AI-enabled tools are increasingly finding their way into manufacturing, construction, and everywhere in between, from estimating and takeoffs to scheduling, design support and project communications.
If you or your family ride an e-bike or e-scooter, the deductible on your judgment isn't the vehicle's top speed, it's the gap between how fast the motor gets you there and how much riding experience you actually have. That gap is where most e-bike injuries are happening, and it's widening faster than most riders realize.
Employment practices liability risks are evolving as workplace regulations change, artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into HR decisions, and employees gain new protections. For employers, these changes can create greater exposure to discrimination claims, pay equity disputes, accommodation requests, and other employment-related litigation.
A recent Zurich report on employment practices litigation trends for 2026 highlights several developments businesses should be watching.
Most business owners believe they've checked the cybersecurity box. They have an IT provider. They've purchased cyber liability insurance. Their employees have completed phishing training. They've invested in technology and feel reasonably confident they're protected.
A few years ago, that may have been enough.
Today, it isn't.
Most business owners don’t have a people problem.
They have a communication problem.
Not internally, but across their advisors.
You might have a strong CPA. A solid insurance broker. Maybe even a financial advisor and an attorney you trust. On paper, that looks like a well-built team. But in reality, those individuals are often operating in completely separate lanes, solving problems without ever comparing notes.
And that’s where things start to break down.
Because your business doesn’t operate in silos. Your advisors shouldn’t either.
Most companies approach safety training the same way each year. They assign courses, send reminders, track completions, and move on. On paper, that process checks the box. But in practice, it often leaves a gap between completion and actual understanding.
That gap matters.
Winter is here, and with it comes one of the season’s biggest headaches for homeowners: ice dams. These ridges of ice form when warm air inside your home melts the snow on your roof, only for that melted snow to refreeze at the edges. Once that happens, the water behind the ice has nowhere to go. Eventually, it works its way under shingles and into your home, causing stains, leaks, warped materials, and costly frustration.
It’s a common winter issue in the Midwest, but the question we hear most often is simple: Does homeowners insurance cover this? In many cases, yes.
In today’s business environment, a single misstep by an employee can result in significant liability from workplace injuries and harassment claims to data breaches and regulatory fines. Many of these incidents are preventable with proper training.
When it comes to business insurance in Texas, it’s definitely gotten tougher, especially for certain industries and locations. Carriers are tightening their underwriting, rates are rising, and some coverage lines are getting harder to secure altogether.
What's Making Business Insurance Harder to Get in Texas?
Weather-driven claims
Frequent hurricanes, hailstorms, and extreme heat have made Texas one of the most disaster-prone states. Commercial property carriers are responding by:
- Pulling back in high-risk areas
- Increasing deductibles for wind/hail
- Requiring more documentation or inspections
- Sometimes declining to quote at all
Fewer carriers, less competition
Some major insurers have reduced their appetite for commercial risks in Texas, particularly for:
- Construction
- Hospitality
- Real estate/lessors risk
- Coastal properties
This has shrunk the market and given the remaining carriers more pricing power.
Skyrocketing premiums
Rates are climbing across almost every line, especially commercial property, liability, auto, and umbrella. If your loss history isn’t clean or if you operate in a high-risk class, expect double-digit increases or stricter terms.
Legal environment
Texas has a reputation for high litigation frequency and big verdicts (especially in auto and general liability claims). This has caused umbrella and excess liability markets to recoil or raise rates sharply.
Surplus lines growth
Many businesses are being pushed into the excess & surplus market, especially for property and high-limit liability. These carriers aren’t admitted in Texas and may offer less flexible terms, but they’re increasingly the only option.
What Can Businesses Do?
- Work with an independent agent or broker who can access a wide range of markets (not just direct writers).
- Get ahead of your renewal - start marketing your policy 90+ days out, especially if you’ve had claims or operate in a tough class.
- Invest in risk management- carriers reward businesses that can demonstrate loss control, especially in safety, cybersecurity, and fleet management.
Yes, getting business insurance in Texas is harder than it used to be, especially for property-heavy, high-risk, or coastal operations. But with the right strategy, proactive planning, and a knowledgeable partner, it’s still very possible to secure solid protection at competitive rates.
Need help navigating the changing insurance landscape in Texas? Let’s talk about your options.
Most homeowners and companies know that property insurance rates are rising in this “hard” market over the past few years. Navigating co-insurance challenges shows that hard markets come with increased premiums, increased deductibles, and stricter coverage terms. Catastrophic property losses from weather events are becoming more frequent, and the dollar amounts per loss continue to rise, forcing insurance companies to re-evaluate their property insurance portfolios. At the same time, the cost to rebuild properties has increased dramatically due to rising construction costs for material and labor. Additionally, replacement costs on an insurance policy might be significantly higher than the market/retail value of the property. Now more than ever, property owners need to review their property coverage limits and make sure they are carrying adequate limits to avoid a co-insurance penalty, truly navigating co-insurance challenges.