Any business offering their expertise should seriously consider getting professional liability coverage, commonly known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, to safeguard both their company and bottom line from customer claims of late completion, incompleteness or substandard work that could potentially lead to costly lawsuits.
Professional liability policies fall into two broad categories, claims-made and occurrence coverages. Claims-made policies cover any incidents in which a policy was in force at the time of an event and lawsuit, while an occurrence policy will cover any incidents while the policy was active that qualify for coverage under that particular policy.
For effective risk management of construction projects, it is necessary to understand all four types of risks inherent within it - these could include financial, contractual, operational and environmental threats that come from both internal and external sources.
Liability insurance provides coverage against damage claims caused by contractors when performing work on your property and injury claims that may arise should someone get injured while performing duty. It also covers court judgments or medical or funeral expenses should someone become seriously ill while on duty.
Policies typically feature deductibles ranging from $1,000 to $25,000. Your premium costs depend upon both the size and risk profile of your business, with smaller operations usually needing lower premiums due to lower risk exposure.
General, professional and employer liabilities are the three major forms of liability protection available today.
Draft an explicit scope and contract agreement with clients; this will establish open lines of communication. Secure general/professional liability coverage from The Allen Thomas Group as soon as you start operating a business.