The Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO) hosted a free educational webinar Wednesday (Sept. 16), designed to help campground and RV park operators understand rising insurance costs and identify practical ways to reduce their liability exposure, according to a press release.
The webinar, “Texas Insurance Premiums Demystified & Limiting Your Liability,” featured Colton Hipple of TACO Preferred Provider Leavitt Insurance. The session focused on the factors influencing insurance premiums in Texas and strategies park operators can use to better manage their risks. The webinar was free for all and designed to provide practical, actionable information that campground and RV park operators can apply to their businesses.
“We think it’s important to supplement our annual Spring Meeting and Tradeshow with online educational sessions throughout the year,” said Brian Schaeffer, TACO’s executive director and CEO.
Topics covered during the webinar include:
- Campground owners reducing liability through regular inspections and maintenance, improved lighting and drainage, documented safety procedures, incident reporting, and appropriate contracts, waivers, and insurance requirements for vendors and activities.
- Underwriters want evidence of good management. Accurate replacement costs, updated buildings and infrastructure, clean grounds, vegetation management, documentation, training, signed waivers, and clear occupancy information can strengthen an insurance submission.
- Texas campground insurance costs are rising due to multiple factors, including severe weather, higher litigation costs, more expensive reinsurance, rising replacement costs, and differences in the quality of individual park risks.
- Claims are becoming more expensive, even when they aren’t catastrophic. Slip-and-fall incidents, property damage, medical costs, legal fees, and construction costs are all contributing to higher claim severity.
The webinar provided an action plan to prepare early for renewal by reviewing property values, improvements, financials, contracts, deductibles, exclusions and exposures with your agent. It mentioned that the Texas market has recently begun softening, with rates coming down and carriers becoming more willing to write risks.
Access to a recording of the webinar will be available exclusively to TACO members through the members-only TACO Members website.
For more information about TACO and its educational programs, visit Texas Association of Campground Owners.
