Claims Pages - The Editor's Notes
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[2014] August - Vol. XXVI, No. 15
In the last decade, our Depreciation Guide has been downloaded over 250,000 times by insurance adjusters around the World and we can’t thank you enough for trusting us with your work.Over those 10 years, we have periodically updated and modified the content of the document, but as you know, the document has always looked the same. No formatting, no lines, no color, no fun.Gone are the days of “Times New Roman” and unnecessary page counts. We’ve fit the same amount of content in to 20% less space, so you’ll save some paper when you need to print.We added alternating row-colors and sans-serif fonts to make each line item easier to read at a glance.The Depreciation Guide suggests life expectancy and depreciation rates for items in a variety of categories such as appliances, furniture, jewelry, office equipment and so much more.We would love to hear any of your ideas on how to evolve and improve the Depreciation Guide, so please, send us your suggestions. With your help, I think we could see twice as many downloads over the next 10 years!Chris WaltersSenior Web Developer & Designer -
[2014] July - Vol. XXVI, No. 14
For years, we here at The Claims Pages have continually upgraded our StormWatch area. We consider our service one of the best available for monitoring and tracking tropical storms and hurricanes. By aggregating information from a myriad of different sources, we offer an all-in-one package for storm updates. After years of focus specifically on storms, we have decided to expand our coverage.Introducing the all-new, Earthquake Tracker!
The Earthquake Tracker is configured to monitor the entire continent of North America. It analyzes all earthquakes with a 2.5 magnitude or larger and even tracks depths in real-time. The interface is color-coded to help you easily spot those heavy rumbles and the most recent quakes are plotted on a map to help you identify dense concentrations.
We have even bigger plans for the Earthquake Tracker in the near future. Live tweets, e-mail alerts and even a historical archive cataloging over 50,000 earthquakes dating back to 1950 are all on the way.
Let us know what you think of the new addition to the StormWatch family and what you would like to see us track next. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Chris WaltersSenior Web Developer & Designer -
[2014] July - Vol. XXVI, No. 13
Shortly before Hurricane Arthur reached the North Carolina coast, we began to tweet StormWatch alerts. Anytime there is a change in status from a tropical depression to a tropical storm or from a tropical storm to a hurricane, we send out an alert. Just Follow Us to receive them on Twitter or Subscribe to our real-time email notifications.We’ve also launched a redesign of our tools area (though we’re still working on some individual tools), and added a continuing education filter for events in our calendar area. Just select the state in which you need CE credits to view the conferences, certification courses and training sessions which are offering them.More changes are planned, so stay tuned…Michael W. Kay, CPCU, AIC -
[2014] June - Vol. XXVI, No. 12
You may not have noticed it, but we recently modified our Calendar & Stormwatch areas to match the design in other parts of our website. In the process, we added additional maps and updated links in the Stormwatch area, and we included an expanded list of tags (Catastrophe, Litigation, Ocean Marine, Special Investigations, Subrogation, Technology, etc.) in our Calendar area to allow for more filtering. In the near future, we plan on adding another calendar option to filter those events by state-approved CE credits.
And if you don’t already “Follow” our Twitter feed, you might want to do so now. Beside the claims news, video and jobs that we tweet each day, we have also begun tweeting 60-Day, 30-Day & 15-Day reminders on upcoming events. By limiting the number and types of tweets we send out each day, our Twitter feed is a great way of keeping up with what’s going on in the world of insurance claims
Michael W. Kay, CPCU, AIC -
[2014] June - Vol. XXVI, No. 11
In late May, the California Department of Motor Vehicles approved the testing of autonomous vehicles on public roads. A few days later, Googleannounced plans to put 200 fully autonomous two-seat vehicles (with no steering wheel or pedals) on the road for testing later this year.Although Google cars only have a maximum speed of 25 mph now, it’s sure to increase after successful trials. That’s good news for those who need a getaway car.
Meanwhile, GM has labeled Google cars as a“competitive threat” and is working on an autonomous vehicle of their own called EN-V. GM is also pursuing semi-autonomous “Super Cruise” technology to support hands-off lane following, braking and speed control.
With all these changes in technology, liability investigations are going to become highly complex as well. What will happen when a fully autonomous vehicle hits a semi-autonomous vehicle? How about when a Google car runs over a jay-walking pedestrian? Do you just press the “I’m feeling lucky” button?
Michael W. Kay, CPCU, AIC -
[2014] May - Vol. XXVI, No. 10
It doesn’t seem that long ago when I started handling claims with my three-ply statement sheets, Polaroid camera and a stack of bank drafts. I trekked backed and forth between two counties in rural North Carolina in a company “cop car” and filed my reports by dictating a summary of each claim into a handheld cassette recorder. Despite handling auto, liability, property and workers’ comp claims, life was so much simpler then.Later came “inside” claims handling, business line specialization, cat teams, recorded statements, digital cameras, cell phones, GPS tracking, paperless offices, personal computers, email accounts, check cards and claim file audits. All designed to make my life easier…Michael W. Kay, CPCU, AIC -
[2014] May - Vol. XXVI, No. 9
Have you ever handled an auto liability claim where accident scene photos were not taken and later road construction made it impossible to obtain them? Well thanks to Google, you may just have a second byte at that apple.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Google announced that they were launching an enhancement to their Google Maps “Street View” product that would allow users to see how a location looked in the past. Just take a look at Hendricks Avenue in Tampa and click the clock symbol in the top left corner of the screen to enter the Google time machine. A total of seven 360 degree views of this intersection since 2007.You have to wonder about the admissibility of these photos in a court case, but their sheer existence could be a game changer for some.On a completely unrelated note, the Anomalous Mind Management, Abductee, Contactee Helpline is staging its inaugural conference on May 31 in Sussex (UK) to help those who believe they have had contact with extra-terrestrial beings. The rest of us will be attending the PLRB Western Regional Adjusters Conference in Bellevue, Washington from June 10-11.Michael W. Kay, CPCU, AIC -
[2014] April - Vol. XXVI, No. 8
Although most of us know of and use Google Maps for finding places and getting driving directions, the somewhat-hidden Google Maps Gallery contains a wealth of historical maps relating to hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados and more. Make sure to check out the before/after overlays from the March 2014 Washington landslide. It’s eye-opening.
