As technology evolves, insurance companies increasingly rely on artificial intelligence (AI) and drones to assess properties, calculate risk, and determine premium rates. While these advancements have potential benefits, many policyholders face an unsettling reality: insurers are using these tools not only to enhance their processes but also to justify premium hikes and deny claims—especially for commercial property owners. At The Voss Law Firm, P.C., we’re committed to helping clients understand these practices and ensuring their rights are protected against such tactics.
1. Understanding AI and Drone Technology in Insurance
- AI in Claims and Underwriting: AI systems process large volumes of data to assess risk profiles for properties, analyzing everything from location and climate trends to past insurance claims. This technology streamlines the underwriting process but also potentially misinterprets risk factors, leading to inflated premiums for policyholders.
- Drones in Property Assessment: Drones give insurers a quick, detailed view of property conditions. While intended to assess damage after a claim or analyze risk during underwriting, some insurers exploit drone footage to find “pre-existing” issues or unreported risks, ultimately manipulating coverage terms or denying claims.
2. Premium Manipulation Tactics: AI-Based Risk Overestimation
- Increased Premiums Based on “Predictive” Data: AI can “learn” patterns that it interprets as higher risk, often erring on the side of conservative estimates. For commercial property owners, AI-driven assessments may categorize buildings in certain regions or with specific features as higher risk without human oversight to confirm these findings.
- Using Historical Data to Justify Premium Increases: AI often pulls from historical claims, weather patterns, and building materials to adjust premiums. Commercial property owners in certain areas may find their rates steadily rising as the AI overestimates potential damage risk.
3. Claim Denial Strategies: Leveraging AI and Drones
- Drones Identifying “Pre-Existing” Issues: During property inspections, drones capture extensive footage, sometimes allowing insurers to point to small, unrelated flaws as “pre-existing conditions” or “maintenance issues” to deny claims.
- Automated Claim Decisions Lacking Human Nuance: AI systems may flag certain claims as “high-risk” or “likely fraudulent” based on patterns, leading to automatic denials or extensive delays. Commercial property owners face an uphill battle, as AI lacks the judgment to interpret individual circumstances accurately.
4. Case Studies and Examples
- Highlight Cases of Premium Manipulation and Claim Denials: Provide examples of commercial property owners impacted by AI-driven premium hikes or drone inspections that led to denied claims. These cases underline the risks associated with unchecked AI and drone usage by insurers.
5. What Commercial Property Owners Can Do
- Know Your Policy: Encourage clients to read their policies carefully, noting specific clauses about property condition requirements or grounds for claim denial.
- Seek a Professional Property Assessment: Suggest hiring independent assessors to provide an unbiased view of their property’s condition, ensuring that any “pre-existing conditions” are documented well before a claim is filed.
- Engage a Legal Team Experienced in Insurance Disputes: The Voss Law Firm, P.C. has a proven record of challenging unfair insurance practices. Our team can help protect commercial property owners from the pitfalls of AI-driven and drone-based claim denials.
Conclusion
Technology should benefit policyholders, not penalize them. At The Voss Law Firm, P.C., we are dedicated to standing up to insurance companies that use AI and drones to manipulate premiums and unfairly deny claims. If you feel your commercial property claim was denied based on unfair tactics or inflated premiums, reach out to us today. We’re here to help you get the coverage you deserve.
