What New York Contractors Should Look for When Buying Commercial General Liability and Umbrella Liability Insurance
Gary Wallach
BGES Group - Specialties: New York Construction Insurance (Cover Tri-State); Workers' Compensation Insurance for any Type Business Owner - 914-806-5853
For New York contractors, securing the right insurance coverage is not just a legal requirement but a critical part of protecting your business, employees, and assets. The construction industry is inherently risky, with accidents, property damage, and lawsuits all potential threats to a contractor’s bottom line. Choosing the right Commercial General Liability (CGL) and Umbrella Liability insurance is essential to safeguard against these risks and ensure that your business can continue operating without devastating financial losses.
Here’s what every New York contractor should consider when buying these key insurance policies:
1. General Liability Coverage
At the heart of any contractor’s insurance portfolio is a Commercial General Liability (CGL) policy. This is the foundation of your protection and covers many of the common risks contractors face, including:
• Bodily Injury: Covers claims arising from injuries to non-employees caused by your work or on your worksite.
• Property Damage: Protects against damage you or your employees cause to someone else’s property during the course of work.
• Completed Operations: Covers claims made after the work is completed, such as if a customer claims your work caused property damage or injury after a project is finished.
• Products Liability: Protects you from claims related to products you’ve installed that cause harm or damage.
2. Additional Insured Endorsement
New York contractors should always look for policies that offer additional insured endorsements. This endorsement extends coverage to other parties (such as project owners, general contractors, or subcontractors) involved in the work. These endorsements are often required by contract and protect other entities from lawsuits that may arise from your work.
3. Primary and Non-Contributory Coverage
Another critical factor is ensuring that your policy provides primary and non-contributory coverage. This means that your insurance is the primary source of coverage in the event of a claim and does not require the additional insured’s policy to contribute. For contractors, having this coverage is often a contractual requirement and ensures a smooth claims process when other parties are involved.
4. Labor Law Coverage (240/241)
In New York, Labor Laws 240 and 241 create unique risks for contractors, as these laws impose strict liability on employers for certain worksite injuries, especially those involving falls. Your general liability and umbrella policies should include coverage for claims related to these labor laws, protecting you from the potentially massive costs of these claims.
5. Action Over Claims Coverage
An action over claim arises when an injured subcontractor’s employee sues your business, even though they’ve already collected workers’ compensation benefits. This type of claim can be especially costly and is unique to New York’s legal landscape. Make sure your CGL and umbrella policies offer robust coverage for action over claims, as this will protect you from lawsuits resulting from worksite injuries.
6. Pollution Liability
Many general liability policies exclude coverage for pollution-related incidents, but in the construction industry, pollution exposures are common, whether it’s from the release of hazardous materials or construction debris. You should look for a policy that either includes or offers an endorsement for pollution liability.
7. Umbrella Liability Coverage
An Umbrella Liability policy extends the limits of your general liability coverage, providing an additional layer of protection. This is crucial for contractors who work on larger projects or who face high-risk exposures. If a claim exceeds the limits of your general liability policy, the umbrella policy kicks in to cover the excess, protecting your business from large, potentially devastating claims.
8. Waiver of Subrogation
This clause prevents your insurer from seeking reimbursement from another party after they’ve paid a claim. Many contracts require a waiver of subrogation to be in place, so make sure your policy includes it to avoid potential contract disputes.
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9. Errors & Omissions (Professional Liability)
While CGL policies cover bodily injury and property damage, they typically exclude coverage for professional errors and omissions. If your work involves design, consultation, or other professional services, you’ll need Errors & Omissions (E&O) coverage, either as a standalone policy or an endorsement to your general liability.
10. Contractual Liability
In the construction industry, contractors often assume liability for others through contracts. Contractual liability coverage ensures that your insurance policy covers you for the liability you’ve assumed under these contracts.
Why BGES Group is the Agency You Should Turn To
Navigating the complex world of insurance for New York contractors can be overwhelming. That’s where BGES Group comes in. As one of New York’s construction insurance specialists, BGES Group has the expertise to help you secure the right policies for your business, ensuring that you’re fully covered for the unique risks you face in the construction industry.
Whether you’re looking for general liability, umbrella liability, or specialized coverage like labor law or action over claims, BGES Group can provide customized solutions tailored to your needs. Their boutique-style service means that you won’t get cookie-cutter insurance. Instead, you’ll work with professionals who take the time to understand your business and recommend the best coverage at competitive rates.
Contact BGES Group Today
Don’t wait until you’re facing a lawsuit or a claim to find out that your coverage is inadequate. Let BGES Group protect your business from the start. For expert guidance on your commercial general liability and umbrella liability insurance needs, contact Gary Wallach at BGES Group:
• Phone: 914-806-5853
• Email: bgesgroup@gmail.com
• Website: www.bgesgroup.com
Get the protection your business needs from New York’s construction insurance experts!
BGES Group is one of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut's Construction Insurance Specialists representing 50+ companies, including all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs. We offer all the coverage needed, including property, builders' risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers' compensation, N.Y.S. disability, and group health. Our commitment to you goes beyond the policies we provide. We are always just a call, text, or email away, ready to assist you, even on weekends. We understand the importance of your business and are here to help you navigate any insurance challenges.
BGES Group are Workers' Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being canceled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, misclassified payrolls, or whatever your issue. We can help! We have special programs for Auto Services, Contractors (especially in New York), Limousine Services, Logistics Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, and Truckers; we can help ANY tri-state business owner. We are considered "Preferred Agents" for this one program that, if we can get you into, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability, and can cover multi-state operations. The program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits, too.
If you want to speak with us, call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853, click here to email, or visit our website.
Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538
email: bgesgroup@gmail.com
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