Recognizing -- and Writing -- Liability Risks

Despite the headlines, the Florida insurance market is not just about property. Lost amid all the press about homeowners’ insurance is the fact that in Florida more than $1 billion in premium is placed in the Excess & Surplus (E&S) marketplace for mono-line general liability, excess liability, umbrella, and professional liability/E&O insurance.

In professional liability, general liability and umbrella business, the coverage classes are incredibly diverse and fluid. Changes often are prompted by trends showing adverse claims experience or judgments handed down by various jurisdictions. Because regulators require admitted carriers to obtain approval for changes in rates and Terms & Conditions, insurers often cannot react quickly to these emerging trends. E&S writers, not bound by those restrictions, can make the necessary policy and rate adjustments to make these risks more insurable.

In the general liability arena, the admitted marketplace has been quite aggressive over the past few years. By writing as much general liability business as it can, it is trying to make up for lower premium writings as it exits many property lines of business.