Sex, Dogs and Heads That Rolled Among Top Insurance Journal News Stories in 2011
In 2011, Insurance Journal.com brought readers news on everything from dog bites to major catastrophes, including news on courts, legislation, regulations, politics, acquisitions, bankruptcies, markets, rates, products and people. IJ.com reported news from every state, Washington, D.C., London, Bangkok, China, Japan and other hot spots around the globe. Some news stories were more important than others, of course, and certain online news stories, not necessarily the most important, caught the attention of more people than others.
Below is a list of the 25 most-read news stories from the 2011 archives of Insurance Journal.com. Keep in mind that stories produced early in the year have had a longer time to attract a following than others. If nothing else, the list shows how insurance affects not only the overall economy and but also everyday lives. The top 25 news stories are:
- Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson File Lawsuit Against Former Insurance Broker
- Allstate Targets Online Insurance Sales; Buys Esurance, Answer Financial
- Nationwide and Harleysville Insurance Agree to Merger
- The Top 10 Stolen Vehicles
- Courts Allowing Private Facebook Posts As Evidence in Lawsuits
- Hurricane Center Tracking 3 Atlantic Storms: Katia, Maria and Nate
- In Few Years, Social Network Data May Be Used in Underwriting
- What Did One Car Say to the Other Car?
- Shake-Up at AIG’s Chartis; Moor Out, Hancock In as CEO
- Top 10 States for Dog Bite Claims
- Federal Judge in Florida Rules Healthcare Law Must Be Voided
- Soft Market Is Ending, Really It Is, Says SNL Financial
- Hulk Hogan Loses Fight Against Agency
- Unhappy Allstate Agents Hope Unionization Move Gets Insurer’s Attention
- German Insurer Organized Orgy for Best Salesmen
- Kentucky Jury Sides with Doctor In Penis Amputation Malpractice Claim
- National Underwriter Parent, Summit Media, Files for Bankruptcy
- Insurer Wants to Sign 100 Agents in 100 Days
- Workers’ Comp TV Show Pilot Begins Filming in Florida
- Some Independent Agents ‘Not Happy’ About Nationwide/Harleysville Deal
- Why Elderly Are Bad Drivers
- Think Soft Market Is Over? Think Again
- Allstate Exiting Banking Business
- What Financial Crisis Commission Concluded About AIG’s Failure
- The 2010 Insurance Fraud Hall of Shame
Among the feature stories that caught the most eyes were an April 1 spoof on the most innovative insurance products, a story on how workers’ compensation exposures are affected by the mobility of the workforce, an advice column on the ins and outs of errors and omissions insurance, the top excuses by drivers caught using cell phones, a cyber risk feature with the 25 worst passwords and a report on the next big thing in insurance products.