Preventing Your Commercial Fleet From Catalytic Converter Theft
Catalytic converter theft is a top concern if your business owns a commercial fleet.
Your vehicles' catalytic converters turn harmful gasses emitted from the engine like carbon monoxide and nitric oxide into safe gasses like carbon dioxide and steam, ensuring that your fleet doesn't produce emissions above legal limits.
There has been a troubling rise in the frequency of catalytic converter theft in New Jersey and the US at large. As per the National Insurance Crime Bureau's (NICB) data, catalytic converter theft increased by 325% in 2020 alone. Therefore, it is prudent to take effective steps to prevent your converters from getting stolen.
Here's how to stop your commercial fleet's catalytic converters from being robbed.
Why Are Catalytic Converters Being Targeted?
Catalytic converters contain precious rare earth metals like Platinum, Rhodium, and Palladium. These metals are highly valuable, and their prices have risen rapidly. They are a favorite target of thieves since they can be sold on the black market for a fortune.
Indeed, JM Bullion estimates that an ounce of palladium goes for $2,362 today. Rhodium is even more expensive, currently costing $18,900 per ounce. For context, gold's current price is $1,938 per ounce, making Rhodium almost 10 times more valuable.
Furthermore, stealing catalytic converters is reportedly like taking candy from a baby. All a thief needs is a blatant disregard for the law and your company's property, an angle grinder, a jack, and as little as one minute to get the job done. Also, most catalytic converters are located under the car towards the exhaust, so they are very easy to find.
It is frustrating to lose your converters to theft, as the replacement costs are expensive. You may need to fork out as much as $2,500 to replace each stolen converter, and your bill could even reach $10,000 if a pipe or oxygen sensor is cut.
What You Can Do To Stop Catalytic Converter Theft
Thankfully, there's a lot you can do to stop your commercial fleet's catalytic converters from being stolen. Some of the practical measures you can take include:
Parking Your Vehicle in the Right Place
Easy access is one of the biggest loopholes catalytic converter thieves exploit. Therefore, park your commercial fleet in the right places to prevent robbers from accessing them. The most obvious place to park your fleet is in a locked garage to prevent intruders from accessing them. However, this effective step might not always be possible, so parking vehicles in well-lit areas is the next best thing.
You can also train your drivers to park close to nearby access roads or the front of buildings when making stops. These areas have significant foot traffic and are visible, deterring many thieves.
Finally, remember that catalytic converter bandits require space to get under your vehicle to access their loot. Your drivers should park on the side of the vehicles closest to the converter near walls, fences, high curbs, and other vehicles to prevent easy access.
Hiring an Overnight Security Team
If your commercial fleet is quite large, consider hiring an overnight security team for added protection. These highly trained professionals will patrol the fleet parking area with eagle eyes, and their mere presence can deter criminals from targeting your business premises. Also, they can react in real-time to prevent thieves from escaping with catalytic converters.
Admittedly, hiring these guards doesn't come cheap, but it might be a necessary and a lower price to pay than what you will spend on replacements if your commercial fleet gets hit frequently.
Installing Surveillance Equipment
Top-notch surveillance equipment can be powerful tools in the fight against catalytic converter theft. Thieves who target your commercial fleet's parking area will probably reconsider their plans immediately if they notice security cameras keeping watch. The great thing about surveillance equipment is that even if your business becomes a victim of theft, you might identify the criminals and recover the stolen converters.
Leveraging Alarms
Most modern vehicles with catalytic converters have factory-fitted alarm systems that detect and activate if the automobile is lifted or tilted with a jack. Therefore, you can simply remind your drivers to lock the vehicles and set the alarms anytime they park and exit. If your commercial vehicles lack standard fitted alarms, consult your dealership regarding the possibility of installing an effective and approved alarm system.
Marking Your Converters
You can also engrave the vehicle identification numbers (VIN) onto each converter to uniquely identify them. This marking makes it easier to identify your commercial fleet's converters and can alert scrap dealers when thieves try selling stolen converters to them. You can also engrave your vehicle's license plate numbers for an added layer of identification.
Spraying your converters with quality, bright-colored, and high-temperature automotive exhaust spray paint is also worth considering to prevent them from being stolen.
Adding a Lock or Guard
Guards and locks for the underside of your vehicles are also effective in theft prevention, so keep this in mind. Manufacturers like Toyota offer "Catlocs" to prevent your converters from getting stolen. You can also invest in CatClamps that grip your vehicle's exhaust pipes, protecting your converters.
CatClamps make it very difficult for thieves to steal your converters, especially if they are in a hurry. Your mechanic can also fit makeshift 'cat cages' for additional protection or weld bolts shut to make them almost impossible to loosen. However, alert your insurance provider of any vehicle modifications to check if they might affect future claims.
Insuring Your Commercial Fleet
It is advisable to take out a comprehensive coverage policy, such as business automobile insurance, from a reputable insurance agency in New Jersey. This policy will not prevent theft, but will pay to replace stolen converters and repair any damage caused during their removal.
Choose Us for Your Business Auto Insurance Coverage
At Harrah & Associates, we provide comprehensive coverage to protect a wide range of vehicles used by businesses, including trucks, vans, buses, and taxis. We also have decades of experience in the insurance industry and can tailor our policies to suit your specific needs and budget.
Reach out to us today at (609) 587-8030 to get started
Cyberattacks, Cybersecurity, and Cyber Liability in 2022
Cyberattacks, Cybersecurity, and Cyber Liability in 2022
Protecting your business from cyberattacks with both cybersecurity and cyber liability insurance has been something we’ve recommended for quite some time. However, as the U.S. put sanctions against Russia in place because of its invasion of Ukraine, it’s more important than ever that we discuss these topics.