Atlantic Tropical Cyclones : 1851 - 2004
Earthquakes from the Last Week
FEMA MOTF-Hurricane Sandy Impact Analysis
Historical North Atlantic Hurricane Tracks
Significant U.S. Earthquakes 1568-2009
Tornado Spatial Hazard Events and Losses for the United States, 1995-2009
Washington Landslide
Michael W. Kay, CPCU, AIC -
[2014] April - Vol. XXVI, No. 7
The phrase “human airbag” had special meaning when I was in college taking political science courses, but Ducati has now given us an alternate definition with their WiFi connected motorcycle jackets with a built-in airbag. This isn’t the safety sphere that some theorized about a few years ago. It’s more of a souped-up life preserver. After watching the Ducati airbag video, I have to wonder how much protection it will really provide on an interstate at 65 mph.
Speaking of speed, are you familiar with Google Fiber. It’s currently operating in Kansas City, Provo & Austin and promises a gigabit internet connection which is 100 times faster than what most residences and businesses use now. Over the next few years, they’ll be expanding to a number of other cities across the country. It’s sure to drive down prices, especially since they are also offering a free internet plan in those markets (which will likely generate lawsuits alleging anti-competitive behavior).
Instant movie downloads from Netflix.
I can’t wait…
Michael W. Kay, CPCU, AIC -
[2014] March - Vol. XXVI, No.6
“As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction!” - An Irish Blessing
Greetings from the PLRB Claims Conference in Indianapolis!
When I arrived on Saturday, downtown Indianapolis was playing host to the Big Ten Conference tournament, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and the Comic Con conference which was being held right next to PLRB registration. However, it wasn’t difficult to tell which attendees were ours. They were the ones who weren’t decked out in Big Ten apparel, wearing green pants, or dressed as a comic book hero (with the exception of PLRB Conference Chair Mike Brode who donned a Superman cape for a short while).
If you’re attending the conference, you’ll find us at just outside the exhibit hall where we are providing attendees with internet access and charging of cell phones. Stop by and pick up one of the free cell phone charging cables that we’re giving away. They come in a variety of colors including blue, pink, red, yellow, green and purple.
If you’re an adjuster who wasn’t able to attend this rather unique conference, you can still receive a free charging cable. Just email your request to adjusters@claimspages.com and indicate your cable preference (micro-USB, iPhone3/4, iPhone5) and desired color. It’s almost as good as finding a pot o’ gold!
Michael W. Kay, CPCU, AIC -
[2014] March - Vol. XXVI, No. 5
It’s that time of year again. The annual Claims Conference & Insurance Service Expo which is hosted by the PLRB will begin in just two weeks in Indianapolis. We’ll be providing internet kiosk workstations and cell phone charging for those of you who need a boost during the conference.
Although we won’t be using it anytime soon, wireless charging technology is advancing rapidly with PC and cell phone manufacturers joining in the effort. The idea is to use magnetic resonance to wirelessly transfer power from a transmitting unit to nearby cell phones and PCs with built-in receiving units. Wouldn’t that be a great addition to a catastrophe claims center? You could charge your own phone and your insured’s while you handle their claim. Now that would be great service!
If you make it to the conference, we hope you’ll stop by and see us in the Wabash Foyer.
Michael W. Kay, CPCU, AIC -
[2014] February - Vol. XXVI, No. 04
I love YouTube, but I’m not entirely sure what’s more fascinating… viewing lectures on insurance and risk management as delivered by a Yale professor or watching videos of ordinary folks trying to read an insurance policy. Insurance is such a riveting topic!
Now back to reality…
I actually prefer to watch videos such as those of Wolverine Cat and his less than equal twin brother Skimbles.
Does that make me normal?
Michael W. Kay, CPCU, AIC -
[2014] February - Vol. XXVI, No. 03
This headline scares the hell out of me: Wikipedia is top source of medical information for doctors. Perhaps it’s just because I remember the early days of Wikipedia when I was able to edit a page on their site without having to log in or reveal anything about myself.
Then again, maybe it’s because Senators Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy were declared dead by Wikipedia months before their actual deaths. And contrary to popular belief, actor/comedian Sinbad isn’t dead either, Conan O'Brien never did assault sea turtles while canoeing, and Plato is not an ancient weather man or surfer.
Stephen Colbert defined Wikiality as “if you make something up and enough people agree with you-it becomes reality.”
By the way, did you know that groundhogs can’t actually see their shadow because of inherited, genetic astigmatism…
Michael W. Kay, CPCU, AIC -
[2014] January - Vol. XXVI, No. 02
It’s that time of year when legislators begin their trek to state capitols to introduce their “new and improved” legislation that didn’t make it through previous legislative sessions. Most of these bills have been introduced on numerous occasions (and in various forms) but fail to make it past the committee hurdle.
What many citizens don’t realize is that few of these bills are actually written by the legislators themselves. They are usually handcrafted by lobbyists who market their preferred bills to legislators to find someone who will introduce it.
Insurance lobbyists usually target members of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) who are considered to be insurance-friendly.
If you want to keep up with what’s going on at NCOIL, you can read their news releases and view their model laws at www.ncoil.org.
Michael W. Kay, CPCU, AIC