Ask PIA

Ask PIA is a members-only searchable database featuring hundreds of
member questions answered by our highly-qualified technical specialists.

If you have not registered for members-only sevices from PIA click here.

Browse by topic

Commercial lines

290051-00

Loss run time frame

I need loss experience data on one of my commercial auto clients. How much time does a company have to provide this information?

290081-00

Multi-state risk

We have a multi-state commercial risk. We do not think the insurer has provided the correct notice of the renewal premium.

290099-00

Employment practices liability insurance is a ’special risk’

We’d like to confirm whether employment practices liability is exempt from rate and form filings in New Jersey.

290105-00

Surcharges—driver

My insured is a truck driver. He had two accidents while driving a commercial vehicle in the course of employment. His previous insurance carrier excluded these accidents in calculating his eligibility points. Now the new insurer says they should be counted. Who's right?

290120-00

Minimum—earned premium

One of our commercial clients purchased a policy in the surplus lines market. It provides for a 25 percent minimum-earned premium. We now find we can do a better job for the client with another company, but even though the client is only in the first month of the first renewal of this policy, the minimum-earned premium will be over $30,000. Is there anything amiss here?

900009-00

'Extra expense'—temporary location

We insure a senior residence that was damaged. The residents had to be housed at another location at a cost exceeding the rental value of the residence. The carrier will pay only the rental value under the CP 00 30 form, not the extra expense at the temporary location. Are they correct?

900015-00

Business interruption payroll coverage

Under the Business Income Coverage form, how do we help a client decide between insuring ordinary payroll vs. just that of key employees?

900077-00

Business interruption—’leader’ location

Have you ever heard of a coverage called “leader”? An adjuster suggested that our insured should have this.

900081-00

Floor plan coverage

What can you tell me about “floor plan” insurance?

900094-00

Bankrupt client

We’d like to know what the insured’s obligation is to the insurance company for premiums if the insured goes through Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

900106-00

Power-surge exclusion

A gas station with a package policy sustained a loss when a power surge shorted their computer equipment. It turned out that a tree limb on the premises was rubbing on the wires, creating power surges. Our company is denying coverage. Are they correct?

900124-00

First-named insured pays

Suppose that more than one company under common ownership was insured under a commercial package policy and the company that was listed as the first-named insured was to go bankrupt. If there are any premiums due, can the other company refuse to pay the premiums due on the previous policy?

900174-00

Umbrella drop-down provisions

We have an insured with an umbrella policy for $4 million in coverage, over a $1 million primary policy. If the carrier providing the underlying policy becomes insolvent, would the insured be able to collect on the umbrella policy?

900073-00

Additional insured vs. additional named insured

Please clarify the difference between an additional insured and an additional named insured.

900092-00

Completed operations

If a general contractor’s contract with a subcontractor contains a hold-harmless agreement that includes “any and all claims” (there is no restriction to bodily injury or property damage and there is no mention of products and completed operations), will the subcontractor’s contractual coverage respond to a completed operations claim?

900191-00

Deleting an additional insured

What would be the guidelines for deleting an additional insured from the policy?

900192-00

Completed operations liability

Could you please clarify the relationship between contractual liability and the additional insured endorsement with regard to completed operations coverage?

900337-00

Business interruption from power outage

Because of the storm, my client is without power and will be unable to operate his business until it is restored. Will the Business Income Coverage be applicable to this loss?