While experts predict a spike in cyberattacks coming from Russia, we want to let you know what our top issues of concern are for business owners related to cybersecurity, why you should invest in cybersecurity for your small business, and how the current world events are affecting cybersecurity.
Top Issues of Concern for Business Owners Related to Cybersecurity
In our video video, Lisa Harrah will discuss her top three issues of concern for business owners related to cybersecurity.
First and foremost, businesses of every size need a cybersecurity program in place.
Next, you want to work with an experience insurance agent. Many insurance companies’ coverage varies from policy to policy, so it is extremely important that you work with an agent that has a thorough understanding of the policies and how the coverage comes into play.
Lastly, the market has hardened dramatically over the last couple of years. A hard market means prices are escalating dramatically and the coverage is becoming more difficult to obtain. Gone are the days when you could just fill out a quick application and get a quote from several carriers.
I can’t emphasize enough how you need to deal with a professional that understands cybersecurity and what your business needs, because again, all businesses need it. Small businesses probably need it more than larger businesses because they don’t have many of the cyber controls in place.
If you’d like to discuss this further, please feel free to reach out to me anytime.
Cybersecurity for Your Small Business
In our second video, Gary Newborn of G.S. Newborn & Associates is here to talk to Lisa Harrah about cybersecurity for small businesses, and bring awareness to what businesses should do to protect their business from cyber hacks and intrusions.
Cybersecurity experts that work with the insurance industry hand-in-hand have advised insurance agents that they should be advising all clients and potential clients of the activities that they should do in order to protect their business from any cyber threats.
First and foremost, insurance should always be the last line of defense.
As a business owner, there are many things that you can do that can protect your firm from a hack from even happening.
Number one, you want to make sure that you have up-to-date patching programs in place. That, coupled with endpoint threat detection, antiviral programs and multi-factor authentication will greatly improve the security for your firm.
It ultimately comes down to cyber hygiene. All the common sense things that we should always be doing, we should really emphasize now in these more difficult times.
Passwords need to be complex and secure, and you should change your passwords frequently. And please don’t share passwords in the office. Everybody should have their own password.
Make sure that all of your forms and programs are backed up.
And lastly, educate your employees. A significant number of data breaches occur when an employee clicks on an attachment that they shouldn’t click on. Everyone should have a sign on their desk that says think before you click.
These are just some common sense things that will help every business.
If you have any questions regarding this, please feel free to reach out to Gary or Lisa. They’d love to provide any assistance.
How Current World Events Are Affecting Cybersecurity
For our third and final video, Gary Newborn discusses how current events are affecting the landscape when it comes to cybersecurity.
We’ve clearly seen an uptick over the last several months in cyber attacks throughout the world. And with the current events in Europe and Russia, experts expect an even greater incidents of cyber attacks on public and private entities throughout the United States.
With the tightening of the insurance markets in cyber insurance, this makes it incumbent on all business owners to do their own planning and their own risk management to make sure their own internet, their access, their telephone, and their data are secure.
You need a policy and you need more than just an add on to your general liability or property coverage.
We can help you with this. Give us a call.
Experts Fear Global Impact from Russia's Cyberattacks on Ukraine
Russia launched a full-scale military assault on Ukraine in the early morning hours of Feb. 24, 2022, accompanied by a series of targeted cyberattacks that experts and officials say could ultimately have a much broader impact.
In the weeks leading up to the invasion, Ukrainian government entities, financial institutions and other key organizations faced website defacements, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and destructive malware. Cybersecurity experts around the globe have kept tabs on these cyber events, warning clients and organizations to secure their systems without delay.
On Feb. 23, 2022, researchers at Symantec and ESET first tweeted the discovery of new wiper malware, dubbed “HermeticWiper,” that was used against Ukraine. Symantec researchers observed the use of this malware against an organization in Lithuania as early as Nov. 12, 2021. They noted that, with an invasion underway, there remains a high likelihood of further cyberattacks against Ukraine and other countries in the region.
Offering a technical breakdown of the malware, cybersecurity firm SentinelOne commented, “After a week of defacements and increasing DDoS attacks, the proliferation of sabotage operations through wiper malware is an expected and regrettable escalation.”
In a recent webcast, experts from Secureworks said they had long expected that any invasion would have a cyber component.
The wiper attacks make no pretense of being ransomware events and aim to destroy data with little hope of recovery. These attacks could contain an element of espionage as well, according to Mike McLellan, director of intelligence at Secureworks.
While the cyberattacks currently appear to be focused on Ukraine, the United States and its allies should be prepared for retaliatory attacks over severe economic sanctions announced by President Joe Biden following the invasion.
In an Axios interview, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) said that Russian cyberattacks could trigger expanded conflict with NATO countries.
“If you unleash not one, but five, 10, 50 or 1,000 [cyberattacks] at Ukraine, the chances of them staying within the Ukrainian geographic border are quite small,” Warner said. “They could spread to America or the [United Kingdom]. But the more likely effect will be [the attacks] spreading to adjacent geographic territory … [like] Poland.”
On Twitter, Warner added, “This is not something to take lightly—cyberattacks don’t have borders.”
U.S. House Intelligence Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) expressed similar concerns in a news briefing.
“We have seen in the past Russia deploy attacks at a particular target—those tools get into the wild, and they cause global damage,” Schiff said.
