All Posts

Michigan law has imposed a range of duties on insurance agents through the years, ranging from the most basic duty of an “order taker” for the insured, to the highest duty of fiduciary for the insurance company. Generally, these duties have arisen from three separate legal sources – statutes, contracts and common law. Coupled with the varying designations conferred on insurance agents as well as the infinite number of distinct factual scenarios leading to the purchase of insu

The answer to this question is usually "both." As an initial matter, the term "insurance agent" does not adequately distinguish between professionals who sell insurance. In Michigan, there are insurance producers, brokers, captive agents, independent agents, certified insurance counselors, and others. The type of insurance professional, the extent to which they consult on risk management, and each particular transaction dictate the legal standard of care the agent must meet.