Standard of Care

Standard of Care laws vary from state to state and are unique to that jurisdiction.

The following from the New Jersey Supreme Court in the case of Rider v. Lynch 201 A.2d 561, 42 N.J. 465, 1964.NJ.40172is an example and is unique to New Jersey.

[40] One who holds himself out to the public as an insurance broker is required to have the degree of skill and knowledge requisite to the calling. When engaged by a member of the public to obtain insurance, the law holds him to the exercise of good faith and reasonable skill, care and diligence in the execution of the commission. He is expected to possess reasonable knowledge of the types of policies, their different terms, and the coverage available in the area in which his principal seeks to be protected. If he neglects to procure the insurance or if the policy is void or materially deficient or does not provide the coverage he undertook to supply, because of his failure to exercise the requisite skill or diligence, he becomes liable to his principal for the loss sustained thereby.

While Ryder v. Lynch and similar cases outline the requisites for an insurance agent, they leave terms like degree of skill and knowledge, good faith, reasonable skill, care and diligence, and knowledge requisite to the calling mostly unqualified and undefined.

Lee Hoffman has over forty-three years of insurance industry experience. He is a licensed insurance agent, licensed insurance counselor and certified insurance counselor with the expertise to qualify, define and offer expert opinion on insurance industry Standard of Care.