According to McLellan, attacks targeting the United States would require a significant escalation between the West and Russia. However, threat actors unrelated to the situation in Ukraine could take advantage of the unfolding conflict to infiltrate systems.
Jen Easterly, head of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), said on Twitter, “While there are no specific threats to the [United States] at this time, all organizations must be prepared for cyberattacks, whether targeted or not.” She cited the 2017 NotPetya attack that brought commerce to a halt and caused billions in damage for corporations around the world.
To help prepare organizations of all sizes, CISA launched Shields Up, a program with guidance for preventing, detecting and minimizing the impact of cyber events.
Cybersecurity firms working closely with the insurance industry advise businesses to protect themselves by reviewing their business continuity plans and ensuring cybersecurity fundamentals are in place. This can include up-to-date patching programs, endpoint threat detection, antivirus programs and multifactor authentication.
Insurance in the Age of Cancel Culture
You’ve probably heard about cancel culture and might be wondering how you need to deal with it as a business owner. There’s been a lot of discussion around this topic in recent times and it’s not hard to see why. The protection of employees is paramount for most business owners, but you might also want to avoid falling into a cancel culture trap.
It’s important to consider the insurance coverage needs of your business in the light of cancel culture and a heightened focus on conflict between employees and the necessity of a safe and welcoming work environment for all staff members.
We’re going to take a look at some of the most pressing issues in this area today and how you need to look at protecting your business and your staff in the age of cancel culture. So read on now to find out everything you need to know.
What Is Cancel Culture?
First, what is cancel culture and what does it mean in practice? Canceling someone is ostracizing them or cutting ties with them based on something they’ve said or done in the past that is deemed unacceptable today.
It’s something that’s often confined to social media, but it’s also impacting businesses in various ways too. For example, if a worker is shunned or ‘canceled’, they might regard this as being exposed to a hostile work environment, which can have legal ramifications for the business.
It’s also possible that someone needs to be canceled for legitimate reasons such as harassment or assault of co-workers or employees.
Hostile Work Environments
One thing to consider is how an employee might perceive they’re working in a hostile work environment. This is what might cause them to make complaints or accusations against managers or co-workers. But what an employee considers a hostile work environment might not meet the legal definition.
If there’s a pattern of behavior that leads to a person being discriminated against or made unable to do their job safely, and that pattern continues for a prolonged period, that would suggest that they are working in a hostile environment.
If they’re discriminated against as a member of a protected group, this will also be grounds for them to take legal action, especially if the person responsible for that discrimination isn’t removed from the work environment or otherwise dealt with adequately.
Dealing With Harassment and Discrimination Among Employees
Your business can be held liable when there’s a problem that happens between employees inside your workplace, and that’s something you should try to keep in mind as you navigate issues around cancel culture. It all starts with making it possible for employees to voice concerns and making them feel safe to do so.
When an issue has been raised and the relevant people inside the business are aware of it, it demands a response of some sort. Talking to the involved parties, getting their side of the story, and things like that might be required. Then you might give them a warning or require them to take training to ensure it doesn’t happen again, or even fire them if the issue is serious enough.
Once you have processes in place for dealing with unacceptable behaviors, it’s important that those rules are implemented in a way that’s consistent and reliable. Your team needs to be aware of what the consequences are for certain actions and people can’t be treated differently based on rank or anything like that, as that could leave the business open to legal action too.
Protecting Against Legal Action With the Right Insurance
It’s a good idea to make sure that you have insurance in place to protect you against any of the matters discussed above. In the age of cancel culture, it’s more important than ever before to be protected. Good management and training are still the best defenses against problems and legal action, but insurance is there to offer you the backup you need as no business is perfect.
You’ll need to have EPLI or employment practices liability insurance in place to start with. This is important because it covers you against a range of liability related risks. Any business with a team, especially a large team, needs to have this kind of coverage. It’ll significantly mitigate the risks associated with employee-related problems.
It’s also good to have general liability insurance in place as an extra layer of protection that your business might one day need. It covers you against lots of threats that businesses often come up against, and although no policy is perfect, it will help to protect against a range of potential legal actions.
As you can see, there are lots of things to consider with finding the right insurance for your business in the age of cancel culture. If you’d like more support with finding the insurance that’s going to be right for you, contact us here at Harrah & Associates Inc. today and speak to a member of our team.
Re-evaluating Your Business Insurance Policies For 2022
The start of a new year is a good time to re-evaluate how you operate your business. One area that could be worth assessing for improvements is your insurance policies.
Many of us allow our policies to automatically renew each year without changing them. While re-evaluating your policies might seem like a hassle, it could have many benefits. This could include reducing costs, protecting yourself against additional risks and making sure that your current coverage is still valid.
Below are just a few questions to ask when re-evaluating your business insurance policies for 2022 that will help you get the best coverage.
Do You Need to Change Your Existing Policies?
Businesses change over time and so do their needs. You may find that your current policies no longer fit your current business.
For example, you may currently have commercial property insurance in place that covers you against damage or theft of certain contents. Since taking out this policy, you may have bought new equipment, which is likely not covered by your old policy. You may want to consider adding this equipment to your policy so that if it is damaged or stolen, you will be compensated.
On top of adding things to your existing policies, consider if anything can be removed. Perhaps you’ve scaled back in the last year and no longer have as many employees working for you - it could be worth changing your worker’s compensation insurance if you’re currently paying coverage for a certain number of employees.
It’s also worth checking that your current insurance policy is valid. A change of business address or a change to your company name could void your current policies. Notify your insurer of these changes to make sure that your policies are still valid.
