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Benji Riggins

We are a locally owned and operated independent insurance agency with two locations in Union County, NC (Monroe and Indian Trail).  We have a staff of 7 licensed agents with over 100 years of experience providing North Carolina residents with peace of mind.  We specialize in home and auto coverage but also offer all lines of insurance including specialty vehicles, commercial, life, and health.

We represent some of the most respected insurance companies in the country including Met Life, Farmers, GMAC, Progressive, Lititz Mutual, and others.  Our ability to place your policies with multiple carriers enables us to provide you with options in coverages and price to assure you the best insurance value for your money.

We appreciate the opportunity our clients extend in allowing us to provide for their families financial security.

Thanks

Benji Riggins

New public opinion survey findings from the Insurance Research Council (IRC) indicate that 26 percent of those surveyed said that allowing such lawsuits was a poor idea, and 31 percent said it was only a fair idea.

A first-party bad-faith lawsuit is one where individuals sue their own insurance company because they believe the company acted in “bad faith” in the settlement of their claim. Only a few states allow individuals to sue their own insurance company in this manner, although several states have recently debated, and rejected, legislation authorizing first-party bad-faith lawsuits.

The survey also asked whether respondents would be willing to pay more for insurance in order to allow first-party bad-faith lawsuits. Forty-seven percent said they were “not at all willing” to pay more and 24 percent said they were “not very willing” to pay more. Even among those who thought that allowing first-party bad-faith lawsuits was a good or an excellent idea, one-half (51 percent) said they were unwilling to pay more for insurance in order to allow the lawsuits.

“These findings indicate a substantial lack of public support for legislation that would generate more lawsuits and higher costs for insurance consumers,” said Elizabeth Sprinkel, senior vice president of the IRC.

Read more: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/07/29/112009.htm#ixzz0vBHKxVMN

At the same time, the number of claims referred for suspected fraud increased by 136 percent, from 301 in 2006 to 711 in 2009, according to a National Insurance Crime Bureau report that examines both hail loss claims and hail loss questionable claims (QCs) for the period Jan. 1, 2006 through March 31, 2010.

During this period, Texas was the top state in both hail loss claims and hail loss QCs with 298,798 claims and 521 QCs. The top 10 states represented 75 percent of the total number of hail losses and 82 percent of the QCs.

Illinois had the highest ratio of hail loss QCs to claims, with 881 hail loss QCs for every 1,000 hail loss claims. Nearly nine of every 1,000 claims filed for hail loss were deemed suspicious enough to forward to NICB for further investigation.

“These statistics back up what our agents have been experiencing in their field investigations,” said Joe Wehrle, NICB president and CEO. “There are a lot of unscrupulous fly-by-night roofers and repairmen who are what we call ’storm chasers.’ They follow the storms and deliberately try to rip off unsuspecting home owners and their insurers by making unnecessary repairs or deliberately inflicting intentional damage to a roof or siding to try to get insurance money.”

The National Insurance Crime Bureau, headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., is supported by nearly 1,100 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insurers.

Read more: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/06/03/110366.htm#ixzz0ptzD2UH7

Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is projecting a 70 percent probability of the following ranges:

14 to 23 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including:
8 to 14 hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which:
3 to 7 could be major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)
“If this outlook holds true, this season could be one of the more active on record,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “The greater likelihood of storms brings an increased risk of a landfall. In short, we urge everyone to be prepared.”

The outlook ranges exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

According to NOAA, the expected factors supporting this outlook are:

Upper atmospheric winds conducive for storms. Wind shear, which can tear apart storms, will be weaker since El Niño in the eastern Pacific has dissipated. Strong wind shear helped suppress storm development during the 2009 hurricane season.

Warm Atlantic Ocean water. Sea surface temperatures are expected to remain above average where storms often develop and move across the Atlantic. Record warm temperatures – up to four degrees Fahrenheit above average – are now present in this region.

High activity era continues. Since 1995, the tropical multi-decadal signal has brought favorable ocean and atmospheric conditions in sync, leading to more active hurricane seasons. Eight of the last 15 seasons rank in the top ten for the most named storms with 2005 in first place with 28 named storms.

“The main uncertainty in this outlook is how much above normal the season will be. Whether or not we approach the high end of the predicted ranges depends partly on whether or not La Niña develops this summer,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “At present we are in a neutral state, but conditions are becoming increasingly favorable for La Niña to develop.”

