Specialty Insurance

Automobile manufacturers design some very sophisticated and high-powered automobiles for customers who use them for everyday driving and transportation with a possibility of weekend racing. At one time most road racing or drag racing enthusiasts custom-built their own performance cars from stock models using custom racing equipment. These drivers were also usually very experienced racing enthusiasts and knew how to handle such cars. The introduction of high-powered vehicles to non-racing drivers can be deadly to both the driver and others because they lack training and do not understand the vehicle's power. Standard markets often decline to insure these vehicles. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Barber shop premises liability and barber shop professional liability coverage should be combined on a single policy. Most Businessowners Policies (BOPs) provide this combined liability for eligible operations. However, barber shops that do not qualify for a BOP treatment will need to find such coverage with a carrier that specializes in their exposures. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Beauty shop premises liability and beauty shop professional liability coverage should be combined on a single policy. Most Business Owners Policies (BOPs) provide this combined liability for eligible operations. However, beauty shops that do not qualify for a BOP treatment will need to find such coverage with a carrier that specializes in their exposures. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Coverage is available for nonprofit community service agencies and organizations, such as senior citizens community centers, home visitation services, youth centers, and neighborhood centers. Coverages provided usually include property, casualty, and professional liability coverages. These carriers underwrite this class of business: This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

This insurance covers errors in programs or in systems designed by computer software designers and consultants. In many cases, computer consultants' errors and omissions coverage is written as part of a package arranged for computer firms. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Convenience stores are usually a combination of a grocery store, variety store, and gas station. Many standard markets provide property and general liability coverages. Liquor liability, underground storage tank (UST) liability, crime, and workers compensation coverages may only be available in a specialty market. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Financial institutions' theft and trust exposures are significant and require underwriting specialists to analyze and insure them. Banks, savings and loan associations, mortgage bankers, and other financial institutions' exposures are based on their balance sheets, services offered, contractual obligations, and regulatory compliance. The exposures must be analyzed thoroughly to determine the exposures that must be insured and the ones that can be minimized or self-insured. By using deductibles, large cash and securities exposures can be covered more efficiently and proper attention paid to the truly catastrophic exposures. Some of the more important specialized coverages include financial institution bonds, errors and omissions coverage for trust department operations, lenders' single interest coverage on auto and vehicle loans, mortgage errors and omissions, and financial consultants' errors and omissions coverages. Directors and officers' liability coverage must also be considered. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Comprehensive insurance programs are available for firearms wholesalers, distributors, retailers, gunsmiths, ammunition manufacturers, and indoor and outdoor shooting ranges. They are treated as specialty business because of the hazards that firearms and live ammunition present. Commercial general liability, products liability, and broad form vendors' coverages are important because many state and federal regulations require them. Property coverage on firearms and ammunition may also be available. Deductibles usually apply to premises hazards. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Specialty carriers have developed homeowners and tenants package policies for low-value and nonstandard dwelling risks in distressed areas to provide alternatives to the urban area or statewide Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plans. FAIR Plans are very limited and do not offer "package" coverage on residential property. In contrast, property coverage and personal liability is combined in a single policy. The coverage is written on a named perils basis with mandatory deductibles. Premiums charged are higher than in the standard market and some policies are written under various state consent-to-rate requirements. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

This category lists service providers available to the insurance agent. These providers offer claims, loss control, risk management, rental car, glass repair, restoration services, and other specialized industry service needs. These services are usually paid based on commissions or a schedule of fees. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Janitorial service contractors provide daily, weekly, monthly, or other periodic building maintenance work. Services include washing windows and/or walls, waxing floors, shampooing carpets, and other building maintenance services. Most standard markets are not interested in writing them because of the access they have to buildings and the accompanying potential of bodily injury, property damage, and theft. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Bars, restaurants, hotels, motels, and other businesses that sell, distribute, or serve liquor need coverage for their vicarious liability for injury or damage that arises out of acts of patrons served alcoholic beverages in their establishments. Specialty insurers write liquor liability coverage. It covers common law and statutory liability exposures for the businesses and also owners, general lessees, or mortgagors of the property. Insurer interest in writing this coverage and the premium levels available vary from state to state, based on the liquor liability laws in each state. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

