Insuring The Risk Involved In Owning Your Own Business

As a business owner you take on risks that don’t always meet the eye when you are first diving into starting your business.  One that is often overlooked is the risk you take employing others.  General business liability insurance covers your assets. What type of business insurance protects you against claims when an employee gets hurt on the job?  What protects you and your business from being required to support a claim for wages, benefits and further claims?  The answer is workers’ compensation.

Every business and every job has risk involved. On the job accidents are common and can range from something like carpal tunnel injuries or massive injuries like a machine malfunction causing the loss of a limb.  If someone is hurt at your place of business you will be held accountable for their related medical expenses, income lost and other expenses deemed reasonable.

As a business owner you can insurance yourself from losing everything by adding a worker’s compensation plan on to your business insurance plan.  In fact, each state within the United States has laws in place governing the coverage you must carry to cover your employees.  Insurance coverage will vary from one industry to the next depending on the risks involved within the scope of your business.

Workers ‘Compensation otherwise known as workman’s comp and workers liability are all policies that are carried by business owners to provide protection to the business if an accident does occur and employees are affected.  Most often the policy is carried to provide coverage for medical bills and deductible as well as lost wages during and after the accident until a full recovery can be made.

Most policies also offer coverage that is provided to the owner to cover expenses that occur in legal interventions if a claim is filed.  This is referred to as employers’ liability insurance.  It covers the cost of attorney’s, court costs, docket fees and more. The most important part of any business insurance policy is the coverage it provides to you as a business owner.  Your business is your livelihood and needs to continue to thrive.  Your business not only provides for you but for all of the other you employ as well.  You want to be covered to prevent a simple accident from eliminating your livelihood. 

Typically several different coverage options can be added on to a basic workmen’s compensation plan.  One option is to cover employees that work in other areas, even states, beyond the normal day to day operations of the business.  There is coverage that may not be mandated but that can be purchased to cover certain illnesses and coverage that covers dependants if a fatality is suffered by a dependant on the job. 

The point is that workmen’s’ compensation is not optional when it comes to buying business insurance.  The amount and types of coverage above and beyond what the state has in place as a requirement should be considered if the scope of your industry calls for it.  The better your coverage plan is the better you will be covered is something happens to one of your employees.  Being covered keeps your livelihood safe and allows you to continue to do business.