FEMA Ready
Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is urging residents to prepare.

“FEMA is working across the administration and with our state and local partners to ensure we’re prepared for hurricane season,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “But we can only be as prepared as the public, so it’s important that families and businesses in coastal communities take steps now to be ready. These include developing a communications plan, putting together a kit, and staying informed of the latest forecasts and local emergency plans. You can’t control when a hurricane or other emergency may happen, but you can make sure you’re ready.”

President Obama recently designated May 23 through 29 as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. NOAA and FEMA encourage those living in hurricane-prone states to use this time to review their overall preparedness. More information on individual and family preparedness can be found at http://www.Ready.gov and http://www.hurricanes.gov/prepare.

NOAA said its scientists will continue to monitor evolving conditions in the tropics and will issue an updated hurricane outlook in early August, just prior to what is historically the peak period for hurricane activity.

Read more: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/05/27/110239.htm#ixzz0pu54dqxt

The unanimous Senate vote sent the measure to President Barack Obama for his signature. The House had previously approved reauthorization.

Once President Obama signs the bill into law, the NFIP should return to normal operations, according to the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”). Also, since the extension is retroactive, any new policy applications or renewals that were signed and submitted during the hiatus will be effective from the date of application or, in the case of waiting periods, the waiting period will start from the date of application.

The Big “I” said that while the resumption of the program is welcome, the spring lapse — the third time this year it has been forced to halt operations– has caused difficulties for homeowners and small businesses.

“It is alarming that the NFIP was allowed to remain expired for so long, causing so much confusion and potentially leaving desperate homeowners and small businesses unprotected for almost a month,” said Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president and CEO. “While the Big ‘I’ is appreciative of Congress extending the program on a temporary basis, we are also greatly concerned that these short expiration periods and patchwork of temporary extensions will negatively impact the market.”

The industry has urged Congress to enact a long term extension of the program.

“The hurricane season runs two months beyond the NFIP’s new Sept. 30 expiration date,” said Jimi Grande, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) senior vice president of federal and political affairs. “Congress must not let the program lapse again, but that’s just the minimum. The best thing they can do is take this time to pass legislation that would implement common sense reforms and help the NFIP make the first steps towards financial soundness.”

HR 5114, sponsored by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., is awaiting action by the House and would reauthorize the NFIP for five years.

Read more: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/07/01/111226.htm#ixzz0sRmFmA6x

Forecasters also said that at least three of the storms would move through the region currently affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

According to AccuWeather’s chief hurricane forecaster, Joe Bastardi, the U.S. will experience its worse storms during September. “Expect eight named storms in September and three or four U.S. impacts.”

Forecasters are predicting more activity in part because sea temperatures are higher than normal west of Africa, while activity related to El Nino, which can act to retard Atlantic hurricane activity, has declined.

The U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is also predicting an active season, forecasting 14 to 23 named storms. The most active season on record occurred in 2005, when there were 28 named storms, including Hurricane Katrina.

The program has been suspended from issuing new policies since May 31. Reauthorization provisions have been embedded in controversial legislation on jobless benefits and tax breaks that has been twice voted down in the Senate.

The newly-passed House bill, HR 5569, was sponsored Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., and Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C.

The Senate must still act on it.

The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (Big “I”) commended the House for its vote and urged the Senate to act quickly.

“The program has been expired since May 31, putting millions of consumers at risk from the economic dangers of flood right in the midst of the hurricane season and storm season in the Midwest. The expiration has also threatened to wreak havoc in both the real estate and insurance markets during a period of great economic difficulty. It is vital that the program be extended and we therefore urge the Senate to act on this bill without delay,” said Charles Symington, Big “I” senior vice president of government affairs.

The program has been unable to issue new or renewal policies since it was shut down May 31, although it is still paying claims. It is the fourth time in the past year that the program has been interrupted due to the failure of Congress to reauthorize it for an extended period.

The Big “I” and other industry groups hope that Congress will move beyond temporary extensions and pass legislation that authorizes the program for five years and makes certain reforms to it.

