Product Liability Insurance

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If you are in the business of designing, manufacturing, selling, and distributing a product, you understand that it can be exciting, involve hard work, and can even be a bit risky. When the product you represent causes injury or damage to a third party, you need and deserve protection. Depending on the coverage you have, you may not be adequately protected from a product liability claim. Many “standard” insurance policies have limitations for product liability claims. For example, a contractor installed windows in a custom home and 9 months later the windows leaked, causing thousands of dollars of damage. The window manufacturer said their windows are fine; it was the installation that was done incorrectly. The contractor may be held responsible for the damage. Product liability insurance would provide protection in this case.

Our experienced staff will work with you to help find the right insurance and risk solutions for your business. Our knowledgeable team can work with any business; we know and understand your industry.

What is product liability insurance?

Product liability insurance can provide protection from damages, claims, and other liability arising out of the selling, distributing, manufacturing, and design of products. Damages can include bodily injury, property damage, and even death.

An important feature of product liability insurance is legal defense coverage. The cost to defend an allegation can create a strain on your firm’s resources.

Claims can come from any of the following:

  • Poor workmanship
  • Breach of warranty
  • Failure to warn
  • Defect in design or manufacturing
  • Material defect
  • Failure to provide adequate instructions

Classes of businesses we work with:

  • Contractors
  • Artisan Contractors
  • Manufacturing
  • Restaurants
  • Distributors
  • Food Processors
  • Wood Products
  • Automotive
  • Sporting Goods
  • And More

We have a number of highly-rated insurance companies to select from. Call us today for more information.Personal service combined with depth of knowledge in the insurance marketplace, and access to a wide range of carriers is the combination of factors that sets Oakwood Insurance apart from its competitors. We not only work in the north metro, but it’s also our home. We strive to support the vibrancy and growth of this community. We want it to thrive, and we want you to thrive. We will review your insurance coverage and help you understand what you have and ensure that it’s the best fit for your goals.

2023 Commercial Insurance Outlook

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Many businesses have experienced profit reductions due to economic pressures over the past few years. The pandemic and the supply chain problem have exacerbated this unpredictability. Having the right kind of commercial insurance is one method to keep financial losses and risks under control. Business owners and risk managers must thoroughly evaluate their insurance and risk management program in 2023.

Forecast for Commercial Lines in 2023

The market for property and casualty insurance and risk management is expanding as company risks rise. The huge vaccine rollout helped to contain the pandemic after its peak in 2022, but there is still a chance of new outbreaks. There are many excellent insurers ready to help you manage your risk in 2023.

Companies that provide insurance for business risks make up the commercial lines industry. The two primary categories of commercial lines are general liability and commercial property insurance. But others can include cyber, employment, earthquake, directors and officers liability, and more. AM Best, a rating organization, reported that the pandemic’s influence on commercial lines had decreased in late 2022. Even in 2023, the government issued a warning about potential obstacles that could fuel more litigation and inflation. The rating agency described the commercial lines market outlook as “stable” on average.

Since the fourth quarter of 2020, in 2023, it is less expected that interest rates will rise at the same rate they did a few years ago. However, insurance businesses will probably continue to expand their needs due to rising business risks even as rates flatten as a result of more market competition. Due to rising cyber threats, the market for cyber liability insurance is anticipated to expand. The supply chain issues will continue well into 2023.

Consumers of commercial insurance can obtain affordable rates by engaging with brokers who have developed connections with reliable insurance underwriters. Giving customers advice on lowering their risks promotes trust, renewals, and fewer claims. Using an agent that understands your risk is the best way to obtain the best possible combination of coverage and price.

2023 Casualty Renewal Strategy

The US commercial insurance market has seen an increase in underwriting capital of over $150 million since 2020. Get to the market early and have a well-established risk management program. Be able to show underwriters how your risk is the one they should select out of the hundreds they will review over the year.

What Kind of Businesses Need Professional Liability Insurance?

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If you’re a business owner, you spend most of your time thinking about how to grow your business. But it’s easy to remember one of the fundamental building blocks: professional liability insurance. What is it? Why do you need it? And what does it cover?

