Business Insurance News

Avoid These Mistakes for Smoother Workers Comp Claims

October 21, 2021

When a worker is injured on the job, it is critical that they know what steps to take. Unfortunately, there are many ways that a worker’s compensation claim can be mishandled. Be sure that both you and your employees have the information necessary to avoid these common mistakes.

Reporting Mistakes

Avoid these common early mistakes to ensure your claims get off to a solid start:

Failure to report the accident: Even if it seems like a minor injury, it is a good idea to report all accidents and injuries so they are properly documented.
Improper claim filing: Know the processes for filing and following up with a claim before an accident happens to avoid confusion and possible errors.

Problems With Care

Not following medical advice is a serious mistake that can aggravate injuries.Workers should always follow the advice of a medical professional. It is also a good idea to seek a second opinion on serious injuries.

Mistakes After Recovery

Not returning to work on time can be a costly mistake for everyone involved. Workers should seek a timely return to work as soon as their health allows. Reasonable accommodations can help make this possible.

Knowing which workers comp mistakes to avoid can help ensure smooth reporting, filing, and recovery processes for everyone involved. It can also help you effectively manage risk and controlp insurance rates.

How To Devise a Sensible Real Estate Agent Business Plan

October 21, 2021

When it comes to running any successful business, the key is creating a solid business plan. By devising a plan that includes all pertinent details related to establishing and running a company in your chosen industry, you can make your life a lot easier when it comes to finding investors, taking out insurance, and developing the ability to see long-term success. If youre stuck on what to include or how to go about making a comprehensive plan, use this overview to guide you.

Focus Your Plan Around Finances

A main point to keep in mind with your real estate agent business plan is that it should always be focused from a financial perspective. Since youll most often put your plan into effect when youre looking to accomplish tasks like landing new investors, you will find it beneficial to take the time to ensure all budgetary data and future forecasts are included in the plan in an accurate and thoroughly researched manner. Other areas to pay attention to when youre putting together your plan can include:

Maintaining an income outside of the business
Developing a blueprint for future growth initiatives
Reviewing insurance options

Start Working on a Strategy Today

A business plan is typically the cornerstone of any successful business. If youre a real estate agent looking to establish yourself, first take the time needed to create a comprehensive plan that covers all your bases.

What You Need To Know About Insurance Claims in Connecticut

October 19, 2021

Filing an insurance claim is a necessary step when you are dealing with automobile accidents. In order for you to be compensated financially for damages and injuries sustained in a crash, you absolutely need to understand the ins and outs of putting in a claim. Though there are a handful of general tips to keep in mind, most of the details will vary depending on the state in which you live. Review this information to learn more about your options in Connecticut.

Review the Scene

One point to understand about filing an auto insurance claim in CT is that you should always evaluate the situation before you make any official claim. An accident with your vehicle will require a different claim process than a scenario in which your car has been vandalized or damaged when you are not behind the wheel. Filing a police report is also a wise step, as this provides third-party documentation of the situation. Other steps to think over before you put in a claim can include:

Extra documentation of the scene
Speak with insurance agent
Discuss options with an adjuster

Take Your Time

When you have a clear idea of what steps to take in the event of an auto accident, it can make your life a whole lot easier. Review the basic points of putting in a claim and see how you can create the best outcome from a bad situation.

What Is Public Liability Insurance?

October 5, 2021

Companies whose facilities are open to the general public wind up incurring liabililty for injuries and damage to personal belongings on site in a variety of circumstances. The specifics of your exposure vary according to the features of the site and the reasons the public is allowed access. For example, a company offering tours of its manufacturing facility with a very controlled access path has a very different set of public liability insurance needs than one operating a store open to the public 24 hours a day.

Purchasing Extended Public Liability Coverage

Some businesses can find general liability coverage with enough public liability protection to stop at that policy. For most companies needing insurance coverage against on-site accidents that injure the public, though, an extended policy is the better choice. General coverage puts limits on each area of liability protection and a limit on the overall policy payout per term. If you have an outsized need in just one or two areas of protection, raising the limits on that general coverage can be cost prohibitive. Public liability insurance is designed to provide as much protection as you need in that specific area of liability. It takes over where your general liability insurance stops, protecting you against the common and uncommon accidents that happen when you invite the public into a place of business.

You’d Be Surprised What Film Set Insurance Covers

October 1, 2021

The vision you create for your next film probably doesnt include accidents on set that damage property or result in injury to your cast or crew. Last-minute changes to the creative direction can add extra confusion into the mix. Film set insurance can help cover you for mishaps that happen on set due to these circumstances or others.

What Film Set Insurance Covers

Insurance for a film set can cover everything from damaged equipment to cast and crew hurt on set and even mistakes that cause lost footage. With more complicated sets in demand because of a consumer appetite for more heavily produced films, these potential hazards can add up more quickly. Additional gear can add more tripping hazards and possible injuries from dropping equipment and involve a higher amount of equipment that might get damaged.

What Coverage Should You Get?

You may not need a comprehensive policy. Estimate the overall cost you think of unforeseen circumstances happening on your set. Can you easily replace lost footage? If you rented equipment, do you have coverage through the rental company? What happens if someone on set gets hurt?

Accidents happen on set. Consider the different aspects of your production before filming to determine which areas make sense to insure. Then you can focus on what you do best: creating.

How Fuel Oil Dealer Insurance Protects Your Company

September 30, 2021

A large number of Americans depend on regular fuel deliveries for cooking, heating, and hot water. Countless companies service these needs, across multiple states, in all seasons and in widely varying conditions. Ensuring your company carries adequate fuel oil dealer insurance is essential to protecting your business, employees, and clients.

