The frequency and nature of malicious attacks, or armed assailant incidents, continue to be a threat to people and events across the USA. Attacks put lives at risk and expose event organizers to potentially catastrophic income loss, including being held liable for an incident on their premises. An ActiveAssailant policy helps policyholders to prepare for and manage the risk of being a victim of a malicious attack. Whatever the motive of the attack, coverage helps to mitigate the risks of physical, financial and reputational damage to the policyholder.
Key benefits:
- Primary and non-contributory to other insurance policies, providing certainty and peace of mind should an attack occur.
- 24/7/365 emergency response from Merrill Herzog in the event of an incident.
- Dedicated limits to help protect against a catastrophic peril that would otherwise be denied by a traditional general liability policy.
Merrill Herzog is a commercial risk and intelligence firm that helps clients respond to critical and crisis situations, prepare for and defend themselves against security risks, and safeguard commercial interests globally with a suite of comprehensive intelligence services. With offices located in the United States,Latin America, and the Middle East and established partnerships in 46 countries around the world, Merrill Herzog works with clients, suppliers, and local professional services to deliver solutions that help clients respond to and resolve issues quickly while working to mitigate and manage risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Active Assailant Insurance?
Active Assailant Insurance is designed to help event organizers manage the risks and potential financial impacts associated with an active assailant threat/incident. It provides coverage for incidents involving active assailants, including attacks and threats. The policy typically covers expenses related to property damage, legal liabilities, business interruption, crisis management services, business interruption, threat assessments, public relations costs, and other costs as outlined in the policy.
What sorts of acts/events would be covered?
- Attack - Involving the use of a weapon, the definition of which is very broad to capture most scenarios. The attack does not need to be ideologically motivated or carried out in the name of a cause.
- Threat - Malicious threats made against insured people or property.
- Stalking Threat - Unwanted obsessive attention that puts an insured person in fear or concern for their safety at the event in question.
Why should an event organizer consider purchasing Active Assailant Insurance?
Unfortunately, these acts of violence and/or threats have become more common It never hurts to be prepared for the “what ifs,” and event organizers have a moral duty to maintain a safe environment for their guests. In the event of an active assailant attack, an event organizer could face civil and regulatory actions. There have been instances where organizations were prosecuted for insufficient security measures.
In many cases, coverage may be a contractual requirement of the rented facility.
What services are included under crisis management in Active Assailant Insurance?
Policies often include access to specialist crisis response consultants who advise on recovery actions following an attack. This includes liaising with victims' families, media, law enforcement, and consular assistants for international victims.
Won't my General Liability policy cover this?
Not likely. Typically, most GL policies have exclusions that include things like employee-perpetrated incidents, criminal activity, business interruption, assault & battery, weapons, and/or terrorism-related events.
Will someone reach out to me prior to the event?
Yes. In addition to instructions being available with your initial documents upon purchase, we will send a reminder email to the insured’s email address 72 hours before the event detailing what to do and who to contact in the event of an incident, you will also have the opportunity to access an “onboarding consultation” with a crisis responder. The initial call is expected to be about 30 minutes. Any additional time beyond the initial 30-minute consultation is subject to additional charges (which must be approved by the insured in advance).
My event occurs on multiple dates and multiple locations. Will they be covered?
The policy will cover any and all listed dates and locations.
Are there different sub-limits for the various coverages? What happens if the associated expenses exceed the $50,000 limit?
There are no sub-limits. In the event the insured nears the $50,000 limit, there will be clear communication about the impending limit and any additional responsibility for costs going forward.
Who will provide the support in the event of an incident?
Merrill Herzog is a commercial risk and intelligence firm that helps clients respond to critical and crisis situations, prepare for and defend themselves against security risks, and safeguard commercial interests globally with a suite of comprehensive intelligence services. With offices located in the United States, Latin America, and the Middle East and established partnerships in 46 countries around the world, Merrill Herzog works with clients, suppliers, and local professional services to deliver solutions that help clients respond to and resolve issues quickly while working to mitigate and manage risks.