Why Does Your Business Professional Liability Insurance?

  • You may be sued.
  • You may be held responsible for your actions or the actions of someone who works for you.
  • If you give advice to customers, you might be sued.
  • You may be held responsible for the actions of other people on your property or in your building/office space. 

What Does Professional Liability Insurance Cover?

Professional Liability Insurance can help protect you against claims of negligence. It covers legal costs in the event that a lawsuit is brought against you and can even cover damages or injury to third parties. It also helps pay for legal fees, and it will pay for your defense if you are found not guilty of any charges. Professional liability insurance can cover the costs of lawsuits over:

  • Work errors or oversights
  • Undelivered services
  • Missed deadlines
  • Budget overruns
  • Incomplete work
  • Breach of contract
  • Accusations of negligence 

Who Needs Professional Liability Insurance?

Professional Liability Insurance protects professionals from claims and lawsuits. If your advice or work injures someone, or if they believe their property has been damaged by something you did, a claim can be made against you. Professional liability insurance helps protect you from these claims and ensures that your business stays protected. Firms like these should have professional liability insurance.

  • Accountants
  • Lawyers
  • Contractors
  • Consulting agencies
  • Real estate firms
  • Architects, designers, and engineers
  • Real estate brokers
  • Financial consultants
  • Accountants and bookkeepers
  • IT professionals and programmers
  • Marketing and advertising professionals

 Conclusion

When you’re starting a business or running a current business, it can be tempting to focus on marketing and sales. However, there are many other aspects of the business that you should be equally concerned about. Professional liability insurance is one of those aspects that need careful consideration because it will protect your business against lawsuits and claims of negligence.

Your Private Business Is Exposed to Directors and Officers Claims

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Directors and Officers (D & O) Liability Update

Every business, no matter what the size, has a D & O exposure.  Some people may mistakenly think that D & O risks are just for large firms, but actual court cases tell a different story.  D & O claims come about because of decisions made by the firm’s officers and employees.  Claims can come from employees, competitors, investors, and the government.  Most of these kinds of claims are not covered under a standard commercial insurance policy.

Here are some interesting facts brought to you by the Insurance Information Institute:

  • Over 53% of privately held firms have had D & O related claims.
  • Twenty-five percent of companies have had an employment related claim.
  • The average defense cost for a D & O claim is around $75,000.
  • Firms with less than 50 employees have the same percentage of claims as larger firms.

Here are some of the kinds of claims to which your business is exposed:

Misrepresentation

If you misrepresent your company’s services, financials or other information, third parties may sue you for your actions.  This can include services you say you provide on your webpage or financial information you provide to a lender.

Breach of Duty

Your firm’s officers and employees are required to carry out their duties with a standard of honesty and professionalism.  If these legal duties are breached, you are subject to litigation by the injured party.

Employment Issues

Your employees can sue the business for a variety of employment issues that can be covered under a D & O or employment practices liability policy.

 

The Nuts and Bolts of Contractor’s Insurance

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A Contractors Insurance Update

The success of your business depends on the quality of your business insurance.  Business insurance is designed to protect your business in the event of an unexpected claim.  We can create a contractor’s insurance program that is designed for your unique operation.  Here are a few of the kinds of contractor insurance you need.

  • The basic contractor insurance program should include property, commercial liability, auto, equipment coverage, and excess liability.
  • Contractor’s bonds. A contractor’s license bond is a license and permits bond that is designed to assist all types of contractors.  In many states, contractor bonds are required and help ensure that the contractor will operate in compliance with the local statutes as well as laws.
  • As an independent contractor, you may need to have worker’s compensation insurance. Worker’s comp regulations are mandated state by state.  If you are in business for yourself and you do not have employees, you are most likely not required to buy worker’s compensation insurance.
  • Contractor tool/equipment coverage. Your tools are part of your business; make sure they are insured to full replacement cost.
  • Contractors Errors and Omissions coverage. Every contractor has this exposure.  If you provide any advice on your job, you have professional liability risk.
  • Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) coverage. An EPLI policy covers claims made against directors, officers, employees, the company, and its subsidiaries.  The policy can cover a long list of claims, including wrongful dismissal/termination, sexual/racial/disability harassment, sexual/racial/disability/religious discrimination, employment-related libel, slander, defamation, invasion of privacy, wrongful failure to employ or promote, and retaliation.
  • Workers’ Compensation. Workers’ compensation insurance is insurance that provides lost income, medical benefits, disability benefits, and rehabilitative services for workers injured on the job or while performing work-related duties.