Read more: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/06/23/111009.htm#ixzz0rhwYXnlQ

Along with short term extensions for numerous other federal programs, the NFIP extension was passed by the House just prior to the Memorial Day recess. It was voted down by the Senate today amid concerns that other, unrelated provisions in the bill would add to the federal budget deficit. Should the Senate approve an amended version, the legislation would have to go back to the House for another vote in that chamber.

The Senate vote drew criticism from the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC).

“It’s been over two weeks since the National Flood Insurance Program was allowed to expire, and the program is still being held up because of unrelated issues,” said Jimi Grande, NAMIC senior vice president of federal and political affairs. “This lack of action by Congress is unacceptable, particularly when we’re in the first few weeks of the 2010 hurricane season.”

The Atlantic storm season began June 1 and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecasted that 2010 will be among the most active seasons ever. The NOAA predicts that 2010 will see 14 to 23 named storms, with eight to 14 of those developing into hurricanes. Of those, the NOAA has said that three to seven may develop into Category 3 or above hurricanes with winds of over 110 miles per hour.

“We cannot afford to have political disagreements get in the way of protecting millions of Americans from flood losses,” Grande said.

Source: NAMIC

Read more: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/06/16/110798.htm#ixzz0rDbxnJHL

The outlook from the Colorado State University team follows predictions by U.S. government scientists for an intense season that could disrupt efforts to contain a huge Gulf of Mexico oil spill and also batter earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

Increasing a previous estimate for a “very active” season, the leading CSU storm research team founded by hurricane forecast pioneer William Gray said the six-month season beginning on June 1 would likely see 18 named tropical storms.

Of these, CSU saw 10 becoming hurricanes, with five becoming major Category 3 or higher hurricanes with winds above 110 miles per hour.

The CSU scientists increased their forecast from an April 7 prediction of 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

“The probability of a major hurricane making landfall along the U.S. coastline is 76 percent compared with the last-century average of 52 percent,” said forecaster Phil Klotzbach, who works with Gray.

The CSU team saw a 51 percent chance that a major hurricane would make landfall on the U.S. East Coast, including the Florida Peninsula, and a 51 percent chance that one would hit the Gulf Coast, from the Florida Panhandle to Brownsville, Texas.

It put the chance of a major hurricane tracking into the Caribbean at 65 percent.

The expected extreme hurricane season this year is seen posing a threat to efforts to control and clean up oil spewing from a ruptured Gulf of Mexico well owned by BP Plc, described by President Barack Obama’s administration as the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.

Experts warn that a storm surge in the Gulf of Mexico — an abnormal rise in sea level created by a hurricane — could whip the oil slick and chemicals used in trying to disperse it out of the Gulf and ashore on beaches, vegetation and even homes.

HAITI VULNERABLE
“If the storm tracks to the west of the oil, there is the potential that the counter-clockwise circulation of the hurricane could drive some of the oil further toward the U.S. Gulf Coast,” Klotzbach said.

But he added the forecasters did not see the huge, fragmented oil slick itself having much of an impact on any tropical storm or hurricane passing over the area.

There are fears too about how a major hurricane sweeping through the Caribbean over Haiti would affect around 1.5 million homeless survivors of the Jan. 12 earthquake who are camping out in the streets under tents and tarpaulins.

Quake survivors living in the makeshift camps are seen as highly vulnerable to the tropical rains, flooding and landslides which have killed thousands of Haitians in the past.

Detailing weather conditions seen favoring the formation of hurricanes, Gray said the CSU team increased its forecast “due to a combination of a transition from El Nino to current neutral conditions and the continuation of unusually warm tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures.”

Warmer waters contribute to the development of hurricanes and dissipation of the El Nino weather phenomenon over the Pacific Ocean reduces the probability of wind shear — caused by a clash between prevailing upper-levels winds out of the west and lower-level easterly winds out of Africa — that can tear apart hurricanes or break up their circulation.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week predicted one of the more active hurricane seasons on record, forecasting 14 to 23 named storms, with eight to 14 becoming hurricanes, nearly matching 2005’s record of 15.

The Gulf Coast may see a repeat of the 2005 season when a record 28 storms formed, which killed nearly 4,000 people and caused an estimated $130 billion in damages. The list included Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans.

By Pascal Fletcher
June 3, 2010
(Editing by Tom Brown and Mohammad Zargham)
Read more: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/06/03/110405.htm#ixzz0pu01Qk26