Do You Need to Take Out New Policies?
It may be time to take out completely new policies. For example, if you’re thinking of hiring your first employees this year, it could be mandatory that you take out worker’s compensation insurance if you don’t already have it in place.
Other new policies may not be mandatory, but could still be recommended. For example, if you own a roofing business, you may decide that now is a good time to take out general liability insurance if you don’t already have it. A lot of companies put off taking out this insurance, only to end up having to pay lawsuits costing thousands of dollars out of their own pockets.
Not having general liability insurance in certain industries may even negatively affect your ability to win over certain customers, since they may only be comfortable working with a contractor if they are insured.
On top of considering taking out new policies, consider whether there are any policies worth cancelling altogether. Perhaps you took out insurance for a vehicle or a machine, but are now thinking of selling this vehicle or machine because you no longer need it. It could be worth cancelling your insurance policy if you don’t plan to replace it.
Are You Paying Too Much?
Even if your needs haven’t changed, it could still be worth re-evaluating your business insurance policies to see if you could save any money. Insurers are constantly adjusting their rates and introducing new deals (particularly for new customers). You may find that you’re able to get the same policy from another insurer for a cheaper price.
A lot of us assume that if we stick with the same insurer, we’ll save money through loyalty incentives such as no claims bonuses. However, you'd be surprised by the deals that are out there. You may save money by bundling business insurance policies with a different insurer or by simply taking advantage of limited deals available to new customers.
You should definitely compare other insurer rates if you have recently made a claim. Your insurance rates are likely to go up once you make a claim because you now pose a greater risk to the insurer. That said, other insurers may not charge as much.
There are many other ways to save money, such as getting rid of coverage you don’t need or upping your deductible. By making policy changes with the same insurer you may even save money - you may not even have to switch to a new insurer.
How Should I Re-evaluate My Business Insurance Policies?
You should start by reading over your current business insurance policies to see what they actually covered you for. This will give you a good idea of what needs to be changed - there may be things you’re covered for that you had completely forgotten about.
To help identify new risks, carry out some of your own personal risk assessments. What are some of the biggest threats to your business that you are currently not insured against? You should consider whether there have been any disasters in the last few years that could have been less damaging by taking out insurance. You should also consider what disasters other companies within your industry have been facing recently.
When choosing the best insurance policies, consider hiring the help of a broker to help you compare policies. Insurance brokers are independent agents that do not work for a single insurance company. They are experts in insurance and have access to a huge amount of insurers. They can work with you to find the best policies based on your needs and budget.
By getting in touch with an insurance broker today, such as Harrah & Associates, you can start to re-evaluate your insurance policies and find the best coverage.
Who Needs General Liability Insurance In NJ?
All businesses need some type of insurance. The last thing that you need as a business owner is to find out that your business is not covered when something goes wrong. However, this means that you have got to be on the ball when it comes to insurance.
One policy that you are going to need is general liability insurance, and in this article, we’re going to be looking at some of the information that you need to know about it. Keep reading if you would like to find out more about general liability insurance, including what it is, who needs it, and why.
What Is General Liability Insurance?
General liability insurance provides businesses owners with the opportunity to protect themselves if someone is trying to sue the company for something. These kinds of claims are extremely common, and this type of insurance helps to protect from claims of copyright infringement, reputational harm, bodily injury, advertising injury, and even property damage.
Your policy should help to protect you against any bodily injuries and property damage that your business may have caused. This could be a fall from a customer or an accident with one of your employees.
Who Needs General Liability Insurance?
Ideally, all businesses need this type of insurance as it is the kind that covers many bases. It’s more common than not that you are going to see this policy attached to small businesses, but larger companies can massively benefit as well. Your business will never be too big to be threatened by someone suing your company. In fact, the bigger your business, the bigger pay day people will imagine when they see you.
The reason that you see more small businesses having this type of protection is because they can’t afford the claims. While the insurance doesn’t mean you get away paying no reparations for what occurs, it means that you get off relatively easily. For example, the average cost of a slip and fall claim is around $20,000 and small businesses simply do not have the funds to cover this.
Why Do People Need General Liability Insurance?
General liability insurance protects businesses, and this is the long and short of it. People need general liability insurance to ensure that if someone brings about a claim against them, fact or fiction, it will not cripple them. Even small claims can cost a business tens of thousands of dollars, and if your business is still new, or not on solid ground with finances, it could be the end of the business.
We’re sure that you have heard the saying "it’s better to be safe than sorry", and that is exactly what this insurance is for. Keeping your business safe and protecting it from any threats that may emerge are two of the most important things that you can do for your company. Getting a general liability insurance policy is one of the best ways to do this.
What Is Covered Under General Liability Insurance?
There are five kinds of liability claims when it comes to general liability insurance. The first is a bodily injury that your business causes. This is one of the most common claims and comes about if someone claims to be injured in your place of business. Your insurance would cover their medical costs, which is what they would seek if they took action against you.
There is also copyright infringement, which comes about when you are accused of using someone else’s work without their permission. This is usually has to do with your marketing.
Then you have reputational harm, which will occur if you said something about another business in a news interview that has negatively affected their business. This could be related to the business owner, the business in general, or a particular aspect, such as their service, product, or employees.
Property damage is one of the other most common general liability claims, and this is where someone’s property has been damaged while at your business. This also includes things such as if your employee’s break something in a client’s home when visiting on business. It’s common to see these kinds of cases go to court, and this rule now applies to electronic data as well.
