Get outside. That’s easy enough to say to the folks who are currently basking their way through another hot summer day in 2018. But, how would you integrate a deeper exploration of nature into your day, or even your week? For many families, recently, the theme of “De Roode Vennen” has offered compelling reasons to get out into the great outdoors. Many viewers are dedicated followers of these weekly Dutch television nature episodes, due to how beautifully they highlight the Dutch natural environment. They also explore the range of human and animal interactions with that nature. The obvious audience, therefore, are those with a “dedicated interest” in Dutch nature. But, there’s a deeper lesson to draw from this series, that incorporates the profound importance of being in the right place at the right time. That’s also a fascinating insurance issue – specifically the basic question of who does the insurance agent legally represent. The topic of insurance representation is much more straightforward than Nature TV, particularly from a legal perspective.
However, the complexities of the insurance world have a way of changing how easy something should be, whether it’s the nature of how an agent / broker is legally recognized, or how other callers in the insurance game “exploit” information to make a judgment on their own legal position. Common questions for nature enthusiasts about insurance issues in the wild / outdoors context are:
- What do I do, if I have a problem with an insurance claim, involving an individual on an outdoor activity trip?
- Who does the insurance agent legally represent, if an accident happens?
- How can I solve / resolve an insurance related problem involving recreation and outdoor activities?
- Is it different with liability insurance for biking, hiking, camping and other outdoor activities?
These questions, in their own way, are all captured by a further important set of inquiries about insurance representation:
- Who of the insurer / insured / agent represents whom in practice?
- How does this apply for public liability policies, where the insurance agent may directly represent the policyholder on some issues, and the insurer on others?
- What are my rights and obligations under the type of insurance contract at issue, if I am a third-party?
This last point is driven by the fact that a single insurance policy can easily involve multiple “third parties”. These can include the policyholder (or insured), the insurer, and any agents who have direct dealings with the insureds / policyholders. Fortunately, the web of legal representation does not need to become too complicated. However, when the rules of legal representation are unknown to those clients, then they could face a much more difficult time dealing with the cost and consequences of an accident.
For example, if you are outside, and you see an accident happen involving naturalist enthusiasts or outdoor lovers, this could be an extremely serious insurance liability issue. A classic example here is the scenario where one enthusiast’s child causes an accident involving trauma to another enthusiast. Many parents would not even think before stepping up to ensure that their child was certified as properly insured for the incident. However, such a step could actually be the worst thing to do, if the other parent had no idea who the insurance agent legally represented in practice. When they get a letter from the insurance company, along with their lawyer, they will be very confused at best, and at worst, at serious risk of losing the settlement amount that might otherwise be available to them.
So, how does the deliberate exploration of nature fit into the idea of being a “nature insurance agent”? 1. It should be obvious that, more than ever, the love of nature means understanding the importance of being outside. 2. But, it should also be equally obvious that, whatever the benefits of nature exploration for your health and well-being, an accident can happen any time in any place. It certainly can in this era of global climate change. 3. You will need to be proactive, and learn everything you can about the insurance policies you have, while you are responding to the start of your insurance claim. 4. If you wait until that claim is launched, then you will be at risk of needing the expertise of a complex insurance representation case expert similar to this one. 5. So, whatever your love of nature, learn how to correctly navigate the tricky nature of insurance policy representation with insurance brokers / agents.
For more information on insurance representation, you can visit Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.