Negligence or Pollution?

los angeles general liability insurance

If you're a California contractor, understanding environmental issues is a vital part of general liability insurance.

The Thomson Reuters News & Insight website reports that the California state Supreme Court recently ruled that “a commercial general liability policy’s pollution exclusion barr[ing] coverage of third-party damages from environmental pollution also governed first-party property insurance policies.”

The case involved the Villa Los Alamos Homeowners Association (VLAHA); Cal Coast Construction (CCC), a firm the VLAHA had hired to do property maintenance work; and State Farm, the VLAHA’s insurer.

In a residential building that the VLAHA operated and managed, CCC scraped the acoustical ceilings and stairways, causing “asbestos fibers to be released into the air, individual units, and the building’s indoor and outdoor common areas.” As a result, “a local environmental agency ordered the association to perform comprehensive cleanup of the building.” The total cost came to $650,000.

The VLAHA complied, but asked State Farm to cover expenses. The insurer refused, citing a pollution exclusion in the VLAHA’s policy “which covered both first party robbery losses and third-party business liability claims.”

The association won a negligence suit against the CCC and was awarded $600,000. But it lost another suit it filed against State Farm for “breach of contract and bad faith.” VLAHA argued that “a one-time ordinary act of negligence failed to constitute environmental pollution.”

The California Supreme Court ruled that State Farm was within its rights to refuse payment because the work CCC had done for VLAHA “occurred over several days and resulted in sufficient release of asbestos fibers into the air contaminate the building complex in the adjacent outside areas, constituting environmental pollution.”

Statewide Insurance Brokers provides general liability insurance. Call us today with questions and to get fast, free quotes.

California Independent Contractor Classification Law

Do you operate a business in California that retains independent contractors? If so, you need to be aware of a new state law that, according to the Monterey Herald.com, “penalizes businesses that ‘willfully misclassify’ employees as independent contractors.”

California workers comp

Knowing California independent contractor laws includes acquiring the proper liability insurance and workman's comp insurance if needed.

Under current law, businesses that engage in this kind of misclassification “are subject to consequences, including liability for payroll taxes, unpaid unemployment insurance contributions and penalties for failure to secure workers’ compensation coverage.” Moreover, “because the misclassified individuals have not been paid pursuant to wage and hour laws,” they are often entitled to overtime pay as well as compensation for “missed meal and rest periods.”

Many business owners believe that if they have an independent contractor agreement with the worker, they are in compliance with law. However, such an agreement alone does not necessarily determine whether a worker is an independent contractor. As the Monterey Herald.com further reports, “the most important factor is whether the business has control or the right to control worker as to the work done and the manner and means in which it is performed.”

Under Senate Bill 459, which will go into effect on January 1, businesses will be subject to hefty fines ranging from $5000 to $25,000 per violation if they:

  • willfully misclassify a worker as an independent contractor or
  • charge a person who has been “willfully misclassified as an independent contractor a fee or make any deductions for compensation.”

This new law interprets “willful misclassification” as “voluntarily and knowingly misclassifying” an individual as an independent contractor.

The message behind Senate Bill 459 is simple. If your California business uses independent contractors, be careful how your categorize them in your records: misclassification could cost you a bundle.

If you have independent contractors or operate a business yourself, be sure you are in compliance and secure the proper general liability insurance or workers compensation as needed. Call Statewide Insurance Brokers at 888-258-0272 for a fast, free quote!

Commercial Liability Insurance CA—Protecting Yourself and Your Clients

california commercial liability insurance statewide insurance

In San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento or anywhere in California: Your best bet is Statewide Insurance Brokers

When it comes to commercial liability insurance, California has a lot to offer. Your business needs protection from anything that might happen and the insurance laws are very different in California, which is why you need a company that understands the issue of commercial liability coverage in this state specifically. California is home to earthquakes, fires, and a growing demand for commercial professionals because of the ever-growing population. When you are setting up shop in this state, you need to make sure that you’ve got the right insurance coverage no matter what business you are in.

Commercial liability insurance companies’ offer allows you to be protected no matter what you are dealing with. If you are working on a client’s project and something happens to their property, you are covered. If you have clients who are injured on your property, you’re covered. It’s all about finding the right insurance, but not having this coverage isn’t an option at all. You need to remember to research your options and find the best liability policy that you can. It’s also important that you find specific commercial insurance brokers because you need someone who understands your unique needs to help you get the best protection.

Independent agents are a great resource for your insurance needs when you are shopping for commercial liability insurance in California. You should look for experienced professionals who understand exactly what your needs are and how they can best be served. Nothing is more important than the safety and protection of your business, which is why commercial liability coverage is so important. You really owe it to yourself to find the best insurance and the best agents so that you can get the coverage and support that your business deserves.

Commercial liability insurance, California contractors insurance, and other types of commercial coverage are popular among the ever-growing construction industry in California. If you need this type of insurance coverage, you don’t have to look far. Just make sure that you do whatever it takes to get the most from your policy. Without this protection, you are putting your business at unnecessary risk for damage claims, financial stress, and other major issues. It just makes sense to get coverage, along with any other commercial insurance that you need, so that your business is always protected. In California, there are many different options to choose from and finding the right solutions will be up to you.