The final liability claim is advertising injury. This happens if your business defames another person, business owner, or company. It’s important to understand that paying out even a single general liability claim is going to be expensive, and can take its toll on your business. Instead of allowing this to happen, get general liability insurance and protect yourself.
What Does It Not Cover?
As you can see from above, there are a lot of things that are covered by general liability insurance. But, there are also some things that are not covered. For example, business related auto accidents won’t fall under this category, nor employee injury or illness. Damage to your business property, claims that exceed your policy limit, illegal acts that were completed on purpose, or mistakes in professional services are also not covered under general liability insurance.
You will need different policies if you want to be covered against any of these, which we highly recommend.
Purchasing General Liability Insurance in NJ
We hope you found this article helpful and that you now have a better understanding of general liability insurance. Ideally, businesses need this type of insurance if they want to remain safe in any industry. The amount of claims that this insurance can protect your business from is astronomical, and you’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t invest in it before something unfortunate happens.
If you are interested in purchasing this kind of insurance, get in touch with Harrah & Associates to see what we can do.
An Insurance Guide for Nonprofit Organizations
As a nonprofit organization, it is vital that you have the correct and relevant insurance policies in place. The right insurance policies are specifically designed to reduce an organization's risk and vulnerabilities to potential lawsuits that could be filed in relation to the work you are conducting.
It is important to review your current policies, and needs as an organization, to ensure every policy you already have is up to date and relevant, and any additional insurance policies are adequately sourced.
As a nonprofit organization, it is likely that you have a 501c3 tax-exempt status. However, you will still require different insurance policies to protect your organization against a variety of factors, such as loss resulting from an employee accident, motor vehicle collision, negligent acts, cyber attacks, and much more.
This guide will help you if you are wondering what insurance policies your nonprofit organization may require.
Understand Your Needs/Requirements
The first and most important step you should take is to sit down and thoroughly review the work that you complete, in order to better understand your insurance needs and requirements. Without this in-depth knowledge of all aspects of your organization, you may fail to protect important areas, resulting in costly consequences. You will also need to consider your organization's objectives, risk tolerances, and future goals.
Another important aspect of finding the right insurance policies is considering the individuals who are involved in your organization and the assets. For example, employees and volunteers, the board of directors, office space and/or properties, vehicles, contracts, and inventory.
Types of Insurance
There are many types of insurance that a nonprofit organization may need. Below are some of the most common insurance policies that are sourced. However, it will entirely depend on your business needs as to which policies are suitable for you.
Contact a trusted insurance broker who can tell you exactly what insurance policies that you may need. It can be a complex area to navigate, as nonprofit business needs significantly differ from standard commercial businesses.
Liability Insurance
Liability insurance is vital for any nonprofit organization, as it will protect your business against claims of negligent conduct by a member of your organization. Negligence claims are brought against a person or organization if it is alleged that they have failed to uphold a certain level of service that is expected of them, for example, not providing a good standard of care to another individual which leads to a serious injury or death.
The right liability insurance will cover your organization for a range of things. Examples include if an injury has been sustained, any property has been damaged, in cases of slander and defamation, and any advertising activities that result in copyright infringement.
There are also more specific liability insurance policies that you can consider, such as directors and officers liability, which protects those involved in running and managing the organization, along with allegations of breaches or wrongful acts. There is also publisher's liability insurance, which covers the organization and any materials that are printed as publications, newsletters, magazines, etc.
An insurance broker will help you find the right liability policy that will cover the aspects that apply to the work that you do.
Cyber Coverage
Unfortunately, every organization, regardless of how big or small, is vulnerable to a cyber attack. It was reported in 2018 that there were over 80,000 cyberattacks per day and small businesses were at a loss of, on average, $34,604, which resulted in 60% of them going out of business within 6 months of the attack.
There are many types of attacks that an organization is vulnerable to, for example, ransomware, crypto jacking, and malware. There is no industry that goes untouched by cyberattacks, and they are only growing in sophistication by the day. Therefore, it is vital that any organization is well protected with anti-malware and anti-virus software, but also with cyber insurance coverage.
Insurance is important, as many attacks occur because of personal error, identity theft, or malicious insider and social media accounts, which are not always protected by software alone.
Business Auto Insurance
Business auto insurance is vital to protect any nonprofit organization that uses and/or owns motor vehicles. Regardless of how big your fleet is, business auto insurance will commonly cover any losses incurred because of a collision. To what extent the vehicles are covered will depend on the level of insurance obtained. Your employees and volunteers would typically be covered under the liability insurance if they are at fault.
Workers’ Compensation
In some states, such as NJ, all organizations are required to have a workers compensation insurance policy in place if you have at least one person being paid to carry out work. This type of policy is there to protect both the employer and the employee, and to cover any losses that result from an injury in the workplace.
In the unfortunate case of an injury, there may be medical expenses, compensation, and financial losses in the form of lost earnings that are incurred. The policy will protect you against a lawsuit and provide your employees with what they need to move forward.
Commercial Umbrella Policy
A commercial umbrella policy is an excellent addition to your current policies, as it is only activated if you have exceeded the limits of an existing policy that you have. In the unfortunate event that you are involved in a significantly large liability loss, this policy will help you bridge the gap by providing your organization with additional policy limits.
Purchasing Insurance for Your Nonprofit Organization
These are just some of the most common insurance policies that are important for nonprofit organizations. Every organization will be unique with what policies they require and each insurance policy will have its own criteria, which it covers. It is important to speak to an insurance broker who can help you protect your organization and provide you with relevant and specialist advice.
