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IN-Action Archived Past Issues



Volume 139

JULY 2018

How far?

Jonny was driving a customer's vehicle when he struck Charles and Delilah's vehicle. Because Jonny was a valet for the Olivier House Hotel at the time of the accident, Olivier House Hotel was sued, but its CGL carrier declined coverage because the customer's vehicle had been parked at a garage ten blocks away from the hotel.

Click here to see how the courts reacted when asked to determine how close a vehicle needed to be in order for coverage to apply.

 

Aircraft, auto, and watercraft are excluded

Aircraft, autos, and watercraft should be insured on policies or coverage forms designed for them. However, there are situations when an auto or watercraft can be covered by the CGL because the exposure is very closely tied to the premises.

Click here to read the PF&M analysis of this exclusion.

 

Transferring the exposure

The cost of maintaining an active valet staff can be very expensive and difficult to supervise so many businesses contract with a valet parking service to provide the valet services only as needed. The valet service maintains control of the valet and also provides the needed insurance coverages. If Olivier House Hotel had such a service, this case would have been served to the valet parking service and not to the hotel.

Click here to review a narrative describing the exposures and coverage needs of a valet parking service.

 

Ask the question

Do any of your clients provide valet services? When clients add new services or change services they do not always remember to notify you. A renewal survey can be helpful to identify changes that could improve how to present your client to the insurance company and also identify potential coverage gaps.

Click here for a letter you could e-mail or send to your clients offering to provide a survey.