Latest news with #aerialsurveillance
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Got 'Clutter' In Your Backyard Or A Drained Pool? Insurance Companies Are Using Aerial Images To Decide If You'll Keep Your Coverage
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. California and Texas homeowners are finding out the hard way that what's visible from the sky could result in losing their home insurance. More insurance companies are using aerial images and footage from satellites and drones to decide whether to renew a policy, and it has nothing to do with wildfire zones. In California, KGO-TV reported in 2023 that long-time AAA customers are being dropped for reasons like backyard clutter, old roofs or even empty swimming pools. In one case, CJ Sveen of Oakley said AAA told him his policy wouldn't be renewed because of 'debris and hazards' in his yard. Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Invest Where It Hurts — And Help Millions Heal: 'Apparently, they have some pictures and they noticed clutter,' Sveen told KGO-TV. 'I find that offensive. How dare you judge me because of my stuff!' Sveen said he had no chance to fix the issue. 'There was no chance to mitigate, clean up, do anything, it was just, you're fired.' Another homeowner, George Nadeau of San Rafael got dropped because AAA said his roof had 'exceeded its useful life.' But Nadeau says that wasn't true. 'I think obviously that their drone surveillance was bogus,' he told KGO-TV. 'We've lived in this house for 50 years and have maintained our roof in a very effective way.' He said he installed a new roof seven years ago and even spent $4,000 on an upgrade later on. He submitted invoices and photos to prove the roof had been replaced and upgraded. After his appeal, AAA reinstated his policy. Trending: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: . Marilyn Smith and her husband in Northern California were dropped for draining their pool to conserve water. They now use the empty pool as a hothouse to grow potted tomatoes and lettuce. 'I think I was in so much shock, I couldn't believe it,' she told KGO-TV. The AAA notice cited 'deferred maintenance' due to the empty pool. 'We decided well, we don't use it... that saves us on maintenance and then just the water,' she said. In a statement to KGO-TV, AAA parent company CSAA Insurance Group said it uses aerial imagery from satellites and fixed-wing aircraft to assess properties and determine whether they meet underwriting criteria. 'To continue offering industry-leading insurance coverage, we must periodically evaluate our exposure to risk,' the company said. , KUT in Austin, Texas, reported just last month that this drone surveillance policy continues. Tracy Gartenmann got an email from insurance company Travelers telling her she had two months to trim her trees or lose her coverage. Attached were two blurry photos taken from above her home. 'I thought it was a scam,' Gartenmann said. 'It wouldn't have crossed my mind that that would've been a mechanism or technique that a corporation could use.' Alaina Callahan, who lives outside Houston, was told she needed a new roof even though hers was just five years old and in good condition. She never got to see the photos. 'I had no recourse as a homeowner. None whatsoever,' she told KUT. Consumer advocacy group Texas Watch told KUT that the use of aerial images and AI removes the human touch and increases the risk of error. In one case, a homeowner lost coverage because the company used the wrong house image. KGO-TV reported that some homeowners have been able to find new coverage, often through insurers catering to military families. Others, like Nadeau in California, got reinstated after pushing back and sending documents about their roof being in good condition. Read Next: With Point, you can This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to .This article Got 'Clutter' In Your Backyard Or A Drained Pool? Insurance Companies Are Using Aerial Images To Decide If You'll Keep Your Coverage originally appeared on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Your Insurance Company May Be Using A Flying Drone Above Your House, And It's Honestly So Freaky
Every few years, I get a notice from my insurance company informing me that — usually unbeknownst to me — an inspector has strolled around my property looking for potential hazards or issues of concern to my insurer. The notice will sometimes include a list of things they want me to address, perhaps like a tree branch that's too close to the roof. Recently, I realized that my insurance company may be keeping tabs on my property in a way I never expected, by checking out my home from the air — and your insurance may be doing it, too. Some insurance companies are now using drones to do property inspections from the air. In some cases, insurers are using the results of these inspections to refuse to insure the property altogether. This may be especially concerning for property owners in certain areas at high risk of natural disasters, where insurance options may already be limited as insurers have been dropping customers. I talked to experts to find out why insurance companies are using drone inspections – and what you can do if an aerial inspection impacts you. Drone inspections are becoming more common. The use of drones for inspections on a widespread basis is becoming more routine. 