Libsyn Directory

Is an eBike a Car? No. But is it a Motor Vehicle?

Release Date: 09/30/2025

Carpet in the Bathroom? I Hope That's Against Code!

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

The insured lives in a single-family home in Austin, Texas. While hanging a shelf on the wall in one of the bathrooms, the owner drilled right through the metal stud, directly into a plumbing pipe, causing water damage to the wall and to the carpeting on the floor. (Yes, you heard that correctly, carpeting…in the bathroom!) Should there have been some type of pipe protection near the stud? And, does code even allow carpeting in a bathroom? Notable Timestamps [ 00:08 ] - The scenario involves a homeowner drilling into a metal stud and puncturing a plumbing pipe, causing water damage to...

[REPLAY] The PLRB Insurance Services Expo & You

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

For this holiday week, we’d like to prepare you for the upcoming PLRB Claims Conference, so we’re sharing a classic episode featuring some highlights on what to expect. You might notice some details specific to the original date of taping, but we’ve lightly edited it to keep it relevant. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the conference! Let’s say you’re a service provider in the insurance industry. You’ve been attending PLRB Conferences for a few years, and you’re thinking about taking the next step to increase exposure and build relationships with the right...

Herding Weather/CATs

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

A supervisor leads a team of very needy CAT adjusters! Over the course of the year, the supervisor fields many questions as it comes up in their claims. Was there hail on X date? Was there lightning in the area? This hurricane is coming soon, where can I get news about it? Winter weather caused a slip and fall!! Where can I find information on wildfire perimeters and California evacuations? For help herding all these cats, we’ll head to PLRB.org. Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - The episode introduces a scenario where a supervisor fields constant weather-related questions from cat...

A Squirrel, A Power Outage, and a Ruined Dinner

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

A restaurant experienced a power outage lasting over an hour and a half. Because of the outage, they decided to close for the rest of the evening, claiming lost revenue from missed dinner service. PLRB weather tools will help us explore outage duration, date and time, location, and eventual cause. As we investigate, we’ll encounter an efficient proximate cause issue, the electrical currents exclusion, and a fried squirrel. Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - The episode sets up a real-world insurance scenario: a restaurant closes after a 90-minute power outage and claims lost revenue,...

The PLRB Expo: Connection & Community

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

You're a new exhibitor, and you're excited and anxious about your first visit to the PLRB Claims Conference. How will you handle the rushes of attendees and the breaks between them? How will you build relationships that will last after you leave the Expo floor? What tone will you strike with members? Gemcor has been attending PLRB since 1984, just three years after our dad founded the company. It’s the one conference we commit to every single year, and today we'll share our perspective. Notable Timestamps [ 00:58 ] - In this scenario, a new exhibitor is hoping for success at the...

[REPLAY] Join Us at the Claims Conference

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

For this holiday week, we’d like to prepare you for the upcoming PLRB Claims Conference, so we’re sharing a classic episode featuring some highlights on what to expect. You might notice some details specific to the original date of taping, but we’ve lightly edited it to keep it relevant. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the conference! A supervisor is leading a small but mighty teams of adjusters, and they're taking their team to Indianapolis this spring for the 2025 PLRB Claims Conference. The only problem? They’ve never been before and have no idea where to...

Do Jewelry Appraisals Lock In Insurance Payout Amounts?

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

The insured felt like she did everything right. She insured the ring when she bought it, kept it scheduled on her policy, kept up with maintenance, and filed a claim right away when it was stolen. She even submitted the original appraisal for $22,000 so the insurance company would know how much to write on the check. So she was shocked when the insurance payout was only $14,000. Apparently diamonds are cheaper today, but she thinks: "shouldn't the appraisal lock in the cost?" Notable Timestamps [ 00:45 ] - An insured may assume an appraisal amount guarantees payout, but jewelry claims...

Hogging the Blame for a Fire Loss

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

Swine & Dine Farms underwent a devastating loss when a ventilation system shut off, resulting in the deaths of 2,400 hogs. Swine & Dine didn’t own the hogs: they were contract growers raising the hogs for an “integrator,” the contract owner of the animals who is not suing for the value of the lost hogs. What liability coverage is available for these folks? Notable Timestamps [ 00:41 ] - A ventilation failure led to the suffocation of thousands of hogs raised by a Contract Grower. [ 04:47 ] - This scenario centers on farm commercial liability policies, not property...

[REPLAY] What's Your Elevator Pitch?

