Minnesota Bridge Catastrophe Raises Insurance Coverage Issues
The Minneapolis bridge catastrophe is a horrible tragedy. This terrible incident suggests, however, insurance implications that we cannot ignore. Reports are now being received that the bridge had been labeled "structurally deficient." The bridge had rated only a 50 out of 120 on a scale measuring structural stability. Insurance is generally limited to damages and injuries that are "unexpected." Policyholder advocates will argue that "structurally deficient" and 50 out of 120 are terms of art that are less ominous than the plain meaning suggests. But, is the collapse of a "structurally deficient" bridge "unexpected"?