There are many distinctive features available in the Retail Business Insurance Policy: Property – To protect your business building(s), contents, and equipment from a covered accidental direct physical loss, Liability – To protect yourself financially against costly claims and lawsuits covered under the policy, Loss of Income – Covers the actual loss of business income caused by a suspension of operations because of covered accidental direct physical loss to the insured premises, including any extra expense incurred to the extent it minimizes the loss of income, Computer Property – Provides broad coverage, with certain exclusions, for computer equipment used in your business operations, including computers, computer peripherals, computer cables, and software, Equipment Breakdown – Provides coverage for damage to covered property caused by mechanical breakdown of covered equipment, and artificially generated current damaging covered equipment, Employee Dishonesty – Protection against direct physical loss to business personal property including money and securities resulting from dishonest acts committed by employees, Brands and Labels – Provides coverage for the cost to remove brands and labels and/or stamp salvage on merchandise that has been damaged by a covered cause of loss, Utility Interruption Loss of Income – Coverage for loss of income caused by the necessary suspension of your business due to failure of communications, water, natural gas, or electrical service to the premises, Signs – Coverage for accidental direct physical loss to signs attached to buildings (whether indoor or outdoor) and to outdoor signs not attached to buildings at the described premises owned by you or in your care, custody or control. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Schools and educational institutions face a variety of unique risks that require specialized insurance protection. From students participating in sports to the inherent dangers of running chemistry classes and taking students on field trips, there’s a lot that educational institutions, including private and charter schools, need to manage and protect. And that’s in addition to the typical issues most businesses prepare for like property damage or loss of critical files and records. Smaller educational institutions, including private and charter schools, will need a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP). Why? Because it protects your school and the business of running it, in much the same way a homeowner’s insurance policy protects your home and personal possessions. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Liability coverage for security patrol and detective agencies is available from primarily excess and surplus lines markets and specialty coverage programs. Underwriters pay close attention to employee training, use of firearms, the exact type or nature of patrol work performed, use of guard dogs, and previous losses. Premium is based on payroll and coverage is subject to a deductible. Some underwriters and programs include professional liability coverage and personal injury liability coverage. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

The electronic systems marketplace including: Commercial and residential technology integrators, Residential and commercial alarm systems installation, Residential and commercial alarm monitoring companies, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)/access control/communication systems installation, Low-voltage wiring/electrical wiring within buildings, Electricians. COVERAGE HIGHLIGHTS: Broad form commercial general liability – occurrence form, Tailored professional errors and omissions on an occurrence form, No property damage/care, custody and control sub limits, No hidden sublimit for important coverages or sunset clauses, Coverage for subcontractors’ work, No warranty clauses requiring a contract in place for coverage to apply, No water damage limitations, Customized additional insured forms to meet contractual requirements. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Every business, even if home-based, needs to have liability insurance. The policy provides both defense and damages if you, your employees or your products or services cause or are alleged to have caused Bodily Injury or Property Damage to a third party. Both types of insurance policies protect against losses caused by the company or its employees in addition to protection against third-party lawsuits. Also, some businesses may carry business interruption insurance. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Shopping centers may qualify as a specialty insurance risk if the property limits are extremely high. High concentrations of building and contents values, extremely large undivided floor areas, windowless buildings, exposures from hazardous occupancies, and exterior exposures are some property-related considerations that must be weighed and evaluated. Shopping malls may include supermarkets, restaurants, bowling centers, and motion picture theaters that must be underwritten carefully. Public liability exposures related to crowd control inside the building and parking lot incidents outside the building are significant. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

A strip shopping center may have only one tenant or may have multiple tenants, but all tenants areas are entered from the parking lot or sidewalk. There is no common interior area that is the shopping center owner’s responsibility. Some strip shopping center owners own multiple centers, which usually makes the overall property schedule more attractive due to the spread of risk. Parking lot exposures and vacancy are the two most difficult issues to address. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Substandard and Low- Valued Dwelling Fire Insurance, Substandard Businessowners Policy, Substandard Crime Insurance, Substandard Fire (Commercial), Substandard General Liability, Substandard Malpractice and Professional Liability, Substandard Package Policies. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.

Zoos can be very large and diverse or very small and specialized. They may be open to the general public or limited to only researchers. The consistency is that wild animals are kept in a controlled environment in which they are cared for by human handlers. The entities may be governmental, for profit or not-for-profit entities. Risks include walk-through and drive-through zoos, wildlife refuges, parks, and aquariums. Coverages available include commercial general liability, property, commercial automobile, business income, inland marine, workers compensation, crime, food-borne illness, excess/umbrella liability, and professional liability. Animal mortality coverage may be available on a stand-alone basis. This explanation of insurance benefits is provided by Insurance Marketplace.