Does your business have the insurance coverage necessary to thrive through the winter months?
- January 20, 2022
- Posted by: Guerrilla Group
- Categories: Commercial Lines, Insurance
Slips and falls are one of the most frequently reported on-the-job injuries. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), slips, trips and falls account for 20% of all workplace injuries.
The likelihood of slips, trips and fall accidents on your property greatly increases during winter months. Icy sidewalks and parking lots can lead to slippery inside floors and heighten the possibility of serious claims against your business. This makes it vital that you ensure you have the coverage needed to protect your business.
This is where General Liability Insurance is important. Liability insurance covers the costs of legal fees, including court costs and the resulting award, if any is made.
General Liability (GL) policies include coverages such as:
- Third party bodily injury. If someone gets injured while on your property and takes your business to court to sue you for the damages, this coverage will protect your business
- Third party property damage. General liability coverage will protect your business if you or an employee of the business damages the property of someone else.
- Personal and advertising injury. This protects your business if you are sued for copyright infringement or slander.
- Product and completed operations. If your products or work causes bodily injuries your business is protected with general liability insurance.
- Medical payments. The insurance will provide the necessary payments to an injured party resulting from an accident that occurred on your property due to your business’ operations.
To help prevent slips, trips and falls on your premises due to the elements related to the winter months, make sure to:
- Repair in advance any damage to the parking or walking surfaces that could lead to someone tripping and falling. Winter weather freeze and thaw cycles will make these problems worse, and wintery slush can camouflage these damages making it difficult for visitors to identify.
- Remove snow and apply ice melt to your parking lot and sidewalks as often as possible to keep accumulations to a minimum.
- Keep parking lot drains clear of debris so melted ice doesn’t pool and freeze again, eliminating the potential drainage solution for the parking lot.
- Post warning signs or barriers to block off dangerous areas when needed.
- Install appropriate matting solutions at the entrance of your building to remove access moisture and keep your floors clean and dry.
While your general liability insurance does provide coverage to protect you in these instances, you should also consider commercial umbrella insurance. This will help you pay liability claims that exceed the limits of an underlying insurance policy such as your general liability policy.
Reach out to us today to ensure that your business has the appropriate level of General Liability Insurance you need to protect your business in the event of injuries to customers and staff due to slips and falls.