Chapter 1 - Insurance Terms and Related Concepts Flashcards
Law of Large Numbers
The larger the sample size the closer you get to a true average
Underwriting
The process insurance companies use to decide whether to accept or reject an application for a policy. Underwriters evaluate the risk and exposures of potential policy holders.Underwriters determine how much cover a policy holder receives, how much the policyholder pays, and whether or not to accept the risk to insure a potential holder.Underwriting involves evaluating risk exposure and determining premiums.
Peril
A cause of property losses within context of insurance contracts i.e. Natural disasters, vandalism, accidental discharge, and theft
Hazard
A situation that poses a level of threat. Usually dormant or potential with only a theoretical risk of harm. Can become “active” and create an emergency situation.
Direct Loss
Direct physical loss to property
Indirect loss
Loss that is not a direct damage of a peril but is a consequence of direct loss.e.x. Loss of business (Indirect loss) due to a fire destroying a storefront (Direct loss)
Principal of Indemnity
An insurance policy stating that the insured may not be compensated more than their economic loss
Property Insurance
Insurance coverage for real and personal property
Insurance Agreement
The section of the insurance policy specifying what the insurance policy will provide coverage for in exchange for a premium
Deductible
Amount paid by the insured before payments are made by the insurance provider, applied per occurrence. Deductibles are typically larger in Texas than other states and are usually a percentage deductible always taken from Coverage A. Specified in the Declaration Page
Cancellation
Termination of insurance agreement by either the insurance company or the insured.
Limit of Liability
The maximum amount an insurance policy will pay. Specified in the Declaration Page
Loss Settlement
The process used to determine the amount of the loss.There are four methods used to determine a loss settlement.
What are the four methods to determine a loss settlment?
- Actual Cash Value (ACV)
- Replacement Cost (RCV)
- Agreed Cost
- Market Value
Actual Cash Value
The value of property, based on the current cost to replace it, minus applicable depreciation.
Replacement Cost
The cost associated with replacing property at current market prices
Agreed Value
Amount agreed upon by the insured and the insurer at the time of the policy inception
Market Value
The amount that the property is worth in a competitive market. This amount is accepted by the buyer and the seller
Casualty Insurance
Protects a person from financial loss arising from bodily injury or property damage to others arising out of:
- Ownership of property
- Operation of motor vehicles
- Personal activities
- Business activities
- Burglary, robbery, and theft
- Worker’s compensation injuries
- Malpractice
Liability
A person is legally liable for an accident if they are found responsible if they are responsible for bodily injury or property damage to another property. Liability is usually a result of negligence.
Negligence
the failure to exercise care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise
Tort
A wrong that involves a breach of a civil duty owed to someone else. This breach will determine negligence. The essential elements to determine negligence are:
- Duty owed
- Duty breached
- Proximate cause
- Damages
-Punitive Damages
The amount awarded by the court in an attempt to reform or deter the defendant from engaging in similar conduct in the future.
Comparative Negligence
A partial legal defense that reduces the amount of damages a person can receive based upon their own negligence contributing to the loss
Contributory Negligence
A law defense where a person’s own negligence contributed to the harm that he or she received.
Assumption of Risk
A defense that prevents a person from recovery against a negligent party if it can be proven that the person was aware of the risks associated with the activity that the person was engaged in.
Accident
An unforeseen, unintended event; something unexpected. The point of insurance is to protect against accidents
Act of God
Natural causes with no human intervention which could not have been prevented by reasonable care or foresight.
Additional Living Expenses
Extra charges covered by Homeowner Policies over and above the policyholder’s customary living expenses due to damages by a covered peril that makes the home temporarily uninhabitable.I.e covering the cost of the hotel in which the policy holder stays at while their house is being repaired.It will not cover normal expenses such as mortgage on the house as that is a normal expense.
Adverse Selection
The tendency of insured’s who present a higher probability of loss to purchase or renew insurance more often than those who present a lower probability.
All Risk Insurance
Coverage providing insurance protection against loss of or damage to property arising from any causes except those causes of loss that are specifically excluded in the Exclusions section of the policy.
Appraisal
A form of dispute resolution that occurs when there is a dispute between the insured and the insurance agency regarding the amount of the claim. Both parties hire an appraiser to represent them. The two appraisers will attempt to settle the dispute.If unable to settle the dispute an umpire will adjudicate.
Attractive Nuisance
The belief that one who maintains a dangerous condition which is likely to attract children on their property is under duty to post a warning or take affirmative action to protect children from the dangers of that attraction.
Betterment
an improvement to property that puts it in better condition than it was before the occupancy or loss.
Breach of Contract
A failure to comply with terms and conditions of an insurance policy that may result in restricted coverage or void the policy
Bodily Injury
Bodily harm, sickness, or disease
Claimant
The party that makes a claim
Catastrophe
A severe disaster that involves a large population and normally generates a large amount of property damage and/or bodily injury
Coinsurance Policy
A provision requiring a specified amount of insurance based upon the value of the insured property.
an agreement between an insurance company and a business owner to share the cost of a claim
Collision
Coverage that pays for the damage to your car without regard to who caused the accident. Applies to car collisions or collisions with other objects.
Commercial General Liability
Provides commercial general liability coverage, including premise and operations, products and completed operations, and other liability options.
Comprehensive Coverage
Auto coverage that pays for damage or loss from causes other than an accident. I.e. flood, hail, vandalism, fire, and theft
Concealment
The act of purposely not reporting information that would affect the issuance or rate of an insurance contract. Concealment can give the insurer grounds to nullify the contract or not pay out a claim.
Concurrent Causation
The insurance theory stating that if loss or damage is a result of more than one cause, one of which is covered while the other is not, the damages are still likely to be covered by the insurer.
Conditions
The part of the insurance policy that details the rights and duties of the insured and the insurance company in the policy