Judges Or Auctioneer Gavel On The Dollar Cash Background, Top View, Close-Up. Concept For Corruption, Bankruptcy, Bail, Crime, Bribing, Fraud, Auction Bidding, Fines
By: Dan Mittelmark, RPLU, CIC, CPCU
How much is pain and suffering worth?
What does it take to adequately punish companies for negligence or wrongdoing?
The answers to these questions are not black and white – and that opens the door to social inflation and nuclear verdicts.
Social inflation describes the upward trajectory of jury awards year after year. Nuclear verdicts are jury awards for very large amounts, especially those in excess of $10 million.
According to IRMI, social inflation is similar to other emerging risks, with one key difference: It is not the actual risk, but instead, the driver of increased costs associated with addressing other risks.
Social inflation is associated with trends in society and litigation. More specifically, Travelers has identified four key factors driving social inflation:
The Insurance Information Institute also points to an increase in class action lawsuits and litigation funding as a potential driver of social inflation. Litigation funding is a relatively new phenomenon where a third party can legally provide funds needed to litigate or arbitrate a claim. The hope is to then participate in any eventual recovery or proceeds if the claim results in a favorable judgment or settlement.
Although many people have noticed that jury awards and claims costs are increasing, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact impact of social inflation. However, recent research has aimed to do exactly that.
Nuclear verdicts and social inflation have been increasing, most notably in commercial auto. Data from the American Transportation Research Institute shows that verdict awards grew 51.7% between 2010 and 2018, far outpacing the standard inflation of rate of 1.7%.
Research from the Casualty Actuarial Society and the Insurance Information Institute also identified substantial costs that can be linked to social inflation. According to the report, social inflation increased commercial auto liability claims by $20 billion between 2010 and 2019.
The insurance market has been hardening, and this trend can be seen across most, if not all lines in commercial insurance. Data from MarketScout shows that U.S. commercial insurance rates increased 6% in the first quarter of 2022. Some lines have seen especially high increases. Umbrella market rates increased 9.7%, for example, and commercial auto rates increased 7.3%. Although rate hikes have shown some signs of moderation, prices are still trending upward. At the same time, some insurers have been introducing new restrictions and tighter underwriting requirements.
Social inflation could exacerbate the hard market, and it doesn’t look like this trend will reverse itself anytime soon. According to Swiss Re, around $17 billion was invested in litigation funding in 2020, and more than half of this was in the U.S. By 2028, third-party litigation funding could be a $30 billion industry.
Business owners and their insurance brokers cannot afford to ignore the current trends. Social inflation is not expected to abate anytime soon, so take the following five steps to prepare now:
Socius helps brokers and their clients navigate the evolving insurance climate. Contact us for creative problem solving, access to new markets and underwriting advocacy.
Dan Mittelmark, RPLU, CIC, CPCU
Vice President
email: dmittelmark@sociusinsurance.com
mobile: (772) 285-8043