5. Statistics demonstrate one out of seven agents will submit an Errors and Omissions claim at some point in
their career. Currently insurance agents rank fourth among professions for lawsuits initiated against them.
Only physicians, attorneys and accountants have more (Tillinghast Survey).
A broker agent that is not adequately insured by E&O for Insurance Agents is exposed to the possibility of
being held fully responsible for the damages if a lawsuit is filed against them.
Insurance agents provide essential services to customers through advising them to locate and purchase
complete coverage. Many brokers, however, rarely realize the exposure that is involved with property and
casualty insurance sales. Guidance that you suggest for policies, either to obtain or bypass, could return as
a liability if a client claims that you were faulty in your advice. Clients facing a major problem with an
insurance policy, or improper coverage, could file a legal action against you, threatening your business,
income and possessions.
== Reasons For E&O for Insurance Agents ==
E&O insurance for insurance agencies protects the agency from any claim, real or perceived, that arose
from their personal involvement in the sale or servicing of an insurance product. E&O for Insurance Agents
tailor made to serve the small individual agents to large agencies selling insurance. Get 24 hour protection
from lawsuits stemming from negligent acts, errors or omissions arising from your activities as an
individual agent or broker. Coverage is available for you as a general agent or broker and includes your
non-licensed staff.
“We’re in an increasingly litigious environment,†says Claire Wilkinson, vice president-global
issues, at the Insurance Information Institute, in New York. “There’s definitely an uptick in the
number of agents buying insurance, in part because of the litigious environment. It’s essential for them
to have adequate coverage.â€
“At this agency, we wouldn't think of operating without suitable coverage,†says JimArmitage, vice
president of multi-lines agencyArroyo Insurance Services, in suburban Los Angeles. “In this litigious
climate, people sue at the drop of a hat, and you need to have insurance protection.â€
“We wouldn't even dream of doing that,†said Bernstein, vice president of TLB Insurance Services.
“The risk is horrendous; it’s hard to believe anybody would operate in the insurance profession
without suitable coverage.â€
“Even if you could get away with it,†warns Mann of Fireman’s Fund, “it’s not worth it
because you would at the very least lose your company appointment. But beyond that, you could lose
everything including your house and your business if you get sued and have no E&O protection.â€
“Litigation from hurricane, flood and other weather-related claims will clog up insurance company
claims offices and courts on a long-term basis. Katrina claim cases will go on for years and years. It’s
a flood of litigation, it’s here to stay and it’s only going to get bigger.â€
Agents with inadequate E & O coverage stand to lose their homes, their agencies and their collectible
personal assets.
== Insurance Agents Risk Exposure May Be Greater Than They Believe ==
“Agents need to understand their exposures might be much higher than they think they are. So they
should buy as high a limit as they can afford.A $1 million limit isn’t adequate for agents in these
litigious times.â€
Henderson’s comments are especially true for agents in California, which is considered the litigation
capital of the country. Given the rate of lawsuits combined with the high valuations of commercial and
residential properties, carrying only $1 million in limits is shortsighted, Henderson says. Defense costs
alone could run from $100,000 to $500,000 depending on the complexity of a case, he noted.
6. ==As A BrokerAre You Properly Insured? ==
There are certain precautions you should take regarding your livelihood . In the first place, your profession
as an insurance agent has a lot to do with the care you render your insureds. When carrying out your
obligations as an agent, you may commit an error or mistake. Your customers may decide to seek justice
in court. If you’re not properly protected by an insurance coverage, you may end up bearing the full cost
of the litigation process. You should protect yourself with insurance agents E & O insurance. This is a
professional liability insurance instrument created to protect insurance agents from whatever errors,
mistakes or omission they may commit in the course of day to day business.
Mistakes and errors may happen during your work as a P&C insurance agent. It can occur as a breach or
negligence of a contract agreement.Anytime an error occurs, a claim may be initiated against your
agency. If you’re adequately covered by E and O insurance for insurance agents, you’re protected
from bearing the complete fees of attorneys for the litigation that may be leveled against you and your
agency as a result of the error or mistake that happened or is alleged.
== Gaps In E and O Insurance Coverage ==
Gaps in coverage are common in E and O coverage.A modest survey demonstrated that many agents are
unaware of what a gap in coverage really is or its regrettable outcome. For example several insurance
agents wrongly assumed while they were not writing business during specific months, they did not need
continuous coverage.
http://wwwcf.fhwa.dot.gov/exit.cfm?link=http://errorsandomissions.org
E and O policies for agents is professional liability E&O insurance designed to handle the risk exposure of
property and casualty insurance agents brokers and agencies.
P&C insurance agents have very specific exposures that increase with the volume of policies they do. We
know E and O insurance coverage for P&C insurance agents and analyze your specific situation to ensure
there are no weaknesses in your professional liability insurance coverage.
We understand that brokers are seeking to reduce overhead without cutting protection. That’s where
we come in. We completely analyze your agency and develop a solution specific for you. This often
eliminates purchasing coverage you don’t need and replacing it with coverage that you do.
If you're a successful broker agent but only purchased a cookie cutter policy, you may be opening yourself
to more risks and liability. Have our team review your Errors and Omissions insurance policy, and we’ll
analyze every angle to protect you and the agency you've built.
Since we own a large book of E and O coverage for insurance agents, we have excellent relationships with
our markets.As your broker, we can often find better policy terms with the insurance carriers and offer
superior E and O protection options.
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