Tree service is a dangerous job, and it's always best to think twice before deciding on a company that will take care of your needs. General liability coverage helps pay for third-party accidents, such as a property owner tripping over an arborist's equipment. Pair it with commercial property insurance to save on a business owners policy (BOP). A business owners policy, or BOP, is a cost-effective way for tree service companies to purchase general liability coverage and commercial property insurance together.
Because of their size, trees have the potential to cause substantial damage to your property, especially if they're close to your home. Ask anyone who has had a tree fallen on the roof during a storm. And while hiring a tree service should be much less dangerous than enduring a storm, there's always the risk of removing branches or wiring up the foliage. That's why it's critical that your tree service has general liability insurance.
And a tree care company without workers' compensation insurance not only harms its employees, but it also puts the customer at financial risk. Tree care companies are responsible for compensating employees who are injured on the job. However, if they are unable to pay, the burden of compensation falls on the customer. Therefore, it is in your best interest for the tree care company to have extensive workers' compensation insurance.
If you are a company dedicated to the sale of trees looking for insurance, we recommend that you request quotes from at least three different companies before committing, to ensure that you get a competitive price for the same coverage. Nobody wants an accident to happen while they're working on trees. But if an accident happens, you'll want to make sure that the costs of property damage or personal injury won't fall on you (pun intended). That's why your tree service should have both of these types of insurance, and that's why it's in your best interest to do a little legwork to find out.
We always recommend that you request a copy of proof of insurance from the forestry company before signing a contract. It's best to specifically request an insurance certificate with the name of the company; that way, you can verify that the policy is currently valid and comes directly from the insurance company. False insurance statements are on the rise, so this step is crucial. In a recent case, a St.
Louis' owner hired an uninsured tree service that resorted to attaching a tree to his car when it became clear that otherwise the tree would fall on the house. Then he started calling legitimate arborists, like his own, to finish the job. It sounds crazy, but stories like this are all too common when it comes to uninsured “tree care professionals”. But for now, I hope we've answered your questions about the types and amounts of insurance your tree service should have.
General liability insurance is, in general, one of the most important insurance policies for tree services. Whether it's a lawsuit from a competing forest services company or a medical claim caused by the use of pesticides, commercial supplemental insurance can cover a wide range of potential costs if they exceed the limits of your primary general liability insurance policy. Making sure you hire a tree service company with the right insurance protects you and the company from any accident or damage. Providers can help you find the coverage that best fits your pruning or tree removal business, whether you're working independently or hiring employees.
Tree maintenance is a job that involves great risk for workers, who must maneuver around power lines, tackle fallen tree branches and work with heavy equipment. Before hiring a tree maintenance professional, request copies of their policy documents and wait to sign a contract until you have had a chance to review them. If your lawn service owns its own office or warehouse, you'll need commercial property insurance to cover both the physical structure and the property inside it. If your forestry services company is used for a contract with the government, you will often be required to show proof of insurance and a certificate of insurance.
Tree care often requires arborists to work high up in branches, up to 120 feet for some types of trees. This type of policy is also known as Errors & Omissions and it is recommended that tree service companies have these types of policies to protect against any dispute over possible negligence. Tree companies will pay their own insurance costs so consumers won't normally have to worry about the costs of tree insurance. Whether you're just starting out or have an established business that needs to reevaluate your current coverage here are some of the risks related to tree removal and stump shredding services.
Work-related injuries are some of the most expensive claims so having comprehensive workers' compensation coverage is essential for any tree service company. This level of risk makes workers' compensation insurance an absolute necessity for forest services around the world.
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