Propel Insurance : Recreation Industry

Recreation companies make a business out of helping their customers go for it. At Propel, we do the same for our recreation clients — creating leading-edge solutions that enable them to stay innovative and competitive, while protected at the same time.

Unlike agencies with a passing familiarity of recreation, we have more than 30 years of experience working with companies who specialize in muscle-powered sports like skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, in-line skating, scuba diving, water skiing/wakeboarding, climbing, and biking. We understand the unique liability concerns our clients face. We also understand the passion and culture of the industry. This deep expertise allows us to offer a comprehensive program that’s unique in recreation.

By bringing together a powerful network of insurance and risk experts, combined with specialized claims handling abilities and underwriters dedicated to serving the recreation industry, Propel offers clients a truly unmatched level of expertise and service.

We start by working with you to understand your goals and risks. Beyond simply placing coverage, we’re here to partner with you on an ongoing basis and provide counsel on key decisions — from reviewing and refining your consumer product literature to helping you establish procedures for risk transfer and avoidance, including issues unique to working with manufacturers in other countries.

Once we understand your company’s unique needs and risks, we can tailor coverage to minimize your exposure in every area. Because we work with underwriters who share our deep knowledge of the recreation industry, we’re able to offer clients more innovative solutions, often with a more cost-effective outcome.

If a claim does occur, our in-house recreation claims specialists — including a 20-year veteran of handling recreation product liability claims — will get involved immediately and be with you at every step. We take a collaborative approach to claims, working directly with you to make decisions, including liability claims handling strategies, defense attorney selection, and more.

Propel offers a program unique in the recreation industry, combining specialized
risk management with specialized claims handling abilities.

Specialized risk management consultation services includes:

Review of consumer product literature. This area has great significance considering the amount of litigation in the recreation industry which is based upon a ‘failure to warn’ theory of liability.
Review of consumer assumption of risk and release of liability agreements.
Review of indemnification and insurance language forming part of a supply or subcontract agreement.
Compliance with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reporting requirements and related issues.
General assistance in risk analysis and establishing procedures for risk transfer and risk avoidance, including issues unique to representing or dealing with manufacturers in Europe, Asia and other countries.

Specialized claims handling abilities include:

Claims adjusting, litigation management and consultation services on individual claims.
Preparation of client loss run reports. The loss report provides current details on all claims activity.
Acting as your advocate and liason to the carrier and providing claim notification as required by terms of the Self-Insured Retention (SIR) endorsement to the liability policy.
Consultation on the selection of defense attorneys. Our program includes a national network of defense attorneys who have specific experience with recreational product cases.

To stay abreast of changes and trends that may affect our clients,
we’re an active member of the following organizations:

SnowSports Industry Association (SIA)
National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA)
Outdoor Industry Association (OIA)