What Risks Do Fuel Oil Dealers Face?

Given the need to handle hazardous fuels in widely varying conditions, there is significant inherent risk for fuel oil companies. These may include:

Risk of spills or leaks
Machinery and company vehicle risks
Various risks to workers on the job
Weather risks, depending on season, for both drivers and technicians

This is not a comprehensive list, and a variety of overlapping coverage may be required for business, depending on the specifics of where you work and what types of fuels you handle. Moreover, given customers’ high dependence on your services, you may be at an elevated risk of a lawsuit if something goes wrong or a delivery fails to arrive.

Workers compensation coverage, missed fuel delivery coverage, pollution liability coverage, and general and professional liability coverage may all be part of a comprehensivefuel oil dealer insurance policy. It is vital to speak to your insurer today, to ensure that you are well-covered and prepared to deal with any of the potential hazards that may arise in the industry.

Prepare Your Company for a Premium Workers’ Compensation Audit

September 30, 2021

At the start of each workers’ compensation policy period, you must give an estimate of your company’s projected payroll and operational exposures. This number is used to determine your premium for that period. If your estimate isn’t accurate, you may wind up paying additional fees at the end of the policy period.

Understanding How the Premium Audit Works

It helps to understand the factors involved in determining premiums so that your workers’ compensation premium audit can go as smoothly as possible. Issues to consider include:

Understand how freelance or contract workers affect your premiums
Be aware of any payroll costs that don’t need to be included in the premium estimate
If you aren’t sure about a specific classification, don’t guess

Preparing for the Premium Audit

There is no substitute for proper audit preparation. Become familiar with the types of documents your auditor will require. Develop a good understanding of the questions auditors may ask as well. Documents to prepare include:

Tax reports
Form 1040 Schedule C
Ownership and corporate officer documents
General ledger for regular employees
Additional ledgers and insurance certificates for contract employees
Specific payroll report for employees for the period in question
Unemployment tax returns

The more prepared you are before your workers’ compensation premium auditors arrive, the less stressful the audit will become.

How To Safely Use Your Boat This Summer

August 19, 2021

As the weather warms, there is nothing quite like the thrill of being out in a boat on the open water. To ensure that your summer is as safe and successful as possible, it is essential to keep in mind the following boating safety tips.

Review Safety Procedures With Passengers

It is always a good idea to review on-the-water safety protocols with boat passengers particularly those with less experience before heading out. Boaters should know where life jackets and fire extinguishers are located, and what to do in the event of an emergency.

Likewise, you should always carry a first-aid kit, and extra potable water (and gasoline, if necessary) when out on the water.

Don’t Drink and Boat

Mixing alcohol with operating a boat is a highly dangerous combination. Alcohol can impair judgment and will inhibit motor skills, making you far more prone to an accident while out boating. Staying sober will ensure a safe trip out and back.

Carry Boat Insurance

Even if you’re an experienced boater, following these boating safety tips can make the difference between a safe excursion, and a catastrophic one. Still, carrying boat insurance is also crucial, to ensure you’re covered if anything unfortunate does result.

To ensure summer boating is as enjoyable as possible, keep the above tips in mind on your next excursion.

When To Buy Excess Flood Insurance

June 2, 2021

Flooding is one of the most expensive disasters that can happen to your home or business. Unfortunately, it is also becoming an increasingly common occurrence. Standard insurance policies generally do not provide coverage for flood damage, so many people seek out flood insurance. However, policies issued through the National Flood Insurance Program or private companies often have serious limits that might keep you from recovering after a major loss.

Excess flood insurance can help in those situations. It is designed to kick in when your primary policy’s benefits become exhausted. It may also cover the cost of replacement for personal property damaged in a flood. Here are two situations where you should consider adding this type of coverage.

Your Primary Coverage is Through the NFIP

National Flood Insurance Program coverage is capped at $250,000 for residential properties. Any losses above that amount become your responsibility. That makes excess insurance attractive for homeowners that are covered by an NFIP policy.

You Have a High-Value Home

Coastal properties often come with a hefty price tag. In addition, the rising costs of building materials and construction can make the price of rebuilding higher than anticipated. Excess flood policy can minimize your personal losses for high-value properties by paying for damages over your primary policy’s limits.

Not everyone needs to carry flood insurance. However, if you own a high-value home in an area that is prone to flooding or have an NFIP policy, excess flood insurance can help protect you from excessive losses.

All About Farm Insurance

May 31, 2021

Farmers play an essential role in the food industry. They raise a variety of livestock and tend to crops that end up in grocery stores all over the United States. However, farmers are not immune to risk and are vulnerable to the same issues that other businesses face. This is where farming insurance comes into play.

Workers’ Compensation

If your farm employs workers, workers comp for farming businesses is a must-have. If one of your workers is injured while working on your farm, you are liable and will be responsible for their medical bills. Workers’ compensation insurance can pick up these costs for you.

Animal Mortality Coverage

Chances are, you raise livestock on your farm. Livestock is vulnerable to a variety of things including predatory animals, extreme weather, fire, and illness. Because of this, having animal mortality coverage is extremely important and could potentially save you from going out of business if the unexpected occurs.

Farm Machinery And Equipment Coverage

Most farms utilize specialized machinery to help them get their work done. This equipment can be extremely expensive to repair or replace and is constantly at risk of being damaged or lost. Some of the threats to your machinery are theft/vandalism, extreme weather, and fire. It is vital that you have good machinery/equipment coverage.

Running a farm can be a great way to make a living but is not risk-free. Good insurance can make a huge difference.