8 Tips on Choosing an Insurance Provider for Restaurants
Did you know that 75% of all businesses are underinsured? This can leave vulnerable establishments open to all sorts of serious losses in the event of an unforeseen situation. Restaurants, in particular, are especially prone to these types of uninsured losses. There are many potential threats that a restaurant faces every day, from property damage to food contamination.
For these reasons, restaurant owners need to find an insurance provider that can protect them from these unexpected expenses. Unfortunately, finding the right provider is easier said than done.
That’s why we made this list of tips to keep in mind when looking for insurance companies for your business. That way, you know you’ve made the right decision.
Eight Things To Keep in Mind When Choosing a Restaurant Insurance Provider
It’s a sad fact that many insurance providers don’t have their client's best interests in mind. Many can’t even pay when a serious loss occurs. So how do you prevent this from happening?
You can start by following these eight tips when looking for restaurant insurance.
1. Ask Around Your Network
Before you hop online to find an insurance provider for your restaurant, consider asking around your networks. Friends, acquaintances, and even family members might have some suggestions about who you should pick, and who you should avoid.
If you know any other restaurant owners in the area, then ask what insurance provider they go through, if any. This can help provide you with some leads to follow vs having to trust a stranger's word on the internet.
2. Is the Insurance Provider Accredited and Financially Stable?
An insurance company needs to be accredited by the government. This makes sure that they follow rules and regulations. For example, certifications like those provided by the NAIC Accreditation Program are typically a good sign that you can rely on the insurance company.
You should also make sure that the company is financially stable. This is important if you ever go through an emergency that requires payout on your policy.
You can typically ask for an insurance provider’s financial statements if you want to learn more about this.
3. Make Sure Your Provider Offers Common Types of Insurance Coverages
At a bare minimum, you should at least consider getting property insurance and general liability insurance. These will help protect you from damage to your property, or unexpected injuries that occur in your restaurant.
However, these are far from the only types of restaurant insurance to consider. Depending on your needs and budget, try to take on a lot more if you want to cover your bases.
If you want to learn more about the different types of restaurant insurance, check out our guide here.
4. Do They Also Offer Additional Protection?
If you can afford it, then additional protection helps you deal with more specialized threats. For example, loss of business insurance provides some extra help if you experience a sudden drop in sales. Food contamination insurance can help replace all the contaminated food in the event of a power outage.
And, specific peril insurance can help protect against things not covered by general liability, like certain natural disasters. This type of additional protection helps fill in any weak spots in your insurance policy.
5. Does Your Restaurant Serve Liquor?
If you have a liquor license for your restaurant, then you will likely need a liquor liability policy. Many states require that restaurants have one. However, even if you don't, it’s still a good idea to have it.
This policy protects you from potential drunken customers that drink too much and cause damage. Which, depending on the location and clientele of your restaurant, can be essential for any owner.
6. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask About Price
Don’t be scared to ask your insurance provider about how much their policies cost. A good provider will be able to work with you to fit your budget needs. They’ll do this by providing multiple options at affordable prices.
Ideally, you want to find the right balance of coverage with affordability. If the provider doesn’t offer you enough options, then try to keep shopping around. It can take multiple quotes before you find the perfect policy for your needs.
7. Read Online Reviews
It’s important to see what other clients think of this insurance provider. Online reviews are a good place to start. See whether the reviews are generally positive or negative.
A lot of positive reviews is a good sign. Just take the occasional negative review with a grain of salt. After all, you don’t know the person writing it. However, a lot of negative reviews is a clear sign that the company might not be for you.
8. Try Testing Their Customer Service
Quote shopping is also a good way to test out a provider’s customer service. Good customer service is crucial when you’re trying to receive payments promptly. You should try to gauge whether they’re professional and fast in this manner.
Try getting in touch with customer service and asking questions. If they respond in a quick and informative way, then it’s a good sign that you can trust them.
Need Restaurant Insurance In NJ? Contact Harrah & Associates, Inc.
We hope this article helped you learn some tips when searching for a restaurant insurance provider. If you live in the NJ area and still aren’t sure where to start, then consider Harrah & Associates, Inc. For over six decades we’ve been serving the community with the protection they deserve by working with a wide network of insurance providers.
That way, we can provide you with coverage for your business that’s both affordable and comprehensive. If you want to find out more about how we can help your restaurant, then contact us today.
7 Workers' Compensation Claim Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
There are an average of three million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses that occur at places of work every year. Most of the workers involved in those incidents are entitled to workers' compensation benefits.
In order to receive the benefits that you deserve, though, you need to ensure that you accurately file a workers' compensation claim. Taking too long to file the claim and not adequately documenting the incident are just two examples of mistakes that could hinder the process and result in you not receiving benefits.
If you're interested in knowing the most common workers' compensation claims and how to avoid them, keep reading.
1. Failing to Report Your Accident as Soon as Possible
One of the biggest and most common mistakes is not submitting claims on time. This is a mistake that will cost you money and a lot of headaches in the long run.
If you want a chance at receiving benefits and compensation, then you need to report the incident to your employer as soon as possible. It shouldn't take you longer than five days to report it.
A verbal report won't cut it. You need to give a written report.
The written report should be truthful, detailing the extent of your injuries and the events that preceded the incident. This way, the insurance company will find it difficult to poke holes in your story and find inconsistencies to use against you.
Reporting workplace accidents immediately after they occur is the best way to avoid this.