Your business needs protection provided by a company and insurance advisor that you can trust.

Personal service combined with depth of knowledge in the insurance marketplace, and access to a wide range of carriers is the combination of factors that sets Oakwood Insurance apart from its competitors. We not only work in the north metro, but it’s also our home. We strive to support the vibrancy and growth of this community. We want it to thrive, and we want you to thrive. We will review your insurance coverage and help you understand what you have and ensure that it’s the best fit for your goals.

Proven Ways To Build Strong Insurance Relationships

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The partnership between an insurance agent, an insurer, and a client is one of the most important in the industry. Carriers and the underwriters create policies and take on risks for insureds, whereas brokers assist their clients in finding the best insurance policies and carriers for their needs.

The independent agent and broker are the industry’s backbone. They are the primary channel of distribution for commercial property and casualty insurance.

How To Build And Maintain Strong Relationships

Don’t base your relationship on technology

Technology is good and effective tool for both the agent and their clients. But don’t make technology so important that any personal communication is lost.

Follow Through

Agents should build strong relationships with their clients by following through on their commitments and being communicative in the event that something changes, in addition to offering services and advice that help insureds avoid losses. If you say you’re going to do something, you must do it. If you can’t do it, you say, ‘I’m not going to be able to meet the commitment,’ and then you set a new expectation.

Focus on more than just pricing

When it comes to building a strong relationship with insurance agents, one thing that stands out above all else is the need to add value that goes beyond offering competitive insurance prices. When comparing options today, insureds should look for an agent who will not only provide the coverages they require but will also serve as a risk management partner.

Be Consistent

Consistency is essential in all aspects of communication and service. It establishes a pattern that customers can expect, which helps to highlight your value proposition and enhance the customer experience. Simply personalize interactions by framing conversations and messaging in less “scripted” ways. According to one survey, most marketers fail to personalize communication beyond digital channels. Get more customer-specific the next time you pick up the phone. It should contribute to the relationship’s strengthening.

The customer, regardless of the insurance company, ultimately looks to you, the agent, for advice, service, and responsiveness. Regardless of the shifting strategies and focuses in today’s insurance markets, remember to prioritize your customer relationships first, and you’ll find yourself building a book of business that will last for a long time.

 

Commercial Auto Insurance

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Commercial auto insurance can cover various vehicle types (trucks, cars), drivers, and motorized equipment. It covers bodily injury liability and property damage when driving a work car, as well as medical payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) for the policyholder’s driver and passengers.

Auto Liability (hired/non-owned)

Do your staff drive their own automobiles, or do you rent them? This coverage protects your business against certain liabilities stemming from the usage of a rented or leased vehicle (hired) or a non-owned vehicle (employee using their own vehicle on company business). This coverage is frequently affordable when added to a company auto policy or, in certain situations, a general liability policy.

When Your Business Vehicle Is Also Your Personal Vehicle

Sometimes employees or executives of a company or other persons who are supplied with a vehicle owned by the company have only that vehicle. They do not own a personal vehicle nor do they obtain personal automobile coverage. The BACF does not cover personal use of the vehicle in this situation. To close this coverage gap, you need to add the Drive Other Car Coverage Endorsement to your BACF. This provides insurance while the named individual or a member of his or her family is driving a car borrowed from a third party.

Keeping Premiums Down

The best way to keep your business auto premiums down is to avoid accidents. Driving safety should be emphasized. Drivers should not be so pressured to produce that they feel compelled to drive unsafely. All vehicles should be well maintained.

