Environmental Insurance Policies Are Negotiated Contracts and Not Commodities

Given the current economic climate, the high costs associated with pollution incidents and the resultant remediation and third-party bodily injury and property damage claims emphasizes the importance of ensuring that our clients have environmental policies in place to protect their interests when most General Liability and Property policies cannot. However, as a number of recent court decisions have highlighted, simply procuring a dedicated environmental policy is not enough. Whether acting in the role of attorney, risk manager, or broker, it is of paramount importance that we truly understand the risks inherent in our clients' business so that we can provide them with the best and broadest coverage available. Further, this understanding allows us to properly inform our clients as to the extent of their coverage so that they can guide their business decisions accordingly.