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Liability insurance terminated over the word "Robotics" — Parallax Forums

Liability insurance terminated over the word "Robotics"

xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
edited 2015-05-26 19:45 in General Discussion
I got a call from my insurance company through USAA stating that they cannot insure me because I have the word robotics on my website. Freaking awesome, cause the last robot I worked on was over 5 years ago when the arm style Rx robots switched to the self contained style. They said they are not able to provide legal services if someone sued me over a robot. Robotics pales in comparison to the word "consultant". I get people to pull the trigger on massive deals that could make or break their business. But oh no, not replacing an actuator, that's big time!

Any recommendations for E&O and General Liability? I was paying $1000/yr.

Comments

  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2015-05-21 15:36
    I've said it before and I'll say it again. I do believe the world has gone insane.

    Sorry, I have no idea how to deal with the insanity.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2015-05-21 16:16
    Heater. wrote: »
    I've said it before and I'll say it again. I do believe the world has gone insane.

    Sorry, I have no idea how to deal with the insanity.

    Replace the world "robot" with "embedded motion control system". Next question?
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-05-21 16:48
    WHAT? That's outlandish. USAA is automotive insurance, right? So what do they care?
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-05-21 16:52
    prof_braino wrote: »
    Replace the world "robot" with "embedded motion control system". Next question?

    Years back I got some referrals from my State Farm agent. They gave me several area E&O brokers to choose from. If you have a local car/house/life insurance agent, I'd try them first.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2015-05-21 17:02
    erco wrote: »
    WHAT? That's outlandish. USAA is automotive insurance, right? So what do they care?

    USAA will get you any insurance, they have some deep discounts with major carriers. Otherwise yes they're just auto insurance.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2015-05-21 17:03
    GordonMcComb wrote: »
    Years back I got some referrals from my State Farm agent. They gave me several area E&O brokers to choose from. If you have a local car/house/life insurance agent, I'd try them first.

    I will, thank you. I just got a pretty good quote from AFCO.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2015-05-21 17:03
    prof_braino wrote: »
    Replace the world "robot" with "embedded motion control system". Next question?

    They told me they're actively monitoring my website and I cannot change the wording.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2015-05-21 17:12
    It's probably time to re-do the entire site, I haven't touched it in years. None of my clients go to it. I've never advertised it. I really don't even want a website. Here it is if anyone is interested - http://allconnectedconsulting.com/

    FYI - I subcontract out some services on my website. I don't personally do everything listed. All of my subcontractors carry their own insurance, so arrrrrrrggg. The fire inspector comes in for the flame detection and signs off on it. That was one of the biggest issues they had with it.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-05-21 18:06
    That sucks! I guess I shouldn't go advertising any flamethrowing bots on my new website.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2015-05-21 18:14
    After this I'd have to say leave it off. My new site is going to say very little. Hand coded HTML, maybe three pages total.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2015-05-21 18:41
    It seems like the most they could do is not renew you next time around. Not terminate you for something that has existed on your website for several years, all of which they were happily taking your money.

    But then they are an insurance company and the laws/regulations tend to favor them since they are effective campaign contributors.
  • abecedarianabecedarian Posts: 312
    edited 2015-05-22 22:00
    Termination of services over "robot"... yet they provide automotive insurance?
    Wiki: robot
    There is no consensus on which machines qualify as robots but there is general agreement among experts, and the public, that robots tend to do some or all of the following: move around, operate a mechanical limb, sense and manipulate their environment, and exhibit intelligent behavior....

    Intelligence is "subjective" but otherwise would imply making the correct decision at the most opportune time.

    Do they insure things with "cruise control", provide "automatic parking assistance"... "adjacent lane / blind spot awareness" ... manipulate their operational environment by automatically controlling the throttle mechanisms and/or braking systems on an automobile in an autonomous manner ... or unlock a door or start the engine?

    Just a thought.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2015-05-23 06:41
    Ummm. I don't think this is about auto insurance. E&O is Errors and omissions (in contractual agreements), General liability is a form of business insurance.

    USAA does sell auto insurance. But it also sells just about any other insurance it can if it thinks it can profit.
  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,223
    edited 2015-05-23 06:57
    My business gen liab policy is 2m aggregate and per occurrence, $5K per year. I had to call about 20 vendors to get it written. 25% down., 500 a month.
  • abecedarianabecedarian Posts: 312
    edited 2015-05-23 11:16
    Loopy Byteloose wrote: »
    Ummm. I don't think this is about auto insurance. E&O is Errors and omissions (in contractual agreements), General liability is a form of business insurance.

    USAA does sell auto insurance. But it also sells just about any other insurance it can if it thinks it can profit.
    My point was that they underwrite insurance for instances where "robot" is an obvious, inclusive item, and do so there without reservation. Given that fact, what are the "exclusions" with regards to that technology within any field / market et cetera, they provide insurance for, and can they "legally" justify exclusions for one thing over another when both things have similar "threat to life" situations?
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2015-05-23 12:35
    They said they cannot represent me in court if I were to be sued over that specific type of business activity. If you think it sounds weird here, try taking that call...

    I ended up switching and probably saving money in the long run :)
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2015-05-24 01:25
    I suspect they actually did you a favor by getting you to change to another insurer for a lower premium. I doubt if USAA desires to defend anyone in court. The whole premise of profitablilty to an insurance company is to optimize collection of premiums while minimizing incidences of costs.
  • frank freedmanfrank freedman Posts: 1,983
    edited 2015-05-25 21:14
    Actually surprised you had that type of insurance through USAA. Historically, they were a P&C company specifically marketing to Military members, until recently only to commissioned and (I think) senior non-comms and warrants. Now they seem to be open to the public for not only P&C coverage, but also investments. That was why the surprise at you obtaining a non-P&C coverage from them. Better to check places like The Hartford (they do a lot of lines of business insurances), and companies that have coverage specific to your business activity. If I ever went out as a third party Medical Imaging Device ISO, I would have to carry quite a heavy policy since when a malpractice case comes up, the lawyers pull in EVERYBODY that ever touched the machine/device in question. But there are a number of companies that offer this coverage and they can be located via various biomed associations such as AAMI, and other smaller organizations. Many exhibit at shows like the MD expo, Ed Sloan Associates and other brokers. But industry trade associations may be a good source on insurance brokers next go-round (who is a rip, who stands behind their policies, who will cost you your first born etc) So, I stay hobiest developer and in-house Medical Imaging Engineer.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2015-05-26 19:45
    USAA may be open to the public but I had to email them my DD214 to verify I was in the military. They were not insuring me, they were getting me a discount through a difference agency. I've never had car insurance through them. I've only been with them for six months. Before that I had AFCO and I'm going back.

    They said I can do anything as long as it is legal :)
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