Ask your agent whether your insurance company has business auto safety resources that you can use to help your organization be accident-free. For more information on reducing the risk of auto accidents.

When you own or run a business, you have a lot at at-risk and much to protect, and having the right business insurance coverage can be crucial to your long-term success. When it comes to protecting your business, fortunately, there are a variety of coverages to choose from. We represent a variety of carriers and are dedicated to assisting you in protecting your company from damage and liability. When you work with the team at the Oakwood Insurance Agency, you will receive personalized advice from an experienced agent who will assist you in developing a plan that includes all of the coverage you may require.

Business Owners Policies

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For small to medium-sized firms, a business owner’s policy, or BOP, is an excellent insurance option. This type of policy is popular since it combines the most frequent coverages into a single policy with a single payment rather than paying for individual policies. This package is totally customizable and, in most cases, less expensive than purchasing individual policies.

If your company employs less than 100 people and generates less than $1 million in annual revenue, you may be eligible. For home-based business owners, this is also a popular option. Property and liability coverage is included, as well as your choice of the following alternatives (with some insurers offering extra options):

Property insurance protects a company’s physical assets, such as its buildings, furniture, equipment, and inventory.

Loss of income insurance pays out for income lost due to a covered business interruption, such as profits and expenses like rent and wages.

Third-party bodily harm or property damage while on your business’s property is covered by liability insurance.

Equipment breakdown insurance covers equipment that fails or is damaged as a result of a covered incident, such as computers and phone systems.

Third-party medical expenses incurred as a result of a liability claim are covered by medical payments insurance.

Most BOPs do not include worker’s compensation or commercial auto insurance, which must be acquired separately if they are needed.

Data breach insurance protects digital assets like databases and customer records from hackers, data spills, identity theft, and other disasters.

Employment practices liability insurance: Covers your company’s liability charges in the event that discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, or other law violation-related claim is made.

When you own or run a business, you have a lot to at-risk and much to protect, and having the right business insurance coverage can be crucial to your long-term success. When it comes to protecting your business, fortunately, there are a variety of coverages to choose from. We represent a variety of carriers and are dedicated to assisting you in protecting your company from damage and liability. When you work with the team at the Oakwood Insurance Agency, you will receive personalized advice from an experienced agent who will assist you in developing a plan that includes all of the coverage you may require.

Coverage Gaps You May Have In Your Commercial Insurance

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A Commercial Insurance Update

If it has been over a year since an agent has reviewed your commercial insurance program, you may have several coverage gaps. A lot has changed in the last 12 to 18 months, and your commercial insurance must keep up with your risks.

Most risk and insurance experts have identified the risks that will impact your business in 2022 and beyond. These are in no particular order. We can offer commercial insurance solutions that will help your business manage risk keep moving forward.

  1. Cyber risk
  2. Supply chain and business interruption
  3. The great resignation
  4. Increase awareness regarding pollution issues
  5. General safety

Cyber Risk

Did you know that the average small business is more likely to experience a cyber breach than a fire? This is correct, and your commercial insurance policy will most likely not cover cyber liability losses.

Technology has made it possible for the average criminal to enter the world of cybercrime. Small businesses are a prime target because most have little or no protection. Criminals can buy programs that can be configured to hack dozens of businesses at the same time. It is important that your company has business insurance, including cyber liability insurance.

Every state has enacted legislation requiring notification of all customers affected by a data breach, regardless of whether their information was used maliciously. In most cases, the notification also requires the customer to choose between one year of credit monitoring services and a new card or account number. Each individual affected by the breach may incur costs of up to $250.

Supply Chain and business interruption

As previously stated, COVID-19 has caused widespread havoc, particularly throughout the supply chain. One recent report suggested supply chain issues could be in place through Christmas, and a computer chip shortage has hindered production in the auto industry for months. These, along with a normal loss, can create business interruption losses. Business Interruption Insurance (BII) is designed to protect businesses from these types of risks. BII is often part of packaged commercial insurance policies or is purchased in conjunction with business property insurance.

