In response to rising chronic pain claims, Travelers announced the development of a new patent-pending predictive model designed to identify claims and workers most at risk. The company, which developed the Early Severity Predictor (ESP) program, manages more than 250,000 … Source: Claims Journal

New federal maps say New Orleans is much less vulnerable to flooding than it was before Hurricane Katrina struck more than 10 years ago. As a result, Mayor Mitch Landrieu says, half of the city’s properties will see a big … Source: Claims Journal

The amount of opioids prescribed to injured Ohio workers has fallen significantly since the state’s insurance fund for injured workers created a pharmacy management program amid concerns about painkiller usage. Fewer than 4,800 workers have been deemed opiate-dependent after exceeding … Source: Claims Journal

Weather incidents were the most common cause of damages, resulting in more than half of all claims according to newly released data by The Travelers Companies, Inc., identifying the most common and costliest homeowners claims. Based on a review of … Source: Claims Journal

A 10th person has died in a crash in the U.S. involving a ruptured Takata Corp. airbag inflator, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A 17-year-old woman died from injuries sustained in a March 31 crash in … Source: Claims Journal

After two straight victories in test trials over a deadly ignition switch defect in millions of vehicles,  General Motors Co. settled a case that was set set to go before a jury next month, avoiding potentially emotional testimony about the death … Source: Claims Journal

Oregon is considering another year of insurance coverage to help pay for catastrophic wildfire seasons. British insurance giant Lloyd’s of London is offering the state another year of coverage despite three consecutive years of expensive, drought-fueled wildfires. The policy could … Source: Claims Journal

The agricultural loss from the March flooding across Louisiana could top $15 million, according to an economist with the LSU AgCenter. Kurt Guidry said the loss figures are preliminary, because reports are coming in daily from farmers and producers. Guidry … Source: Claims Journal

Man-made global warming is making America sicker, and it’s only going to get worse, according to a new federal government report. The 332-page report issued Monday by the Obama administration said global warming will make the air dirtier, water more … Source: Claims Journal

A working group set up after a fatal haunted hayride accident has concluded there’s little the state can do to improve the safety of hayrides and other farm-based amusements. Maine, like many states, has no law regulating farm amusements or … Source: Claims Journal