VERTEX was retained by an international property and casualty insurance carrier to assist them in their review and investigation of two separate claims made by two different Insureds involving a 50-car freight train derailment in a rural area of eastern Ohio, including 20 cars that were transporting hazardous materials, 11 of which were breached and released hazardous chemicals into the environment.
VERTEX conducted background research on the incident and conducted interviews with the two Insureds, each of whom had three railcars involved in the derailment. VERTEX’s review concluded that in the case of one of the Insureds, none of the three railcars involved in the accident was carrying hazardous materials and that the contents of these cars were not released to the environment.
In the case of the second Insured, VERTEX’s review documented that although the three railcars involved in the accident were dedicated for the transport of benzene, at the time of the derailment, these cars were empty and devoid of any product. Based on VERTEX’s review, it was concluded that with regard to both of the two claims, no impacts to the environment had occurred as a result of the derailment, and neither Insured had incurred, or were likely to incur, any costs, or have any liability, that would be related to environmental contamination or covered under the terms of their pollution insurance policies.
To learn more about VERTEX’s Environmental services or to speak with an Expert, call 888.298.5162 or submit an inquiry.