One reason for this is that the perils, or causes of loss, are usually the same for property insurance as for business interruption insurance. A variation in BII designed for those enterprises that depend heavily on outside suppliers is called contingent Business interruption insurance. Loss in business income due to the inability of a supplier to provide goods or services can be insured against in many circumstances.

The great resignation

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs of work by July 2022. Resignations peaked in April and have remained unusually high in recent months, with a record-breaking 10.9 million open jobs at the end of July. In the face of such a tidal wave of resignations, how can employers keep their employees?

Two things your business can do to better manage the employment relationship is to;

  1. Offer a variety of employee benefits like; flexible hours, remote work, benefits, Classes, and special programs that enhance employees’ lives and broad health care options.
  2. Make sure your business has employment liability insurance coverage. EPLI protects against many kinds of employee lawsuits, including claims of:
  • Sexual harassment
  • Discrimination
  • Wrongful termination
  • Breach of employment contract
  • Negligent evaluation
  • Failure to employ or promote
  • Wrongful discipline
  • Deprivation of career opportunity
  • Wrongful infliction of emotional distress
  • Mismanagement of employee benefit plans

Pollution Liability

Pollution liability coverage is available to businesses that emit hazardous waste emissions during manufacturing, such as oil, agribusiness, construction, manufacturing, excavation, waste depositories, and asbestos abatement contractors. Policies cover bodily injury and property damage claims, as well as clean-up costs caused by toxic waste contamination. The need for pollution liability insurance is evident for businesses whose operations involve hazardous waste exposure risks, such as asbestos abatement or waste depository. If you own an industrial site that does not generate hazardous waste, pollution liability insurance may still be a good investment.

General Safety

There is no doubt that COVID-19 changed the way we did business. But most people will continue to implement safety protocols, such as. Make certain that your facility is completely clean, disinfected, and equipped with a plan for maintaining safe conditions.

Provide a support system for employees as they return to work and adjust to the new realities and emotional challenges posed by the post COVID-19 pandemic.

Developing a plan for a safe work environment that protects employees and

How To Get The Most Out of Your Business Insurance

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There are just so many alternatives when it comes to choosing the correct insurance for your company. When it comes to commercial company insurance, one of the most important things to think about is how to get the most out of your policy. Start making the most of your commercial business insurance, consider the following suggestions:

Keep your policy current, review and update it on a regular basis with your agent.

Examine your policy every few months to see whether your business requirements have changed. Talk to your agent about the policy at least once or twice a year. This can assist you in safeguarding your interests.

Take Precautions to Safeguard Your Business

It is critical to ensure that your company is a safe and healthy place to work. Keeping things orderly, wiping up spills, and repairing any damage may go a long way – and could even help you save money on your insurance.

Reduce the chances of a customer being injured in order to cut down on claims.

The less likely consumers are to get injured and file a lawsuit, the safer your store is. Maintain a clean environment for consumers by keeping aisles clear, walkways clean, and spills cleaned up.

Do you want to work from home? Your homeowner’s insurance may not protect you

You probably still need commercial business insurance if you’re one of the millions of Americans who run a          home-based business. Exclusions for home-based companies are common in homeowners insurance plans. Make sure to double-check your coverages and exclusions with your insurance broker.

Work with your agent to find the best commercial insurance for your company.

Your agent is an excellent first line of defense against purchasing incorrect insurance. You’ll want to pay close attention to what they recommend so that you can receive the greatest commercial insurance policy for your company’s needs.

Ensure that the most crucial areas are covered.

Clients may rest assured that all of their major insurance needs will be covered when they choose our agency. Contact one of our representatives today to determine the appropriate level and type of insurance coverage for your company. This would include property, cyber liability, EPLI, liability, and excess liability coverage.

Oakwood Insurance operates as an independent insurance agency, selling an extensive spectrum of insurance to businesses, families, and individuals.  Our competitive advantage comes from the objective and professional service that we provide our access to a wide range of carriers and our extensive knowledge of the insurance marketplace.   This information in to be considered general in nature. All claims will be settled based on your actual policy terms and conditions.