Reserve for Loss and Loss Expense

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

The table below provides a roll forward of reserve for loss and loss expense balances:



	Six Months ended June 30,
($ in thousands)	2019			2018
Gross reserve for loss and loss expense, at beginning of year	$	3,893,868		3,771,240
Less: reinsurance recoverable on unpaid loss and loss expense, at beginning of year	537,388			585,855
Net reserve for loss and loss expense, at beginning of year	3,356,480			3,185,385
Incurred loss and loss expense for claims occurring in the:
Current year	783,938			756,855
Prior years	(16,375		)	(5,586	)
Total incurred loss and loss expense	767,563			751,269
Paid loss and loss expense for claims occurring in the:
Current year	210,374			214,169
Prior years	442,820			457,441
Total paid loss and loss expense	653,194			671,610
Net reserve for loss and loss expense, at end of period	3,470,849			3,265,044
Add: Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid loss and loss expense, at end of period	556,203			539,321
Gross reserve for loss and loss expense at end of period	$	4,027,052		3,804,365

Prior year reserve development in Six Months 2019 of $16.4 million was primarily driven by favorable casualty reserve development of $20.0 million in our workers compensation line of business and $7.0 million in our general liability line of business. This was partially offset by $10.6 million of unfavorable property reserve development in Six Months 2019.

Prior year reserve development in Six Months 2018 of $5.6 million included $12.0 million of favorable casualty reserve development, partially offset by $6.4 million of unfavorable property reserve development. The favorable casualty reserve development included $33.0 million of development in our workers compensation line of business, partially offset by $15.0 million of unfavorable reserve development in our commercial automobile line of business and $6.0 million in our excess and surplus ("E&S") casualty lines.