re: Insurance Question (Homeowners)

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No one gets hurt by a batting cage (swimming pools and trampolines can kill you). Injuries in a batting cage require someone throwing a baseball and/or someone hitting a baseball. Those injuries can be just as frequent without the cage.

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A player at Loranger High died about ten years ago in a batting cage accident. He and another player had returned to the field after practice ended and were getting in some extra hitting. The player pitching was struck in the head by a line drive despite there being a protective screen present. The coaches were not present as the players had been dismissed as practice had ended. So if they expect other players to be using the cage it would be wise to confirm coverage or get an umbrella policy.

I had a major issue with them very early on and decided not to do business through them again. Later I’d heard that they were encouraging agents to load up policies with every discount under the sun, even if the insured or property shouldn’t have qualified for it, so they’d beat everyone else’s premium. Like they were giving a big FU to their own actuaries. Not surprising they went under.

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So if they expect other players to be using the cage it would be wise to confirm coverage or get an umbrella policy.

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1) I recommend emailing the question to get a documented response.

2) every state is different. Vague language usually benefits the insured in state law (the insurance company writes the contract. It is up to them to address policy usage specifically.
Vagueness benefits the one accepting the contract. And that benefit would usually result in a policy change endorsed state wide on renewals by the insurance company).

3) liability requires negligence. There is an inherent risk in a batting cage. And participation is voluntary. I agree with strong liability protection. But the pitcher would need an amazing attorney to prove negligence when the pitcher voluntarily throws the pitch to a batter standing to drive the pitch in the direction that it came from.

The discount loading definitely ended about a year, year and a half or so ago

Think they found their exposure becoming a bit more saturated than they’d like. Pulled back on discounts, became pickier on inspections . Pretty much a 180 on approach from the first year, year and a half, which creates its own problems obviously

Every company out the gate is aggressive as shite then slows down ugly after.