What Is Commercial Umbrella Insurance?
Commercial umbrella insurance provides additional protection in the event that a claim exceeds the limits of your other liability policies. Without umbrella coverage, you would be responsible for paying any costs that exceed your policy limits, including legal and medical expenses, as well as damages to other people's property.
Commercial umbrella insurance can help protect your business from large, unexpected events that could have a devastating impact on your brand reputation and financial stability. While standard liability policies can provide some protection, there may be times when losses exceed what they can cover. By preparing for the worst-case scenario, you can help protect your company from damaging lawsuits, auto accidents, and product liability claims.
When do Small Businesses Need Commercial Umbrella Insurance?
No matter the size of your company or how well it's run, your business faces the potential of a devastating claim arising from an unforeseen event. For example, let's say you own a retail store or apartment building, and a customer trips on the carpet and hits his head, sustaining serious brain injury.
You could be potentially liable for millions of dollars in medical and other payments.
Would that entire sum be covered by your existing business liability insurance? Could your business savings and/or revenue make up for the difference in what's not covered?
If your answer is no, that's where Commercial Umbrella Insurance coverage comes in. Umbrella insurance goes above and beyond basic business liability insurance limits, offering up to $10 million of additional funds to manage situations just like this.
If you are a small business owner, you might think they can't take what you don't have. Think again—a court can seize the business assets you currently have and even allocate future earnings to satisfy a judgment against you.
It's never too soon to invest in umbrella coverage.
What Does a Commercial Umbrella Policy Cover?
A commercial umbrella policy can help cover:
Bodily injury - like a customer getting hurt at your business (i.e Slip-and-fall injuries)
Property damage that your business caused
Lawsuits from customers or employees with work-related injuries or illnesses
Be aware that commercial umbrella insurance adds an extra layer of protection to an existing, underlying policy. You should have the following any of the following policies: general liability insurance, employer’s liability insurance, or commercial auto liability insurance. For example, if you don’t have a general liability insurance policy, you can’t get commercial umbrella coverage.
What Is Not Covered by a Business Umbrella Policy?
Commercial umbrella insurance doesn't cover all liability claims, and it also doesn't extend the limits of certain policies, like commercial property insurance. So, if your business property is damaged in a fire and the cost to replace and repair it exceeds your commercial property limits, you'd have to cover the difference out of pocket.
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Who Should Purchase Commercial Umbrella Insurance?
If you think only big businesses need commercial umbrella insurance, think again. Generally, if your business has more contact with the public, you definitely need umbrella coverage. Here are some scenarios where you might consider getting umbrella insurance:
Your business owns a lot of vehicles. If your business has a fleet of vehicles, you might want insurance coverage from the cumulative cost of multiple minor vehicle accidents that will exceed your current commercial auto liability insurance.
You frequently interact with your customers. If your employees work off site such as working on a client’s house, employees may cause damage to property like breaking windows or boring holes on the walls. Another scenario is when your people can visit your business, there is a risk for bodily injury. For example, you have a warehouse with equipment to restock the shelves and the equipment malfunctions, it may hurt the customers near it. Your business might face medical expenses and lawsuits that will exceed your liability coverage.
Your work is hazardous. Examples of hazardous work include construction business. Umbrella insurance added to employer's liability insurance guards against employee claims that your negligence led to an injury.
How Much Does Commercial Umbrella Insurance Cost?
There are different factors that contribute to the cost of commercial umbrella insurance. These include:
- Size and type of business
- Coverage limits
- Number of policies you that you want covered
- Amount of coverage that you want
Commercial umbrella insurance typically increases coverage in $1 million increments. The best way to find out your umbrella insurance cost is to get a quote.
How Much Commercial Umbrella Insurance Do You Need?
Deciding how much extra liability coverage you need will depend on several factors, and an experienced independent insurance agent can help you decide what you need.
- What are the risks associated with your business? If your business mass produces products, provides advice or consultation, or has a hazardous work environment, you may be at a higher risk of being sued. These activities may warrant the purchase of an umbrella policy.
- What is the value of your business assets? Consider your company's real property, equipment, furniture, and other possessions. The higher the value of these assets, the higher the umbrella policy limits your business will need to protect your finances. You should have enough insurance to replace your company's total assets.
- How would loss of future income impact you? It’s important to consider that a significant lawsuit could cost you more than your current assets. It could threaten your potential future income, too. Factor this in when deciding how much coverage you need on your umbrella policy.
What’s the Difference Between Commercial Umbrella Insurance and Excess Liability Insurance?
Commercial umbrella insurance doesn't cover all liability claims, and it also doesn't extend the limits of certain policies, like commercial property insurance. So, if your business property is damaged in a fire and the cost to replace and repair it exceeds your commercial property limits, you'd have to cover the difference out of pocket.
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We’re more than happy to talk to you one-on-one concerning all your questions about commercial umbrella insurance.
