RV Exposures, Golf Courses and Business Income Coverage

Insuring Nonowned RV Exposures
Only a small percentage of Americans own large boats or RVs. Yet quite a few assume the risk of renting such vehicles on summer vacation. How do you protect an insured who does not own an RV but might on some rare instance rent or borrow one and get into a liability situation?

There is good news if the insured is covered under an ISO Personal Auto Policy (PAP). It extends liability coverage to the named insured(s) and resident family members for the ownership, maintenance or use of “any auto.” While auto isn’t defined in the policy, it’s generally interpreted to mean any land motor vehicle designed for use on public roads to transport persons or property. That would include an RV.

The bad news is that there is no physical damage coverage under the ISO PAP. Potentially worse news is that many non-ISO forms won’t cover this. For more information, check out the full article.

Golf Course Liability
You hook a shot off the tee. After a glancing blow to the head of a prominent local attorney, the ball hits a passing car driven by a “golf widow” on a public road, then bounces through the window of the home of a municipal judge next to the fairway. Surprise…lawsuits are filed! Are you liable? Is the course liable? Do you have insurance coverage? The answers may surprise you.

Although we regularly sleep in Holiday Inn Expresses, we are not attorneys. However, we’ve done some research and discovered numerous legal articles and case law citations that we’ve listed or linked to in the full article that can be accessed at IAmagazine.com.

From the standpoint of the errant golfer, there is some homeowners coverage, though it might not be what you think it is. Check out the full detailed article for the story.

Golf Course Weather Damage and Business Income Coverage
High temperatures and drought conditions caused a golf course, despite its mitigation efforts, to lose most of its greens. A severe storm downed dozens and dozens of trees on a golf course. In both situations, business income was reduced or suspended for several months. Is this covered under standard ISO forms?

We know that ISO direct property forms cover trees, shrubs and plants for only minimal limits and perils, with drought and windstorm not being covered perils for such damage to trees and greens. But what about business income coverage? Has there been damage to “property” on the premises? Does the Special Causes of Loss form exclude these perils? The answer to these questions might stun you.

Visit the Virtual University for the answer. If you do not know or remember your Big “I” user name and password, send an email to logon@iiaba.net and provide your name, agency name and contact information to get a login, then use it at www.iiaba.net/VU.

Bill Wilson (bill.wilson@iiaba.net) is director of the Big “I” Virtual University, an online learning center for agents and brokers.