year with new state laws aimed at cracking down on distracted driving, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI). Of the four states with stronger laws …

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Beecher Carlson expanded its National Energy practice by appointing Jacklyn Kearns senior vice president. Kearns has 28 years of insurance and risk management experience. She joins Charlie Pierpont in Beecher Carlson’s Darien, Conn., office. Prior to that, she served as …

2009 P/C Insurance Mergers, Acquisitions Large and Small

Large insurers AIG, Farmers and The Hartford made moves in 2009, as did large brokers Marsh, Aon, Willis, Gallagher, Brown & Brown, Hub and Wells Fargo. So, too, did, many regional insurers and Main Street agencies. Here are the headlines …

Austin-Round Rock, Texas, Most Secure Large Metro Area

The central Texas area of Austin-Round Rock is the most secure U.S. community among large metropolitan areas (population of 500,000 or greater) in which to live, ccording to the sixth annual Most Secure U.S. Places to Live rankings from Farmers …

U.S. Mine Safety Chief Vows to End Black Lung Disease

The nation’s mine safety czar said Friday that the U.S. must put a stop to black lung disease, a work-related illness that has killed roughly 10,000 coal miners this decade. “Now is the time to act to end this disease,” …

State-Owned Vehicle Accidents Cost West Virginia $17 Million

West Virginia has paid out $17.7 million to resolve more than 5,000 accident claims involving state vehicles during the past five budget years. That’s one finding from an audit delivered to legislators this week. The audit also cites the lack …

Online Agency Says Auto Insurance Rates Fell 3.5% in 2009

Online insurance agency insurance.com said its records show that car insurance rates across the nation declined 3.5 percent in 2009 to $1,803 per year. The company said the decline followed a rate increase of 8 percent in 2008. According to …

National Association of Insurance Commissioners Elects New Officers

Members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) have elected their 2010 officers at their Winter National Meeting in San Francisco. The new officers are: President: West Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jane Cline; President-Elect: Iowa Insurance Commissioner Susan Voss; Vice …

West Virginia Court Sides with Insurer on Antitrust Claim by Cancelled Agent

An insurance company has won a victory over one of its former West Virginia agents who claimed the insurer violated state antitrust law when it cancelled his contracts to sell its life and property/casualty insurance products. The ruling by the …

Lawn Mower Is Not a Motor Vehicle, Georgia Court Rules

A riding lawn mower may have four wheels, a powerful engine and can cost as much as a used car. If it’s stolen, however, the Georgia Supreme Court concluded that it’s not a motor vehicle. The 4-3 decision overturned the …