Top 10 Small Business Property and Liability Insurance Claims

April 24, 2019||inBusiness Insurance|auto accident, bodily injury coverage, burglary, business insurance, fire safety, liability insurance, property damage, water damage

According to an analysis of Hartford’s small business claims, four out of 10 small businesses will likely experience a property or general liability claim in the next ten years. Topping the list for the most common claims are burglary and theft. However, the most costly claim for a small business is reputational harm, which includes libel, slander, and violation of privacy.

Small Business Owner
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“An unexpected event happens more often than many small business owners realize,” said Stephanie Bush, senior vice president of Small Commercial insurance at The Hartford. It is essential that small business owners work with a local independent agent to find the right coverage to protect them at various stages of their business and minimize the impact of a potential claim.”

What the Stats Show

Based on a five-year analysis of data from more than one million property and liability policies1, burglary and theft impacted 20 percent of small business owners in the past five years1. The information outlined in this release is based on a five-year analysis of claims data (2010-2014) from more than one million of The Hartford Business Owner’s policies. However, burglary and theft ranked lowest out of the top 10 most costly claims, averaging $8,000, compared to reputational harm claims, which cost $50,000 on average.

A claim payout on a reputational harm claim, covered through a general liability policy, can run much higher if a lawsuit is involved. A lawsuit involving a general liability claim can average more than $75,000 per case to defend and settle. Based on The Hartford’s claims history, 35 percent of all general liability claims result in a lawsuit.

Fire claims are among the top five most common and costly claims. The average cost for a fire claim is $35,000, and they have impacted 10 percent of small business owners in the past five years.

Top 10 Property & Liability Claims

most common most costly
burglary & theft (20%) reputational harm ($50,000)
water & freezing damage (15%) vehicle accident3 ($45,000)
wind & hail damage6 (15%) fire ($35,000)
fire (10%) product liability4 ($35,000)
customer slip and fall (10%) customer injury or damage5 ($30,000)
customer injury and damage (<5%) wind & hail damage ($26,000)
product liability (<5%) customer slip and fall ($20,000)
struck by object (<5%) water & freezing damage ($17,000)
reputational harm (<5%) struck by object ($10,000)
vehicle accident (<5%) burglary & theft ($8,000)

What Businesses Can Do to Protect Themselves

 “A small business owner can take steps to avoid these types of claims,” said John Kinney, chief claim officer at The Hartford. “By making simple modifications to operating procedures or following a few safety tips, a business can be better positioned to prevent accidents and property damage.”

Burglary and Theft:

  • Conduct background checks.
  • Have adequate devices installed to control unauthorized entry into your business.
  • Install fencing and gates around the building and parking areas.
  • Ensure adequate exterior and interior lighting.

Water and Freezing Damage:

  • Maintain proper indoor temperature during freezing weather, even when away.
  • Clear roofs and overhangs of excessive snow and ice if possible.
  • Ensure that key personnel know the location of water shut-off valves.

Wind and Hail Damage:

  • Treat and maintain trees.
  • Protect windows from flying debris.
  • Walk the grounds; move objects inside that could become projectiles in high winds.
  • Anchor any equipment stored outside that could be moved by high winds.

Fire:

  • Establish or update an emergency preparedness plan.
  • Plan fire evacuation routes, mark them clearly, and drill employees into using them.
  • Test all fire and life safety detection and suppression equipment per local and national fire codes.

Reputational Harm:

  • Avoid criticizing a competitor publicly or to customers.
  • Be sure to have permission to post photos or other content on your website to avoid copyright infringement.

Vehicle Accidents:

  • Screen employee driving records before allowing them to use their car for business purposes.
  • Do not provide incentives to drivers for speedy deliveries.

Source: Insurance Journal

Source: The Hartford

The information outlined in this release is based on a five year analysis of claims data (2010-2014) from more than one million of The Hartford Business Owner’s policies.

Reputational harm claims include financial damages resulting from libel, slander, defamation of products or services, or privacy violations.

Vehicle accidents include accidents involving employees of small business owners who use their vehicles for business purposes. Average costs can be higher if a lawsuit is involved.
Product liability insurance may apply to injury or damage from using a covered product.
Customer injury and damage covers damage to the customer’s property and injury to the customer caused by the insured small business owner.
The wind/hail claims generally involve structural damage, primarily to roofing or signage.

Top 10 Small Business Property and Liability Insurance Claims Info Image

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