Commercial Liability

General Commercial Liability Options

General liability is a broad commercial policy that covers general liability exposures of a business. COverage typically includes product liability, completed operations, premises and operations, and personal and advertising injury. Mettler Agency Insurance recommends that all businesses operating have general liability coverage in place.

 

The following are additional general liability coverages that are often available.

 

Professional Liability (E&O) 

E&O covers professionals for negligence and errors or omissions that injure their clients. In addition to covering licensed professionals such as accountants, attorneys, insurance agents, architect and engineers, technology companies frequently have a professional liability exposure. This typically arises from the fact that the general liability policy excludes damage to data. Technology E&O can protect your company in the event that your negligence, error, or omission causes damage to a third party's data. We recommend that all professional and technology companies have E&O coverage.

 

Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) 

Employment Practices Liability Insurance covers employment-related liabilities other than on the job injuries. EPLI will cover legal fees and damages for suits such as wrongful termination. discrimination, sexual harassment and other alleged violations of employees' legal rights. Although only three percent of Employment Practices lawsuits go in favor of the plaintiff, the average cost to defend yourself in one of these is well over $200,000. If you have employees, we recommend considering this coverage. 

 

Directors and Officers (D&O) 

D&O covers directors and officers of a company for negligent acts or omissions and for misleading statements that result in lawsuits against the company. There are a variety of D&O coverages: 

 

• Corporate reimbursement coverage indemnifies directors and officers of the organization.

• Side-A coverage provides D&O coverage for personal liability when directors and officers are not indemnified by the firm.

• Entity coverage for claims made specifically against the company is also available.

 

D&O policies may be broadened to include coverage for employment practices liability. To find out more about this product and other products and services, contact us today. 

 

Commercial Property Insurance Options 

One of the most common types of business insurance products is commercial property insurance, which often provides the following coverages: 

 

Building Insurance 

If you own a commercial building, replacement cost coverage is needed. Although cost estimators are available, we recommend that you secure an appraisal from a third party to accurately determine the current replacement cost of the building. 

 

Flood Insurance

Most commercial property policies and homeowners insurance policies exclude flood as a covered cause of loss. A separate policy must be purchased to protect you from damage due to a flood.

 

Business Personal Property Insurance 

This provides you coverage for your business personal property at a specified location and covers furniture, fixtures, equipment and inventory. Be aware that most commercial property policies have very limited coverage for property taken off the specified location. If you have equipment that is frequently taken off-site to various locations, it is important that you have an inland marine policy (equipment or installation floater) to cover this property. 

 

Business Income (Business Interruption Coverage) 

This coverage reimburses a business owner for lost profits and continuing fixed expenses during the time that a business must stay closed while the premises are being restored because of physical damage from a covered event such as a fire. Business income insurance also may cover 
financial losses that may occur if civil authorities limit access to an area after a disaster and their actions prevent customers from reaching the business premises. Depending on the policy, civil authorities' coverage may start after a waiting period and last for two or more weeks. It is strongly recommended that all businesses acquire this coverage. 

 

Electronic Data Processing (EDP) 

This coverage is separate property coverage specifically designed to protect your computer related equipment. Most commercial property policies have limited coverage for computer networks. EDP broadens the causes of loss to include things like power surges and in some cases virus attacks.

 

Business Owners Policy (BOP)

A business insurance policy that combines property, liability and business interruption coverages for small to medium-sized businesses. This packaged set of coverages is generally less expensive than if each coverage was purchased separately. A Business Owners policy is typically available to businesses and industries that are viewed as having relatively low liability exposures.

 

To get a full list of coverages or learn more about this product, contact us today.

 

Commercial Auto Insurance Options

Business auto insurance provides for bodily injury liability and property damage, as well as for injuries/damage the policyholder causes to someone else when operating a company automobile. Medical payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) for treatment of injuries to the driver and passengers of the policyholder’s car are also covered.

 

Hired / Non-Owned Auto Liability

This particular coverage provides a business with business insurance coverage for certain liabilities arising from the use of a rented or leased vehicle (hired) or a non-owned vehicle (employee using their own vehicle on company business). This can often be inexpensively added to the business auto policy or in some cases a general liability policy.

 

To find out more about the insurance products and services Mettler Agency has to offer, contact us today.

 

Commercial Umbrella Insurance Options

The rising costs of lawsuits and judgments are important for today’s business owner to consider. Catastrophic liability losses can happen to any business at any time. The time and effort you have taken to build your business is too important for it to disappear after one unforeseen event.

 

Commercial Umbrella helps you protect your assets by providing liability limits above and beyond your other policies. In some cases, it even broadens your protection. Due to the unpredictable nature of jury awards, Mettler Agency recommends that your business insurance program have this coverage.

 

To find out more about this product and other products and services, contact us today.

 

Workers' Compensation Coverage Options

Workers’ Compensation coverage pays for medical care and physical rehabilitation of employees injured at work and helps to replace lost wages while they are unable to work. Additionally, this coverage protects an employer from being sued by an injured worker in most cases.

 

A commonly overlooked exposure for companies who employ mostly office workers is the potential injury to employees while driving their own vehicles on company business. This could be as simple as an employee driving to a sales call, the bank or office supply store. If you have employees, it is critical that you consider this important coverage.

 

Mettler Agency can help your business find complete solutions to your unique workers' compensation insurance needs. Solutions that create safer and more productive workplaces, more confident and secure workers and overall savings you’ll see on the bottom line.

 

Some of our coverage solutions can include:

 

• Innovative payment systems

• Medical disability case managers

• Utilization management nurses

• Certified life care planning nurses

• Vocational rehabilitation consultants

• Physician consulting services

• Legal staff

• Contracts with medical network providers

• Managed prescription drug program

 

To find out more about this product and other products and services, contact us today.

 

Contractor Bonds

A bond is a written promise that an insurance company will protect your assets and back up the promises made by someone else. Mettler Agency can provide outstanding products supported by value-added services to commercial banks, savings and loans, insurance companies, finance and loan companies, and credit unions.

 

Construction Bonds

Bid, Performance & Payment Bonds and Supply bonds for contractors with program capacity needs from “First Bond” to $25 million.

 

Commercial Bonds

• License and Permit Bonds: Contractor License, Highway and Street Permits, Agent/Adjuster/Broker Licenses, Fuel Dealer, Professional Licenses, Automobile Dealer, and Alcoholic Beverage Compliance Bonds

• Probate Bonds: Administrator, Executor, Guardian, and Trustee Bonds

• Receiver or Trustee Bond in Bankruptcy

• Public Official: Notary Public, Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff, Constable, Jailer, County/City/School Treasurer Bonds, Court Clerk, Loan Closing Attorney, and FHA Schedule Bonds

• Court Bonds: Plaintiff Replevin, Plaintiff Attachment, and Cost Bonds

• Miscellaneous Bonds: Fidelity Bonds, ERISA (Pension Plans), Business Services Bonds (Janitorial)