XML 84 R45.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Reserve for Losses and Loss Expenses (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012
Insurance Loss Reserves [Abstract] |
Roll Forward of Reserves for Losses and Loss Expenses |
($ in thousands) |  | 2012 |  | 2011 |  | 2010
Gross reserves for losses and loss expenses, at beginning of year |  | $ | 3,144,924 |  |  | 2,830,058 |  |  | 2,745,799 |
Less: reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses, at beginning of year |  | 549,490 |  |  | 313,739 |  |  | 271,610 |
Net reserves for losses and loss expenses, at beginning of year |  | 2,595,434 |  |  | 2,516,319 |  |  | 2,474,189 |
Incurred losses and loss expenses for claims occurring in the: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current year |  | 1,146,591 |  |  | 1,113,733 |  |  | 1,025,707 |
Prior years |  | (25,601 | ) |  | (38,746 | ) |  | (43,589 | )
Total incurred losses and loss expenses |  | 1,120,990 |  |  | 1,074,987 |  |  | 982,118 |
Paid losses and loss expenses for claims occurring in the: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current year |  | 424,496 |  |  | 440,786 |  |  | 378,650 |
Prior years |  | 632,742 |  |  | 569,944 |  |  | 561,338 |
Total paid losses and loss expenses |  | 1,057,238 |  |  | 1,010,730 |  |  | 939,988 |
Acquisition of MUSIC losses and loss expense reserves |  | — |  |  | 14,858 |  |  | — |
Net reserves for losses and loss expenses, at end of year |  | 2,659,186 |  |  | 2,595,434 |  |  | 2,516,319 |
Add: Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses, at end of year 1 |  | 1,409,755 |  |  | 549,490 |  |  | 313,739 |
Gross reserves for losses and loss expenses at end of year |  | $ | 4,068,941 |  |  | 3,144,924 |  |  | 2,830,058 |
1 Includes $44.0 million related to the acquisition of MUSIC at December 31, 2011.
Prior Year Development |
Favorable/(Unfavorable) Prior Year Development |  |  |  |  |  |
($ in millions) |  | 2012 |  | 2011 |  | 2010
General Liability |  | $ | (3 | ) |  | 12 |  |  | 26 |
Commercial Automobile |  | 9 |  |  | 13 |  |  | 28 |
Workers' Compensation |  | (2 | ) |  | (7 | ) |  | (22 | )
Business Owners' Policies |  | 9 |  |  | 11 |  |  | 3 |
Commercial Property |  | 3 |  |  | 6 |  |  | 3 |
Homeowners |  | 9 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 6 |
Personal Automobile |  | — |  |  | (1 | ) |  | (2 | )
Other |  | 1 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 2 |
Total |  | $ | 26 |  |  | 39 |  |  | 44 |
Exposure to Various Environmental Claims |
|  | 2012
($ in millions) |  | Gross |  | Net
Asbestos |  | $ | 9.2 |  |  | 7.8 |
Landfill sites |  | 13.0 |  |  | 8.1 |
Leaking underground storage tanks |  | 13.4 |  |  | 11.9 |
Total |  | $ | 35.6 |  |  | 27.8 |
Roll Forward of Gross and Net Environmental Incurred Losses and Loss Expenses and Related Reserves |
|  | 2012 |  | 2011 |  | 2010
($ in thousands) |  | Gross |  | Net |  | Gross |  | Net |  | Gross |  | Net
Asbestos |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reserves for losses and loss expenses at beginning of year |  | $ | 8,412 |  |  | 6,586 |  |  | 9,979 |  |  | 8,167 |  |  | 11,056 |  |  | 9,244 |
Incurred losses and loss expenses |  | 1,696 |  |  | 2,000 |  |  | 2,014 |  |  | 2,000 |  |  | (338 | ) |  | (338 | )
Less: losses and loss expenses paid |  | (938 | ) |  | (795 | ) |  | (3,581 | ) |  | (3,581 | ) |  | (739 | ) |  | (739 | )
Reserves for losses and loss expenses at the end of year |  | $ | 9,170 |  |  | 7,791 |  |  | 8,412 |  |  | 6,586 |  |  | 9,979 |  |  | 8,167 |
Environmental |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reserves for losses and loss expenses at beginning of year |  | $ | 27,600 |  |  | 21,330 |  |  | 33,630 |  |  | 27,599 |  |  | 35,864 |  |  | 28,803 |
Incurred losses and loss expenses |  | 1,363 |  |  | 1,000 |  |  | (4,285 | ) |  | (4,750 | ) |  | 1,500 |  |  | 2,276 |
Less: losses and loss expenses paid |  | (2,558 | ) |  | (2,352 | ) |  | (1,745 | ) |  | (1,519 | ) |  | (3,734 | ) |  | (3,480 | )
Reserves for losses and loss expenses at the end of year |  | $ | 26,405 |  |  | 19,978 |  |  | 27,600 |  |  | 21,330 |  |  | 33,630 |  |  | 27,599 |
Total Environmental Claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reserves for losses and loss expenses at beginning of year |  | $ | 36,012 |  |  | 27,916 |  |  | 43,609 |  |  | 35,766 |  |  | 46,920 |  |  | 38,047 |
Incurred losses and loss expenses |  | 3,059 |  |  | 3,000 |  |  | (2,271 | ) |  | (2,750 | ) |  | 1,162 |  |  | 1,938 |
Less: losses and loss expenses paid |  | (3,496 | ) |  | (3,147 | ) |  | (5,326 | ) |  | (5,100 | ) |  | (4,473 | ) |  | (4,219 | )
Reserves for losses and loss expenses at the end of year |  | $ | 35,575 |  |  | 27,769 |  |  | 36,012 |  |  | 27,916 |  |  | 43,609 |  |  | 35,766 |

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the company's exposure to environmental claims, on a gross and net basis. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sigi_ScheduleOfExposureToEnvironmentalClaimsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | sigi_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the activity in the environmental reserve for settling insured claims and expenses incurred in the claims settlement process for the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sigi_ScheduleOfLiabilityForUnpaidEnvironmentalClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | sigi_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_InsuranceLossReservesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the reasons for the change in incurred claims and claim adjustment expenses recognized in the income statement attributable to insured events of prior fiscal years. Also includes disclosures of additional premiums or return premiums accrued as a result of changes in incurred claims and claim adjustment expenses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 94-5 -Paragraph 11 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section W + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfCausesOfIncreaseDecreaseInLiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the activity in the reserve for settling insured claims and expenses incurred in the claims settlement process for the period. The estimated liability includes the amount of money that will be required for future payments of (a) claims that have been reported to the insurer, (b) claims related to insured events that have occurred but that have not been reported to the insurer as of the date the liability is estimated, and (c) claim adjustment expenses. Claim adjustment expenses include costs incurred in the claim settlement process such as legal fees; outside adjuster fees; and costs to record, process, and adjust claims. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 94-5 -Paragraph 11 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfLiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration