Protecting Your Beloved Possessions

Landscapers Should Carry These 5 Insurance Policies

Landscapers often deal wit other people and their property in ways that create liability exposure. Consequently, landscaping insurance coverage is critical. Which landscaping insurance policies should you carry, though? You ought to consider these 5 policies. 

General Liability

This is always an important policy for all public-facing businesses, but it's a particularly big deal for landscaping firms. General liability covers third-party injuries. If one of your crew members is mowing grass and the mower launches a rock at a passerby, you could be liable for the victim's medical bills. A general liability policy also covers property damage. You can easily see how the previous example could play out with the rock hitting a car's window.

Commercial Vehicle Coverage

Landscapers regularly use vehicles to move people and equipment around to customers' places. In the process of driving around on business, there's a meaningful risk of a classic traffic accident. You want your landscaping insurance policies to include vehicle coverage for you, your employees, and any contractors or subcontractors. If anyone might get in one of the trucks and so much as go for coffee, they need to be a covered motorist.

Workers Compensation

The physical nature of landscaping work all but guarantees employees will be hurt on the job. You want landscaping coverage that ensures everyone working under your company's name will be compensated if they're hurt on the job.

Also, avoid using contractor structures because courts often rule that people in these roles legally are employees. In that scenario, you'll be on the hook for workers compensation but you won't have paid for the necessary insurance. Keep all your crew members as employees on the payroll so your workers comp insurance will cover them.

Property Insurance

Landscaping is an equipment-intensive enterprise. If someone damages your equipment or buildings, you want to have sufficient coverage. Not only does this protect your company against employee mishaps, but it guards against vandalism and theft.

Make sure to itemize all of your equipment and facilities. Take photos of all insurable items. Collect any unique identifiers. Present all the information possible to the insurance company so you can be confident the policy covers everything. Especially with big or expensive pieces of equipment, have the policy explicitly identify it as covered.

Professional Liability

Effectively, this is coverage for errors and omissions. Suppose some sequence of mistakes leaves a key part of a major contract unfilled. Worse, the property owner might sue your company. Your professional liability policy should cover the damages.


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