What Social Workers Are All About:
Professionals that work in this industry provide family and non-residential assistance services. In some cases, professionals in these establishments will diagnose and treat mental, behavioral and emotional disorders brought about by stress or substance abuse. Businesses that fall under this industry include community action services, multipurpose social service centers, self-help organizations, family welfare services, suicide crisis centers and telephone counseling.
What type of insurance does this industry need?
- General Liability: This policy protects your business in case of third party claims, such as bodily injury or property damage. For example, the common "slip-and-fall" claim would be covered by your General Liability policy. General Liability insurance is often considered to be the core coverage, particularly for businesses that regularly physically interact with customers or sell physical goods. In addition, many businesses have a contract, like a loan or a lease, requiring that they have this coverage.
- Professional Liability: This policy, common in the professional services industry, helps to protect your business if a client believes they've suffered a loss due to a mistake or error made in a professional capacity. Your business may have contracts with clients or partners that require Professional Liability coverage, provide a "warranty or guarantee," or have clauses that require you to "indemnify or hold harmless" your clients. If so, Professional Liability coverage is often recommended. This coverage is also commonly recommended for any businesses providing advice related to legal or financial matters.
- Errors & Omissions (E&O): This policy, common in the professional services industry, helps to protect your business if a client believes they've suffered a loss due to an error or omission on your part. Your business may have contracts with clients or partners that require E&O coverage, provide a "warranty or guarantee," or have clauses that require you to "indemnify or hold harmless" your clients. If so, E&O coverage is often recommended. This coverage is also commonly recommended for any businesses providing advice related to legal or financial matters.
- Commercial Property: This policy protects the business's physical assets and is appropriate whether you own or lease your space. Keep in mind that this policy will only offer protection in the case of covered events. If you need protection for certain scenarios, such as floods or earthquakes, you may need additional coverage. If you have a mortgage or a lease, you may be required to have property insurance. Even if you are not, this is the best way to protect the building you are in and the business property you have in case of a natural disaster or some other accident.
- Commercial Auto: Commercial Auto insurance provides coverages such as liability, collision, comprehensive, medical payments and uninsured motorist coverage. Any vehicle on the road must be insured, and any incidents that occur while a vehicle is being used for business purposes may not be covered by a personal auto policy. That's why it is so important to make sure you have Commercial Auto insurance for any vehicles owned by the business.
- Medical Malpractice: This coverage protects physicians and other licensed health care professionals (e.g., dentists, nurses) from liability associated with wrongful practices resulting in bodily injury, medical expenses and property damage. The potential for a lawsuit is high in medical professions, and this coverage will help protect your business from the costs of damages and legal fees.
- Workers Compensation: Workers Compensation covers an employee's lost wages and the cost of resulting medical treatment if they suffer a work-related injury or disease. It also covers services needed to help the employee recover and return to work. Workers Compensation coverage is mandatory in most states. The number of employees after which it's required differs by state, but you will generally need coverage once you have employees.
- Umbrella Insurance: Umbrella insurance offers excess liability protection in the case that your General Liability, Commercial Auto Liability, and/or Employer's Liability coverage is insufficient. It essentially acts as a "back-up" plan, providing additional financial protection in the case that your business faces a particularly large claim that exceeds a single policy's limits. This policy can be particularly valuable for a business that faces a variety of risks and has multiple liability policies.
- Hired & Non-Owned Auto: This insurance protects the business in the case of any incidents involving a vehicle that has been hired by the company to be used for business-related purposes. It also provides coverage in the case your business uses other vehicles which are not property of the business, such as having delivery drivers use their own vehicles. If your company hires vehicles or allows employees to use their own vehicles for business purposes, you will want to consider this insurance.
