Conte Law Firm helps accident victims in Providence. While you can be injured in an accident, there’s also things that can happen to your home or other property. Commercial insurance can get pretty confusing, but our experienced team can make things easier for you. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
Property damage is extremely frustrating, but it’s a part of ownership. While you can certainly file a claim with your insurance when something happens, having a lawyer can make sure your interests are protected and you’re treated fairly. That’s the main reason why you’d need a lawyer in this situation, and our experienced team can help you by:
- Understanding your policy and options – Insurance companies might interpret your policy in a way that reduces your payout. Our lawyers can explain your coverage clearly and make sure you get what you’re entitled to.
- Preparing your claim – Filing a claim can require a lot of paperwork and evidence. We can help gather and organize everything you need, making the process easier and less stressful.
- Negotiating for a better settlement – Insurance companies often try to pay as little as possible, but we will negotiate with them to help you get a better–or at least a fair– amount.
- Handling any disputes – If your claim is denied or the payout is too low, we’ll help you challenge the decision or even take legal action if needed.
Basically, having our team on your side makes things easier. When you’re trying to deal with the aftermath of an accident or something else that leaves you with property damage in Providence, we’ll be there to support you.
What Damages Do You Get With a Commercial Insurance Claim?
You obviously never want to be in a situation where your property gets damaged–whether that happens to your business or there’s a natural disaster that leaves you facing home repairs. That’s the main benefit of commercial insurance, giving you protection by providing certain benefits–and damages–when you have to make a claim:
- Property damages – This is the main coverage, and covers the cost to repair or replace damaged buildings, equipment, machinery, inventory, or other physical assets due to events like fire, theft, vandalism, or natural disasters.
- Lost income (Business interruption) – This covers any lost revenue if your business is temporarily unable to operate because of a covered event. It may also cover ongoing expenses like rent, payroll, and utilities.
- Out-of-pocket expenses – This covers any additional costs incurred to keep your business running after a loss, such as renting temporary office space, leasing equipment, or outsourcing services.
- Liability – This covers things like legal fees, settlements, or judgments if your business is held liable for bodily injury, property damage, or personal injury claims filed by third parties.
- Cybersecurity damages – This covers any damages related to data breaches, cyberattacks, or loss of sensitive customer information, including legal fees, notification costs, and credit monitoring for affected customers.
- Repair/replacement costs for vehicles – Much like personal auto insurance, certain policies can also provide repair or replacement costs if a company-owned vehicle is involved in an accident or suffers other damage.
Commercial insurance covers a lot of different things out of necessity. However, it’s vital to have–especially in situations where something bad happens. Still, it’s important to have and even more important to know when you’d need it.
When Do You Need Commercial Insurance in Providence?
Owning a business in Providence (or anywhere else in Rhode Island) comes with a lot of responsibility. And while it also gives you financial gain, there’s any number of potential business opportunities you can take in the city. So, no matter what type of business you have or run, commercial insurance can be vital. Here’s a few of the more common reasons why:
- Workers’ compensation – Rhode Island law requires businesses with one or more employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance to cover medical expenses and lost wages for work-related injuries or illnesses.
- Property ownership and leasing – Most likely, your business runs out of a physical location–whether you own or lease it. Commercial insurance protects your building, equipment, and inventory from damage or loss due to fire, theft, or natural disasters.
- Providing services or products – In one form or another, your business provides products or services to its customers. This makes general liability insurance extremely important. It covers legal costs and damages if someone sues you for bodily injury, property damage, or personal injury (like defamation).
- Business vehicles – If your business owns or operates vehicles, commercial auto insurance is required to cover accidents, property damage, and liability while driving for work purposes.
- Sensitive customer and employee data – Your business has very sensitive customer or employee data, so certain commercial insurance policies can protect you from losses related to data breaches, cyberattacks, and the associated legal and recovery costs.
- Industry risks – Certain businesses, like construction, healthcare, or food services, face unique risks. Specialized insurance like professional liability, product liability, or liquor liability may be necessary to protect your business.
It’s pretty easy to see why you’d need commercial insurance if you own or run a business in Providence. That said, having a policy–even though it’s required by the state–doesn’t mean you automatically get what you’re supposed to when you file a claim.
What Should You Do in the Event of Damage to Your Business?
The question about commercial insurance isn’t necessarily why you’d need it, but how you respond when you do. Like any situation where there’s property damage or loss, you need to take certain steps to make sure you can get the most out of a potential claim. When commercial insurance is involved, this means doing the following:
- Make sure everyone is safe – Make sure everyone is safe. If there’s a dangerous situation (fire, electrical issues, etc.), evacuate and call emergency services.
- Clearly document what happened – Take clear photos and videos of the damage, including all affected areas and items. This will help with your insurance claim.
- Report the damage – Call your insurance company right away. Provide details about the damage and any steps you’ve taken to prevent further loss. The quicker you respond, the quicker you can access benefits.
- Protect your property – If possible, do temporary repairs (like boarding windows or covering holes). Keep receipts for any repairs, as insurance may reimburse you.
- File your claim – File your insurance claim as soon as you can, including photos, repair costs, and a description of what happened.
- Keep track of expenses – Keep a record of any costs related to the damage, like repairs or lost income, to ensure you get the full compensation.
- Tell your employees and customers what happened – Tell your employees about any changes, like temporary closures. Let your customers know if there are any disruptions in service.
Responding in the right way can make a potential insurance situation a bit easier, mostly by making sure you have the right information and evidence for a strong claim. From there, make sure to reach out to our team for guidance and legal support if you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does commercial insurance cover?
Commercial insurance claims cover losses or damage from an accident or some unforeseen event. Generally, it covers things like property damage, liability claims, or business interruption.
What happens if my claim is denied?
If your insurance company denies your claim (or doesn’t give you what you feel are fair benefits), you can appeal by asking our team to negotiate with them.
Can I file a claim for damage caused by natural disasters like hurricanes or floods?
Yes, but coverage depends on your policy. Certain commercial property insurance policies might cover hurricanes or floods, but not other things. You might need separate policies for specific risks, depending on your business.
Experienced Commercial Insurance Claim Lawyers in Providence
Facing problems or accidents with your business can be pretty overwhelming. Like most businesses in Providence, you are just trying to run your business and keep your customers and employees happy. So, when you file a claim with your commercial insurance, our team at Conte Law Firm will be there to guide you through the process and protect your business. Don’t wait–contact us today for a free consultation to learn more.