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

As you prepare your new year’s resolutions, take a moment to ask, “What’s your elevator pitch?” This holiday week, we’re sharing a classic episode featuring an inspirational and thought-provoking scenario that you can bring into your personal and professional life. A claims adjuster is out at a party when they are asked: “So, what do you do for a living?” Our adjuster responds with just: “I’m in insurance claims.” That’s an “Oh no” moment. Turns out their cousin had a terrible experience on a claim and our adjuster is going to hear all about it, ending in: “You...

[REPLAY] Is an Apple Watch a Watch?

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

During this time of year as many people are exchanging presents, I’m sure you’re all wondering exactly how those various gadgets would be classified under the HO3 policy. So for this holiday week, we’re sharing a classic episode featuring an excellent coverage scenario. The insured, a father of 4, was out buying Christmas gifts for his children. This year he decided to splurge and buy each of them a drone and an Apple Watch. On his way back home, he stopped to get gas, and when he went into the minimart for coffee, a thief stole everything out of the back seat. The insured notified the...

More Episodes

Beatriz is a city dweller who never learned how to drive a car. However, recently she got tired of the train and decided to get an E-bike. She bought an old E-bike off a friend, purchased a battery from AftermarketBatteries.biz, and soon was zipping through the streets. Her friends even got her a "bumper sticker" that reads "Beatriz's Car" for the side. But one night, it caught fire while charging outside her apartment door. Is it a covered motor vehicle under the standard ISO HO-3 form?

Notable Timestamps

[ 00:00 ] - E-bikes are becoming increasingly common in cities, raising new insurance questions, particularly around how coverage applies when losses occur.

[ 02:23 ] - E-bike Trivia: Rainy Days & Freezing Batteries

[ 04:12 ] - Coverage disputes often center on whether an e-bike qualifies as a motor vehicle under the HO3 form, with fire and theft being frequent causes of loss.

[ 06:34 ] - E-bikes are classified into three classes based on speed and power, which affect where they can be ridden and complicate insurance coverage determinations.

[ 08:24 ] - The 2022 HO3 form clarified that e-bikes with throttles are motor vehicles, unlike the 2011 edition, which did not define related terms.

[ 11:42 ] - Pedal-assist-only e-bikes are generally not considered self-propelled, but throttle-equipped bikes risk being excluded as motor vehicles under certain policies.

[ 13:22 ] - Policy language can lag behind technology, creating a gap where there is uncertainty in coverage.

[ 16:14 ] - Expensive e-bikes may require endorsements for coverage, since they can fall into property-not-covered provisions under homeowners insurance.

[ 17:05 ] - Urban fires linked to aftermarket batteries prompted new laws, such as requiring UL Certification in New York, to improve e-bike safety.

[ 19:17 ] - Sonia provides a recap of the points above.

Your PLRB Resources

Coverage Question: Is an E-Bike Considered a Motor Vehicle in Minnesota? https://www.plrb.org/documents/is-an-e-bike-a-motor-vehicle-in-minnesota-pcq-2024-11-11-jch-a

FAQ: E-Bikes and First Party Issues https://www.plrb.org/documents/e-bikes-and-first-party-issues/?search=ebike

Recorded Webinar: Transportation Network Companies: Driving into the Future Webinar https://members.plrb.org/education/courses/transportation-network-companies-driving-into-the-future-webinar

Employees of member companies also have access to a searchable legal database, hundreds of hours of video trainings, building code materials, weather data, and even the ability to have your coverage questions answered by our team of attorneys (https://www.plrb.org/ask-plrb/) at no additional charge to you or your company.

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Please reach out to us at 630-509-8704 with your scenario! This could be your “adjuster story” sharing a situation from your claims experience, or a burning question you would like the team to answer. In any case, please omit any personal information as we will anonymize your story before we share. Just reach out to scenario@plrb.org.

Sponsorship

PLRB thanks Pilot Catastrophe Services for its Diamond Sponsorship of the 2025 Claims Conference. "Pilot provides a complete suite of services to handle claims arising from catastrophic events, small storms or daily claims." Visit pilotcat.com!

Legal Information

The views and opinions expressed in this resource are those of the individual speaker and not necessarily those of the Property & Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB), its membership, or any organization with which the presenter is employed or affiliated. The information, ideas, and opinions are presented as information only and not as legal advice or offers of representation. Individual policy language and state laws vary, and listeners should rely on guidance from their companies and counsel as appropriate.

Music: “Piece of Future” by Keyframe_Audio. Pixabay. Pixabay License.
Font: Metropolis by Chris Simpson. SIL OFL 1.1.
Icons: FontAwesome (SIL OFL 1.1) and Noun Project (royalty-free licenses purchased via subscription).
Sound Effects: Pixabay (Pixabay License) and Freesound.org (CC0).

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