2. Not Adequately Documenting the Details
When an incident occurs at work that results in an injury, it's vital that you collect as much evidence and proof as possible. If you don't document the incident, then it is simply your word against the insurance company.
Ask all the important questions — who, what, when, where, how much, and what else? Take photos when the incident occurs, get reports from any eye-witnesses, and ask them to sign their statements. Every bit of evidence that you can secure will help immensely when making your claim.
Keep detailed notes of everything that occurs following the incident, too. If possible, ask for urgent care or emergency room reports, too. Compile a dossier of important workers' comp documents to help your case.
3. Not Hiring an Experienced Workers' Comp Lawyer
Attempting to secure compensation benefits from a workers’ comp claim can be a complex and lengthy process. If you hope to receive the best compensation possible, then hiring a workers’ comp lawyer is a must.
You simply don’t have the legal know-how and expertise of the ins and outs of the workers’ comp system. It’s not a simple and straightforward process and without a lawyer, you may receive subpar benefits, if any.
Most workers’ comp lawyers charge on a contingency basis, so don’t make the mistake of not hiring an attorney because you’re worried about fees. You’ll only need to pay them once they’ve secured a settlement for you.
4. Not Explaining Your Injury in Detail to Healthcare Providers
The workers’ compensation benefits that you will be entitled to are very much based on your medical records and the accident report made at your place of work.
If a dispute arises and the insurance company attempts to contest the claim, one of the first places they’ll look is at your medical records. So too will a judge when making their decision about the claim.
This is why it is so important to fully explain your injury to the medical provider that you see — especially if they are appointed by the insurance company.
5. Not Getting a Second Opinion
When you’re injured at work, you have to visit the doctor that is appointed by your employer. However, if you have your own doctor that you visit when sick or injured, seek their expertise, too.
Your doctor knows you and your medical history and will give you better medical counsel. Your doctor’s opinion, especially if it contradicts the employer-appointed doctor, will be important in securing compensation.
6. Ignoring Doctor's Orders
If you don’t adequately follow your doctor’s orders your claim will seem disingenuous. This means that you should never miss a doctor’s appointment or rehabilitation session, and you need to adhere to the recovery routine that they have set out for you.
Workers’ compensation benefits are in place to assist injured workers as they recover. If you are disrupting your own healing process, your claim may be denied or your benefits discontinued.
If you disagree with your doctor’s orders, don’t simply ignore them. There are official steps you can take with the help of an attorney to ensure that you’re still in bounds to receive benefits on different terms that better suit you.
7. Going Back to Work Too Soon
Every day that you’re not at work it costs the insurance company money. It makes sense for that reason that the insurance company will attempt to pressure your employer to find work for you.
This may be work that isn’t in your job description, such as simple labor, to keep you busy just so that you’re back at work and the insurance company can decrease your benefits.
You should request a job description of your job from your employer. Then, ask your doctor to review the job description and advise whether you are capable to undertake the duties according to your injury and recovery.
Make Sure You Get the Most Out of Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
It’s important that when you make a workers’ compensation claim, you don’t become a victim because of silly mistakes that could have been avoided. Ensure that you file the claim as soon as possible and hire a workers’ comp attorney to support and advise you throughout the proceedings.
It’s important to file an accurate and timely claim. If you need help with your workers’ compensation claim, we’re here to assist you — get in touch with us today.
A Beginner's Guide to Group Health Insurance
In 2019, there were almost 29 million uninsured Americans. Many companies say they can't afford health insurance for their employees. If you are looking for affordable options for health insurance for you and your employees, group health insurance is a great option!
Keep reading to learn more about what group health insurance is, the benefits of group health insurance, and more!
What Is Group Health Insurance?
Group health insurance offers insurance plans for larger groups of people. This can be any type of group but is most often consisting of employees in a company. Rather than having individual plans, group health insurance plans offer full-time employees benefits.
There are many benefits that come from using this type of insurance for employees. These types of plans are common in the United States and Canada
How Does It Work?
To start a group insurance plan, your company or organization will choose a plan that works for them. Employees and group members are not required to join, but they have the option to accept or decline coverage.
In many cases, you can also choose a plan with coverage for your dependents! While it may seem too expensive to get a group health insurance plan, it actually often costs less. Because there are so many people who use the plan, it makes it a more affordable plan.
Benefits of Group Health Insurance
There are many reasons why you should consider getting or joining a group health insurance plan. Here are the top group health insurance benefits.
It Is Easy to Be Accepted
As mentioned before, there are millions of people in the United States that have no health insurance coverage. Many times, people with chronic illnesses or medical issues are not able to get coverage. Their medical issues make them a risk for insurance companies to accept and to cover.
However, it is easy to get accepted to a group health insurance plan. The plan will apply to anyone in the group and it doesn't even require a physical exam or a medical history. So, this is a great option for people who have pre-existing conditions, who are at higher risk, and for those who have struggled to get insurance coverage.
Lower Costs
If you are considering getting a group health insurance plan for your employees, one of the main benefits is that the cost of insurance is less than your typical insurance plans. Because there are so many people in a group, the risk is spread among all group members. This makes it less expensive.
Another reason why it is less expensive to use a group health insurance plan is that the cost is spread between the whole group. Group members will all contribute to the total premium cost.
Because group health insurance is less expensive than individual insurance plans, it is a great and affordable option for you and your employees!
Tax Benefits
Not only do group health insurance plans cost less upfront, but they also are often tax deductible. When you are filing your taxes, you can save even more money.
Before you file your taxes, research the available tax deductions and options that will allow you to save money on your taxes.
