Article

Motor vehicle accidents are the most common agribusiness insurance claim, according to Nationwide. Nationwide is the largest insurer of farms in the United States. Over the last three years, the top 10 claim types have accounted for more than 50,000 claims by its agribusiness customers.

Here are the top 10 commercial agribusiness claims received by Nationwide in 2017:

1. Motor vehicle accidents
2. Workers’ compensation for disability or death
3. Misapplication of chemicals or drift
4. Slip, fall or injury
5. Food-related claim
6. Animal caused damage or bite
7. Glass breakage
8. Wind damage
9. Hail or lightning damage
10. Fire damage or loss

“By sharing our top claims data, we hope to help agribusiness owners recognize areas of their operation that may need increased safety precautions,” said Carol Alvarez, vice president of claims for Nationwide. “These national trends can help business owners pinpoint areas where they can take extra measure to keep their employees, products and equipment safe.”

Over the past three years, motor vehicles accidents have accounted for more than 20,000 of Nationwide’s total commercial agribusiness claims. Nationwide’s data for these accidents show the following trends in frequency and severity.

Most frequent accident:
• Rear end accidents
• Backing into vehicles
• Accidental strike of stationary object

Accidents causing most significant damage:
• Overturned vehicles
• Head-on collisions
• Intersection accidents

Nationwide recommends the following risk management tips to help agribusinesses reduce motor vehicle accidents and keep employees safe:

• Embrace safety technology by equipping vehicles with collision mitigation and telematics monitoring systems.
• Develop standard hiring criteria for drivers comprised of new driver orientations and documented training.
• Develop “safe following distance” and “distracted driving” policies that include comprehensive training and procedure enforcement.
• Be aware of advanced safety benefits in newer trucks, such as electronic stability control systems to prevent overturn.
• Provide additional documented training for commercial truck drivers with tanker endorsements, and those carrying high center of gravity loads.

Products underwritten by Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company, Farmland Mutual Insurance Company, Allied Property and Casualty Insurance Company and AMCO Insurance Company. Products and discounts not available to all persons in all states. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2018 Nationwide.