'Property insurers have been using drone technology for many years in assessing damage from natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires to process claims quicker,' said Mark Friedlander, senior director of media relations at the Insurance Information Institute. 'The technology is now being used by many national and regional insurers to inspect the exterior condition of homes in making underwriting decisions for the property.' Here's why insurance companies use drone inspections. For insurance companies, drone inspections offer several benefits. Friedlander noted that this approach is more efficient and precise than inspections performed by humans and avoids the risks or potential hazards involved when an inspector must physically walk around a property. Related: A Republican's Response To A "Tax The Rich" Chant At His Town Hall Is Going Viral When enlisting a drone to help with a property inspection, insurers are especially interested in checking out parts of the property that are difficult to see from ground level. In particular, this is a great way for an insurer to get a bird's eye view of the roof. 'They would see if there's any patches or cuts into the roof that will lead to a claim tomorrow,' Mike Koba, of Koba Capital Insurance Brokerage, said. Insurance companies have often used Google Maps to assess properties — but while those images may be several years old, a drone allows for real-time views of a property's current condition. Koba says insurers will sometimes perform an aerial inspection before deciding whether to insure a property at all — this is especially common with large commercial properties — but may also use this as part of the routine ongoing process to decide whether to renew an existing policy. In addition to checking out the condition of the roof or other major components, drone inspections can also reveal something on the property that your insurance company didn't know about. 'While the focus is primarily on roof condition, aerial inspections may also capture unreported additions to homes such as swimming pools, gazebos, and trampolines,' says Friedlander. 'In some cases, this type of discovery could result in a premium adjustment or disqualify your property from being insured if it no longer meets the carrier's underwriting criteria.' Related: "I Am So Torn With What You Are Doing" — 11 Posts From MAGA Business Owners Who Are So Close To Getting It What if a drone inspection finds an issue? If your insurer notifies you that a drone inspection revealed an issue, that doesn't necessarily mean you should panic or prepare for higher insurance premiums. Koba says insurance companies will typically give the property owner a short period of time — often around 45 days — to correct the issue. If you believe the insurance company's information is incorrect, you can also present evidence or documentation to prove the accurate condition of the property. Know your rights and options as a property owner. If you're like me, the idea of a drone checking out your property without your knowledge might give you Big Brother vibes, but experts say it is most likely perfectly legal for an insurer to inspect your property this way. Candise Shanbron, managing partner of Cernitz Law, says there are a variety of federal, state and local laws regarding the use of drones which in some cases prohibit drone users from conducting surveillance that would violate a reasonable expectation of privacy without the property owner's consent. However, she notes that there are often exceptions for licensed business entities that have a legitimate interest in the property — which would typically include insurance companies and insurance adjusters. While laws about what — if any — disclosures or advance warning an insurer must provide about drone inspections are in many cases vague and vary by location, Shanbron says insurers will often make customers aware of this possibility out of an abundance of caution to avoid any legal liability. Unfortunately, if an insurer decides to raise your premiums or cancel your policy based on issues found via a drone inspection, there's probably not much you can do about it from a legal standpoint, Shanbron said, as long as the insurer complies with any applicable laws regarding rates and coverage. If, however, an insurer tries to deny coverage of a claim based on a drone inspection (or any other grounds), she does encourage property owners to consult with an attorney specializing in insurance claims. This article originally appeared in HuffPost. Also in In the News: People Can't Believe This "Disgusting" Donald Trump Jr. Post About Joe Biden's Cancer Diagnosis Is Real Also in In the News: One Body Language Expert Spotted Something Very Telling When Donald Trump "Held His Own Hand" At His Recent Press Conference Also in In the News: Republicans Are Calling Tim Walz "Tampon Tim," And The Backlash From Women Is Too Good Not To Share
CTV News
14-05-2025
- CTV News
Heightened enforcement in Ontario amid increased motorcycle fatalities
Amid an increase in motorcycle fatalities Ontario Provincial Police is using aerial surveillance to detect speeding and aggressive driving.