To get fast quotes on commercial liability insurance in California, as well as Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Minnesota, call Statewide Insurance Brokers at 888-258-0272.

California Contractors Insurance

A Good Investment

California Contractors InsuranceFor California contractors insurance can seem like an unnecessary expense to several people. That’s a myth of huge proportions.

A quick study of any small claims court agenda demonstrates the diversity of claims made against small businesses and contractors. They reach from serious lawsuits for damages to frivolous ones for picking out the wrong wood stain.

All the same, according to modern law, the court will mind all lawsuits. Defending any lawsuit will cost money. For numerous independent contractors, that can spell financial end of the world. Why put your business organization and personal funds at risk? Insurance will address the costs for you and leave you to focus on your business.

For California contractors insurance agents are part of the support team. From San Francisco to San Jose, amidst the smartest things any independent businessperson can do is get a good working relationship with their insurance provider.

Traditionally, this implied going down to your local insurance broker and sitting down talking. Well, commercial enterprise has changed with the introduction of the internet. Many companies shop for their insurance policy online.

Many companies out there still present great customer service even if you live across the country from their offices. It is an issue of finding the right agent and letting them know what you require.

For educated California contractors insurance follows in a lot of forms. All vehicles possessed and/or operated by the contractor or his employees while conducting business requires insurance coverage.

Liability insurance covers any condition where financial obligation might become a consequence. Personal indemnity insurance insures a person against the prices of cases lodged against them. Additional types of indemnity cover certain professions’ risks. Indemnity for damages from natural catastrophes makes a good investment in certain regions of the nation.

In the Golden State, a good insurance agent will give you a comprehensive quote for every type of insurance you need for proper coverage.

For beneficial California contractors insurance doesn’t need to break the bank. Discovering the right agent is vital. They can help disclose the best insurance rates to meet the contractor’s needs. This helps keep costs down yet protect everybody from slips and accidents.

Of course, policy costs will vary dependant on the business’s work history, quantity of employees, etc. All the same, a good broker will help the client find the right mix of coverage and cost to keep the commercial enterprise healthy day in and day out.

That is why discovering the right agent is so essential. Price should be a consideration of course. Notwithstanding, without the proper agent or company, the coverage may not be what a customer requires.

CA Contractors Insurance

Important For Any Contractor In Any State

CA Contractors InsuranceFor CA contractors insurance deals the errors and truths of life. Stuff and nonsense happens. There’s no bypassing that fact. Companies crash every year when hit with lawsuits and claims from distressed clients. Insurance is there for the protection of everyone involved. It allows the business to carry on going ahead.

A single case can lead to millions of dollars of financial obligation. In the Golden State, most businesses could not hold up that sort of financial setback. That is the hazard that businesses take every day they do business without indemnity in place.

For CA contractors insurance means discovering the correct insurance underwriter. Many companies have arranged these types of insurances for decades. Others have arranged them for a couple of months.

Any contractor needs to take the time to find a good broker. The broker will ascertain they have the best bargains from the best insurers. The insurances need to come from companies with expert reputations for addressing with claims.

An affordable insurance policy from a nameless company is a bad risk for any company to make. It is better to pay a trifle additional to get insurance coverage from a company that will be there if somebody ever lodges a claim.

For the best CA contractors insurance is a component of being professional. So many businesses put thought and money towards the proper logo or the right uniform. All the same, several do not put the same sentiment or investment into finding the right insurance.

Each business needs policies custom-built for their needs. An individual contractor needs another policy from someone who has a few employees. Those that have a single truck would need another insurance policy than someone who holds an entire fleet. A good agent will look at everything a business needs. They will work to find insurances that will cover the business’s needs while holding prices at a minimum.

For CA contractors insurance is a safety guard. Regardless of how cautiously you plan, or how considerably you observe safety, fortuities and harms can happen, and unanticipated conditions can cause a business to go another way than how you designed. That’s when it becomes priceless to have enough insurance for autonomous contractors.

From Fresno to Anaheim, without enough coverage, you could lose the very commercial enterprise you’ve worked so hard to construct. It’s unfortunate, but we inhabit a litigious society, and unforeseen cases can be atrociously expensive for commercial enterprise owners, which is why it pays off to invest in the peace that comes with indemnity for autonomous contractors.

Best CA Contractors Insurance

Getting On With Business When Someone Is Unhappy

Best CA Contractors InsuranceFor the best CA contractors insurance is a business enterprise investiture. Anywhere in the Golden State, increasingly customers won’t engage contractors that lack proper certifying. It is a safety measure for everybody.

Smart contractors acknowledge that they can get better customers by investing in comprehensive indemnification. It gives their new clients serenity and them financial protection.

The livelihood of any contractor holds a measure of peril. Peril of lawsuits, that is. The cost of an indemnity policy is commonly not outrageous unless the contractor engages in grave conditions on a regular basis. Merely one major case would easily compensate the cost of the policies.