Happier Employees
Finally, one of the biggest benefits of having a good health insurance policy for your employees is that they will be happier and more productive. In fact, a study by Oxford showed that workers that are happy are 13% more productive.
If you provide good benefits for your employees, you will see a return on productivity levels in your workplace.
Types of Health Insurance for Employees
There are many types of health insurance that you can consider for your employees. Depending on the type of insurance and the plan you choose, the quality and price of the plan will differ.
Here are the most common types of health insurance for employees.
HMO
HMO plans are also known as health maintenance organizations. In this type of plan, your employees choose a primary care provider from in-network providers. With this type of plan, the costs of your plan are lower and more predictable.
Copays and deductibles in HMO insurance plans are often lower. This is a great option for health insurance if you are looking to cut costs!
PPO
PPO plans are also known as preferred provider organizations. In this type of plan, you don't need to choose a primary care provider. You can choose the doctors that you want to see.
If you choose a doctor within the network, you get a higher level of coverage, but you can still choose doctors out of your network.
EPO
An EPO plan is also known as an exclusive provider organization. It is a mixture of both HMO and PPO plans.
Just like with a PPO plan, you don't need to choose a primary care provider. However, you might not be covered if you choose a doctor outside of the network.
Find a Reliable Insurance Provider Today!
Group health insurance is a great option for any size company and offers many benefits to business leaders and employees. Finding a reliable insurance provider is necessary if you want to get the best plan possible for your company.
If you are ready to get a group insurance policy today, Harrah & Associates, Inc. can help! Our company has been in business since 1955 and we tailor insurance programs to meet the needs and budgets of our clients. Contact our team today to learn more about our policies if you are looking for insurance in New Jersey!
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for a Business Owner's Policy?
If you run a small business and are looking for insurance coverage, you should consider getting a business owner's policy (BOP). This is an insurance package that comes with both commercial property insurance and general liability insurance.
Because of its relatively low price and wide-ranging coverage, insurance agents usually recommend this policy. However, not all companies will be eligible.
So, what are the eligibility requirements for a business owner's policy? And is a BOP right for your company? We're glad you asked.
Keep reading and we will walk you through everything to know!
Is Your Company Eligible for a BOP?
Your company's eligibility for a BOP will mainly depend on how risky it is to insure your company. Small businesses that are operating in low-risk industries have the best chances of getting approved because there is less likelihood for claims.
If your company meets the following guidelines, it could very well qualify for a BOP.
First, your company must employ less than 100 people and you need to have a small office or a commercial space. You also need to bring in less than $1 million in yearly revenue and you need to have less than one year of business interruption insurance.
What if Your Company Employs More Than 100 People?
If your company employs more than 100 people, then you probably do not meet the business owner’s policy qualifications. Depending on the company's yearly revenue, you may be able to get approved if your payroll is slightly more than 100.
A lot of companies that employ more than 100 people tend to be considered medium-sized businesses. These kinds of companies would need to buy policies separately.
What Protection Does a BOP Provide?
The leasing company that owns your office space might want to make sure that your company has general liability insurance. You might also have a customer who wants to include liability protection in the terms of a contract.
If your company meets the qualifications for a business owner's policy then it is a good idea to purchase the policy. Even when it is not required, your company will benefit from the policy's protection against common business lawsuits and losses.
General Liability Insurance
General liability insurance is going to cover situations like customer property damage, advertising injuries, and customer injuries. It can help small businesses avoid bankruptcy and pay legal fees during a lawsuit.
If you want to rent commercial office space or sign new clients, then you can also benefit from having general liability coverage.
Commercial Property Insurance
Commercial property insurance protects your business property and your place of work. For example, if your office space gets damaged by fire then your commercial property insurance will help you replace damaged furniture, supplies, and equipment.
This kind of insurance coverage will also cover theft of your company's property.
Why Is a Business Owner’s Policy Important?
It is important to have a BOP because it can save you a lot of money in the long run. If your company needs to file a claim, then insurance is going to help you cover the costs.
Depending on your coverage limits and deductible, a claim that could otherwise cost you thousands of dollars will only cost you a few hundred.
If you don't have insurance, then you would need to pay for the losses on your own. Having just one expensive claim could put your uninsured company into debt.
If your business meets the requirements for a business owner's policy then this would be a smart investment for your company's future.
What Should You Look for in a Business Owner’s Policy?
If your business is eligible for a BOP then you want to make sure that you understand your options and get the proper amount of coverage. If you need to file a claim, then you want to make sure that insurance money is going to cover most of the loss.
Before you get a policy it is important that you consider endorsements and look at your policy limits.
Your business owner’s policy is going to have policy limits. This is the maximum amount of money that your insurance provider will pay for a covered loss.
Most policies have low coverage limits, which is why they are best suited for small businesses. When you purchase a BOP, you get to set the coverage limits.
It is important to make sure that your general liability insurance can cover the cost of a lawsuit, such as court costs and lawyer's fees. When it comes to commercial property insurance, set the limit to match the total value of your company's property.
An endorsement is an add-on policy that you can buy to give yourself more coverage for a certain situation. For example, a tech company might benefit from getting cyber liability insurance so that they can protect against data hacks.
Are You Eligible for a Business Owner's Policy?
Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now have a better idea of how eligible your company is for a business owner's policy. As we can see, a business owner's policy can be very helpful for a small business that is looking to protect themselves while saving costs. Of course, it's important that you speak with your insurance agent to make sure that you know about all of your available options.
Are you interested in acquiring business insurance for your company? If you are, then contact us today and see what we can do for you!
