You may have heard about a lawsuit filed against insurance companies for allegedly illegally raising rates for companies they insure. If your business has been operating the same way for many years but has experienced an increase in your premiums, you may be entitled to compensation. This lawsuit is brought against insurance companies that improperly raised rates on businesses they insure. However, you may still be eligible for compensation if your business operations have not changed.
Natural disasters
In the year 2020, Aon estimates that worldwide losses from natural catastrophes will total $210 billion, up from $166 billion in 2019. This figure includes the insured losses from 980 events (including hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods) and other perils. These natural disasters will affect both private and government insurers. The estimated losses from 2019 events will total $82 billion, while the costs from 2020 events will top $133 billion.
The most devastating effects of disasters come from the human toll. However, the long-term impact of these disasters is far more significant: the loss of dollar value can be measured in years and may influence transformative policy decisions. Moreover, disaster-prone areas are increasingly being hit by natural disasters, which can increase the costs of commercial insurance coverage. This inevitably affects insurance providers, resulting in increased premiums and even dropping policyholders.
Investors’ lawsuits against boards and officers
Concern about directors’ and officers’ liability has already started to affect the pricing of commercial insurance. The rate of such lawsuits has been higher than the rate of other securities litigation. And it could continue to do so as SPAC litigation is expected to increase in the years to come. The concern is already affecting pricing, and this concern is affecting D&O rates as well. Here are some facts about SPAC litigation that should help you understand its impact on commercial insurance pricing.
Inflationary pressures
The recent increase in consumer prices is putting insurers under serious inflationary pressures. The rate of inflation has risen faster than overall consumer prices for various goods and services, including food, construction materials, auto parts, and legal expenses. As a result, insurers are facing increased expenses and claims, increasing the upward pressure on premiums. While the rise in consumer prices has been a long-term trend, recent events have increased the risk of unexpectedly high inflation.
Social inflation, or the emergence of anti-corporate sentiment, has become a growing threat to insurers. Moreover, the shift from a profit-generating model to one that incorporates social responsibility has prompted insurers to seek alternative ways to reduce claims costs. Understanding these trends can help insurers navigate an increasingly litigious environment. In the United States, for instance, a recent trend in the number of lawsuits has shifted focus from business to consumer and away from profit-making businesses toward social causes.
Social inflation
As lawsuits and court awards increase, so does the cost of insurance. Several factors have exacerbated the problem, including social trends, legal decisions, and perceptions about litigation. Insurers have been aware of social inflation for a long time, but recent trends have made this issue more obvious. The result is rising premiums and limits for insurance policies. In addition, litigation costs have been soaring as the number of trucking-related crashes and resulting settlements increases.
One of the reasons for the trend toward increased litigation is the proliferation of the plaintiffs’ bar. The plaintiffs’ bar has increasingly advanced its techniques in recent years. It has expanded its use of psychologists specializing in group dynamics and jury consultants. The cost of lawsuits and awards has increased at a faster pace than the rate of the general economy. These factors are the root causes of social inflation and have prompted increased lawsuit activity in many countries.