For the best CA contractors insurance helps deflect furious customers. From Palm Springs to Death Valley, most contractors look to make sure their clients are euphoric. They take the time to perform the job correctly. They want the client to recommend their services to the next individual. However, errors and deletions do happen. And these can cost the customer and contractor revenue. It is beneficial business practice to be sure insurance is in place before affairs occur.

Still in the Golden State, contractors discover themselves on the receiving end of court summons daily. This nation loves to sue. It is a fact that is unavoidable. When money is involved, the most courteous people can become venomous. Protect yourself and your business with the proper coverage.

For the best CA contractors insurance is part of their annual fiscal preparation. A lot of companies, like persons, sit down and plan the budget for the next year. This allows them to put money aside for hard cash dealings and make sure they meet their duties. The smartest ones put insurance near the top of the list for their planning. They work with their insurance agent to find the best buys for the types of insurance called for to keep the business afloat. They also build working relationships with their agents. This ascertains swift responses to inquiries and troubles as they come up.

For the best CA contractors insurance is precedence. They believe there is a need to bear the financial costs of purchasing insurance. They may not have had accidents or injuries covered before. All it takes is a simple defect by an employee or the owner himself to take that perfect record and jam it all up.

In the Golden State, a distressed customer with a contract can make any autonomous business bankrupt with the right case. A mistake by a sub-contractor can spell the finish to any independent business concern. All of this bears witness why carrying the right insurance is so important.

Contractor Insurance California

A Life Preserver in the Worst Circumstances

Contractor Insurance CaliforniaWhen purchasing contractors insurance, a common mistake many make is looking for agents that work with a single company. That is no way to get the best policy for the best value.

Find an agent that is independent from a single company. That gives your business the best chance to find policies that will not break the bank. If an agent works for a single company, your quote will come only from that company.

Another common mistake is not looking at the different quotes before signing up. The agent might provide multiple quotes, but the contractor selects based on the premium or the amount of the deductible.

Those criteria are important to consider, however, they are not the only ones to consider. Make sure the quoted policies will provide the amount of coverage you need without any hidden exclusions that could surprise you later.

Don’t make the mistake of engaging an agent that doesn’t know the business. An insurance agent that specializes in personal policies is not the right choice for a business. They would not have enough knowledge to know what types of policies your business needs. They also might not have access to the companies that specialize in writing these types of policies.

It is also crucial to find a business insurance agent that knows the type of work you do. If you work in construction, find an agent that knows the business. You wouldn’t go to a pilot if you needed a taxicab. The time it takes to find the right agency is well spent and a good investment in your business.

Another mistake to avoid is choosing an agent that tries to make the decisions for you. Many agents will pull multiple quotes from companies for their clients. However, they might present only the one they think would fit their client’s needs. That is a red flag for any independent contractor.

One policy might have a lower premium, but might not provide the amount of coverage the client wanted. Another policy might provide the coverage, but be twice as expensive as another option. The right agent will present all quotes and go through the positives and negatives of all. They will provide the information and guidance for clients to make informed decisions.

Another mistake to avoid is purchasing the policies without understanding them. For a successful business, a contractor needs to be aware of what is going on at all times. That includes what the insurance covers and what it will not. That will prevent ugly surprises in the future if a claim ever comes up.

Commercial Liability, Contractor Insurance Quotes: A Valuable Tool for a Contractor’s Needs Serving California, Texas and Nevada

Whether you are shopping for general liability insurance, workers compensation, performance bonds or commercial automotive or truck insurance, working with a broker will almost always get you the best quote!

Contractor insurance quotes are valuable tools for both the beginning contractor and those that have been in business for years. For the beginning contractor, quotes give them options for finding the right policy at the right price. They also get insight into the agents and insurance companies that service their area.

For many beginners, it is a good idea to consult other people in the trade they want to enter. This will give them the names of agents and companies that provide coverage for that type of business. It can also give them names of those to avoid due to poor claims service or outrageous pricing. All of that gives new contractors a good start.

Contractor Insurance: ammunition!

For experienced contractors, contractor insurance quotes give them ammunition when dealing with their current insurance. Many times their agent will assume they want to renew with their current insurance company and will not do any legwork to find the best price at other companies. It is up to the contractor to make the first move to get quotes.

A few weeks before the renewal date, a contractor needs to contact their agent and ask them to explore other providers and other discounts. This gives the agent time to do the legwork. It also gives the client time to see the options and make informed decisions. It is also a tool that the agent might use with the current insurance company to reduce the quoted renewal rate.

What Contractor Insurance can cover:

Contractor insurance quotes can cover any of the many types of insurance that independent businesses need. These include, but are not limited to, liability, workers comp, property coverage, commercial vehicle policies, and umbrella policies.

These policies cover the business from just about any disaster that might happen. An investment will pay off with a single claim. And things will happen. That is an unavoidable fact. It takes a simple mistake or slip and things go from good to nasty in an instant. Without insurance coverage, a business could go under quite quickly.

Finding contractor insurance quotes are quite easy with the internet. Like most other insurance types, business has accelerated since brokers went online. They can get information quickly and make informed decisions without leaving their desk.

That gives the contractor flexibility and options that were not available before. Getting a good relationship with an agent is important. However, the agent doesn’t need to be next door these days.