Dealer Insurance Topics
Store Closings                                                                      February 2009
In This Issue
Featured Article
Possible Future Lawsuits
Property-Vacant or Unoccupied?
Quick Links
 
Featured Article
Keep all of your expired insurance policies permanently. We are seeing suits filed for alleged occurrences that happened 15 or more years ago. It might be a good idea to have them scanned and filed electronically on your system. Be sure this and all other information is backed up and you are able to retrieve it from the back up media or location.
 

Greetings!

Dealership Closing may present an insurance sales      
opportunity. In 2008 almost a thousand stores were closed and we expect to see 3 to 4 thousand more in the next two years. Often forgot in the process are the ongoing liability and other exposures to the owners.
Possible Future Lawsuits:
 
Keep in mind that a lawsuit may be filed in the future for injuries or damage sustained by a vehicle sold in an accident that happens after the liability policies on the discontinued operations have terminated. The fact that your client sold the vehicle while the policies were in force does not trigger coverage under those policies. The trigger date is the date of the accident.
 
If you have a client that has continuing operations, be sure they keep the discontinued operation named on their garage liability, umbrella, employment practices and pollution policy for the foreseeable future. If not, you need to secure a discontinued operations policy for them.

 
Property-Vacant or Unoccupied?

 
Lexus DealershipWhat about the property? Did your client retain ownership? If so, they will need to continue the property coverage or require the lessee to provide it. They will need premises liability. And if the property is vacant or unoccupied they will need to have you make sure the fact of vacancy or unoccupancy does not void coverage. 
 

Your client's potential exposures may vary based on their business structure, such as type of corporation, LLC, partnership, etc. We suggest they review these issues, including any franchise, lease and other contractual agreements, with their attorney and CPA to determine the appropriate actions and needs.
  
Sincerely,
 
Marvin E. McDougal, President
Automotive Risk Management


Automotive Risk Management & Insurance Services, Inc.

1919 Grand Canal Blvd. Suite C-7 Stockton, CA  95207 
Phone:  (209) 473-8937
Fax:  (888) 504-8062
Toll Free:  (800) 224-6363
 
Email:  arm@armonline.com    
Website:  http://www.armonline.com