What is a premises and operations insurance policy? Having a premises and operations insurance enables your business to carry on your normal business operations while dealing with real or fraudulent claims of negligence or wrongdoing. Let’s look at an example of each:
Imagine you own a restaurant. As the owner, you are liable for both injury and property damage suffered on your premises as a result of your negligence. Perhaps the parking lot is icy, and someone slips and falls as a result. It is your duty to maintain a safe dining environment for your customers; therefore you would be responsible for any resulting injuries that occur in your establishment – Like a waiter spilling hot coffee on a patron. Premises coverage, as part of your insurance policy, will cover these types of losses.
What is a premises and operations insurance policy? Most visitors to your business will fall into one of three categories:
Imagine you own a plumbing business. As a result, you would conduct business at numerous locations you don’t necessarily own. This is where operations coverage comes into play.
Perhaps you are fixing the overhead piping while strapped to the roof. If you were to drop a wrench and injure someone on the head, you would be responsible for the resulting injuries caused to the individual. Operations coverage would be activated by the resulting claim for bodily injury. Or if you installed a new hot water heater and it leaked causing property damage to your customer.
What is a premises and operations insurance policy? Of course, there are many business types in which both coverage types are necessary. An example of this may be if you own a restaurant and catering business. You might have a fixed restaurant location where you serve your food, while also do catering at locations outside of your restaurant.
The amount of coverage that your business requires is subjected to three criteria: perceived risk, the location of your business operations and the categories of products your business produces:
The declarations page of a general liability policy will list how much the policy will pay for claims on behalf of its insured, for each specific limit. Premises and operations is covered under the ‘each occurrence’ and ‘general aggregate’ limits. Below is in example of commercial general liability policy’s limits of insurance as listed on the declarations page:
We hope this article on what is a premises and operations insurance policy? has been informative. If you are ever sued for an offense that is covered under premises and operations then your insurer will defend you. But there is no duty to defend when the insurance does not apply or when the limits has been exhausted due to payment of judgments or settlements.
