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Tesla, Insurers Address Expensive Repairs in Sharply Different Ways
Tesla Inc.’s electric vehicles are expensive to repair – so much so that the automaker and insurers are addressing the issue in sharply different ways. Chief Executive Elon Musk says Tesla is making design and software changes to its vehicles to lower repair costs and insurance premiums. Insurance carriers, meanwhile, are writing off low-mileage Tesla…
Read More7 Ways to Avoid Predatory Towing Companies
This post is part of a series sponsored by IAT Insurance Group. Companies that engage in disreputable towing — sometimes referred to as predatory towing — practices are preying on trucks in areas known to have an elevated frequency of crashes. They may even use nefarious means to contribute to likelihood of an accident.…
Read MoreVolatile cannabis flower prices in states with developed cannabis programs will impact insurance
Volatile cannabis flower prices in states with developed cannabis programs will impact insurance buying, while capacity will still be a challenge in 2023. Those were among the forecasts for the year from three subject matter experts. For our latest podcast we interviewed Roy Bingham, CEO of cannabis data provider BDSA, Jay Virdi, chief sales…
Read MoreAuto Insurance Shopping – and Switching – Increases
Drivers are not only shopping around for auto insurance more than ever, they are switching carriers. According to a quarterly report from J.D. Power, in collaboration with TransUnion, the quote rate for auto insurance in the fourth quarter 2022 was 12.1% and the switch rate was 4.1% – both are highs in the more…
Read MoreNevada Cannabis Regulators Issue Product Pesticide Advisory for Products
Nevada marijuana regulators have issued a health and safety advisory about widely available legal cannabis products produced in the Las Vegas area during the last 16 months using plants treated with an unapproved pesticide. The Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board bulletin said Henderson-based Clark Natural Medicinal Solutions treated some plants with Ethephon. According to the…
Read MoreConsumer Reports Urges Dark Chocolate Makers to Reduce Lead, Cadmium Levels
Consumer Reports on Monday urged four chocolate producers to commit by Valentine’s Day to reduce the amounts of lead and cadmium in their dark chocolate products, after testing revealed harmful levels of the heavy metals. In letters to Hershey Co., Mondelez International Inc., Theo Chocolate and Trader Joe’s, Consumer Reports said long-term exposure to…
Read MoreNo, a Purchase Order Is Not Like Insurance, State High Court Says in Reversal
A grocery chain is entitled to recoup costs it incurred defending an automatic door installer against negligence claims brought against them both, but it is not entitled to recover the costs it incurred defending itself under the terms of the installer’s purchase order. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has reversed a ruling by a lower…
Read MoreLaid Off Tech Workers Are About to Get Help—From Allstate
Allstate Corp. plans to tap the pool of recently fired tech workers to help the insurer overhaul its business. The company—best known for auto and home policies—is investing in technology including artificial intelligence and telematics, which sets premiums based on customers’ driving habits, to help it tap new clients and markets. Massive job cuts…
Read MoreFew Homeowners Have Flood Insurance in Soaked California
On Sunday morning, Kyle Starks woke up to floodwaters that reached the door of his Jeep after yet another heavy rain storm drenched California. Emergency crews showed up with boats to float Starks and other residents of his rural mobile home park in Acampo to safety. Beyond the physical destruction, the storm could pack…
Read MoreFewer Companies Are Paying Ransoms to Hackers, Researchers Say
Fewer companies that are infected with ransomware are coughing up extortion payments demanded by hackers, according to new research from Chainalysis Inc. In findings published on Thursday, the blockchain forensics firm estimated that ransom payments — which are almost always paid in cryptocurrency — fell to $456.8 million in 2022 from $765.6 million in 2021,…
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