22 January 2025 | Insight

Case study: The relevance of Active Assailant Insurance

Incident overview

On New Year’s Eve, a tragic Active Assailant event unfolded in New Orleans, Louisiana, underscoring the unpredictable nature of such incidents. A lone assailant drove a pick-up truck through crowds on Bourbon Street, located in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The assailant, wearing a ballistic vest and helmet, opened fire in a public space, resulting in fatalities, injuries, and widespread panic. This event disrupted local businesses and tourism during one of the busiest times of the year, leaving a lasting impact on the community.

Impact analysis

 

Human loss and trauma

The event caused significant loss of life and left many others dealing with physical and emotional trauma. For the survivors and families affected, the costs associated with support services like counselling and medical care are often beyond the scope of traditional insurance coverage.

Business and economic disruption

Numerous businesses in the area were directly impacted, facing property damage and the cost of emergency responses. The broader economic effects, such as lost revenue, diminished consumer confidence, and long-term impacts on the city’s reputation, highlight the far-reaching consequences of such events.

Relevance to Active Assailant Insurance

The tragic events in New Orleans underscore the importance of comprehensive Active Assailant insurance. These policies are designed to address the wide range of risks posed by such incidents, offering coverage and support that extends beyond typical liability policies. Our stand-alone Active Assailant policies include:

Holistic coverage needs

  • Active Assailant policies provide tailored coverage for the wide range of potential losses, including Physical Damage, Legal Liability Claims, Business Interruption, Denial of Access.
  • Active Assailant polices are Primary to other polices.

Victim support and crisis management

  • Active Assailant policies offer resources for victim support, including Psychiatric Counselling, Medical & Funeral Costs, Forensic clean-up costs, Public Relations management, Additional Security, Repatriation of deceased.
  • They also include post event crisis response services, ensuring rapid communication, evacuation planning, and incident management to minimize harm.

Protecting business continuity

  • The incident highlighted the significant financial risks businesses face in such events, from physical damage to reputational harm.
    Active Assailant insurance ensures swift financial recovery, helping businesses resume operations with minimal disruption and indemnity for loss of revenue.

Risk mitigation and preparedness planning

  • Policies include risk assessment and training programmes to help organizations identify vulnerabilities and prepare for potential threats.
  • Pre-event consulting to demonstrate incident awareness, how to respond and how to create an emergency action plan as well as risk assessments.

The tragic events of New Year’s Eve in New Orleans serve as a poignant reminder of the unpredictable nature of active assailant threats and the far-reaching consequences they can have on individuals, businesses, and communities. Active Assailant insurance offers a comprehensive, proactive solution, providing businesses with the financial protection, crisis management support and operational continuity needed in the face of such devastating events.

At Price Forbes, we offer specialized insurance solutions that help our clients navigate the complexities of risk management. We are dedicated to providing reliable protection, expert claims handling, and peace of mind in an unpredictable world.

Our Political Violence & Terrorism team brings years of experience in structuring and placing US and international terrorism and Active Assailant risks, ensuring that your clients have the coverage they need when it matters most.

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