Live Insurance News

Unpacking the State Farm Ruling That Redefined What ‘Land Motor Vehicle’ Means

May 5, 2025May 5, 2025 Nordstrom

Electric Scooters Declared “Land Motor Vehicles” and the Insurance World Takes Note On April 23, 2025, the Indiana Court of Appeals delivered a game-changing decision for anyone navigating today’s fast-evolving transportation landscape. The ruling declared that an electric scooter qualifies as a “land motor vehicle” under Michelle DiPego’s uninsured motorist insurance policy with State Farm. At its core, this case addressed an all-too-common question in urban life today: who pays when hoverboards, scooters, or other techie transport devices cause accidents? DiPego’s story is simple but impactful. While walking in Baltimore,…

Your Car Knows What You Did Last Summer (And It’s Telling)

May 1, 2025April 30, 2025 Nordstrom

What You Need to Know About the Growing Debate Over Vehicle Data Tracking Imagine hopping into your car, ready to make the morning commute. You think your biggest question is whether traffic will cooperate. But what if your car has been quietly collecting details about your habits all along? Where you drive, how fast you go, your braking patterns—even data about your phone’s movements. And now, news of major lawsuits is raising the stakes on how this data might be used without your knowledge. Who’s being taken to court, and…

Colorado’s Crash Prevention Plan: Safer Roads, Better Insurance Rates?

April 30, 2025April 30, 2025 Tate Ellison

Safer Roads Ahead? Colorado’s Push for Cutting Collisions and Costs A bold initiative is underway in Colorado to address the rising costs of auto insurance through a unique combination of infrastructure improvements, safety measures, and dedicated funding. The Colorado House of Representatives has proposed House Bill 1303, commonly known as the Crash Prevention Enterprise, which aims to reduce collisions, enhance road safety, and potentially lower auto insurance premiums. At the center of the bill is a modest $3 fee for every insured vehicle in the state, generating necessary funding for…

New York’s New Pet Liability Ruling: What Every Pet Owner Needs to Know

April 30, 2025April 29, 2025 Nordstrom

Owning a pet just got a little more serious in New York, thanks to a groundbreaking decision by the state’s highest court. If you’re a pet owner, you might want to pay attention, because the rules about who’s responsible when something goes wrong have changed in a big way. The New York Court of Appeals recently decided that pet owners can now be held liable for injuries caused by their animals—not just under the long-standing “strict liability” rules, but also for negligence. What does that mean for you? It means…

House Bill 116 and the Fight to Insure Alaska’s Commercial Fishing Industry

April 30, 2025April 30, 2025 Logan B.

Alaska’s Fishing Industry Faces Commercial Insurance Crisis For Alaska’s commercial fishermen, the rising cost and dwindling availability of insurance have created choppy waters in an already challenging industry. Insurance premiums for fishing vessels have surged, and older boats are finding it nearly impossible to gain coverage. Some fishermen are even contemplating leaving the industry, unable to bear the financial risk. The numbers tell a sobering story. Alaska’s seafood industry suffered a $1.8 billion economic hit between 2022 and 2023, and higher insurance costs aren’t helping matters. Many older vessels, though…

Rewriting Arkansas Rules for Liability in Off-Road Motorcycles Under Act 312

April 29, 2025April 28, 2025 Marc

Arkansas Act 312 Paves the Way for Safer, Sustainable Off-Road Recreation Arkansas has made a bold leap into the world of off-road recreation liability with the passage of Act 312, signed into law by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on March 18. This new legislation, which introduces the concept of “inherent risk” for off-road motorcyclists, is aimed at striking a delicate balance between participant responsibility and landowner liability. The law not only protects event organizers and private landowners but also lays down a framework that could help the off-road industry flourish.…

The Hidden Link Between Fireproof Homes and Affordable Insurance in Idaho

April 29, 2025April 28, 2025 Live Insurance News

Idaho’s ‘Home Hardening’ Initiative Tackles Wildfire Risk and Insurance Challenges Idaho homeowners are feeling the heat, and not just from soaring summer temperatures. With an increasing number of wildfires blazing across the region, insurers are pulling out. By 2025, nearly 25 of the 91 insurance carriers operating in the state had left, citing wildfire risks as the main culprit. And for those that remain, stricter underwriting practices mean higher premiums or outright refusals to renew coverage. Dean Cameron, director of the Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI), puts it bluntly, “Insurance…