Commercial Lines Claims Consulting - GCL

To be considered legally liable for an accident that caused injuries or damages, it is necessary to establish negligence, as a lack of prudent and reasonable care - essentially that there was a breach of the duty of care owed to others – which led to the cause of the accident.

For instance, a lack of maintenance on machinery and work equipment, as well as poorly lit work areas, or unsafe work conditions, can lead to unnecessary accidents.

However, if your operations are complying with safety regulations, and your premises are well maintained, if a claim is filed against your business operations, do your research and determine:

a) How could the accident have been prevented?

b) What did you do wrong to have caused or contributed to the cause of the loss?

As in the case of the overturned forklift in this illustration, it is very possible that damage could result to the container and its contents, which could be a customer’s product and material. It must be determined:

a) Was it operator negligence?

b) Was it equipment failure?

The idea is to try to establish a defense position for the claims filed against you.

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Claims Consulting for Workers Compensation Claims

Workers Compensation covers medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs for Employees who are injured or become ill while on the job.

Some of the factors considered in determining the Premium costs for this Coverage include the number of employees in the company, the type of industry, state regulations, and the payroll managed.

Each year, each company that contracts Workers Compensation Insurance is assigned a rating factor, a safety measure, referred to as an Experience Modification Rate. It is a numerical representation of its claims history, compared to other companies of similar size in the same industry.

Initially, a 1.0 rating is assigned, and in subsequent years, a reduction may be assigned to its Mod. In the case of no claims, it may be reflected as a reduction in the Premium cost, otherwise an increase may occur in the case of reported accidents (impacting the Premium).

Make sure your company has clear safety rules and that your employees respect them.

Contrary to popular belief, the acceptance of a claim to be considered as Compensable, under Workers Compensation is not automatic. For an accident to qualify under this coverage, 2 conditions must be absolutely met:

a) That the injury occurred during work hours and

b) That it was a direct or indirect result of work operations.

If one of your employees has suffered an accident at work, as a result of your company's operations, assume your responsibility as an owner and give your employee the assurance that everything will be fine, that his job is safe, and make sure he receives the necessary medical attention. It is your moral obligation to ensure his well-being.

Immediately after, assign a work team, led by you, and do a thorough investigation to determine the direct and indirect cause of the accident, and how future incidents can be prevented. Record this in a Control and Safety log.

Remember that it is your moral and legal obligation for your company to comply with the safety standards established for your industry in your area.

Finally, consider that employees are the most important resource of a company - but Employee Insurance is not a Coverage to be used as a Medical Plan or Major Medical Insurance.

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Pets Are a Risk…Home Insurance Can Protect You Against a Claim. Let us Explain!

According to the Dog Bite Strict Liability Act, dog owners are responsible for covering damages caused to third parties.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 4.5 million dog bite incidents occur in the United States each year.

Do you have a dog? Do you have Home or Renter's Insurance? Remember that these Policies include General Liability Coverage, which provides protection for damages that your pet may cause to others.

Remember that Pet Insurance is not to cover damages caused by pets. For information, a Renter's Policy starts at $19 USD per month, and you will have peace of mind.

Now, in the event that you or a loved one suffers injuries from an accident or a dog bite, we can support you and represent your personal interests.

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Have you been in an accident? Don't accept responsibility. We can help you!

In the United States, an average of 14,386 car accidents occur every day. Accidents are very stressful and disrupt the lives of everyone involved. And it doesn't matter if it was your fault or someone else's, the emotional impact is the same for everyone.

If you are involved in an accident, consider the following points, which can help you a lot in the subsequent handling of the case. And if you were injured, you have recovery rights which we can support you with.

Before reporting the case to your Insurer, you should take note of the following:

a) Ensure the well-being of yourself and the occupants of your vehicle. Notify the authorities;

b) At the scene of the accident, take photos, but do so with common sense: Photos of the point of impact of each unit, and try to capture the license plates of each unit as verification of them;

c) Photos from a distance showing the cars at their resting point, vs. the point of impact (for example, if the crash was inside the intersection, but the units ended up on the sidewalk);

d) When the Authorities show up, cooperate with them and do not accept responsibility;

e) Photos of the intersection – are there traffic lights, and what type of traffic control exists? Are the signs visible or are there obstructions? Are there cameras? Witnesses? Etc.

f) Remember that your Insurer is there to support you, based on the conditions and coverage of your insurance;

g) You have the obligation to report the accident as soon as possible;

h) If you have full coverage, your Insurance will cover your damages regardless of who was at fault. And even if it was not your fault, you will be paid less the corresponding Deductible;

i) You can choose the repair shop and repair option - you do not have to accept the one indicated by the Insurer;

j) If you were hit and the responsible party fled the scene, don’t expect the Insurance Company to assign an investigator to look for him, it will be up to them if they wish to pursue;

Finally, in case you or a loved one suffers injuries due to a car accident, or if the other driver does not have insurance, or fled the scene, and you were not at fault, we can help you with the claim process, repairs to your car, and above all, represent your interests for the injuries and personal damages suffered.

Before Reporting the Accident, consult with us…

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Commercial and Construction Bonds Consulting

Surety Bonds provide protection to contractors and serve as a form of payment guarantee to intended beneficiaries in the event that the contractor fails to fulfill its contract.

Commercial and Construction Bonds

This type of Bond is also known as Contract Bonds. They serve as a guarantee that the Contractor will comply with the specifications established under the construction contract, which will cover payments to the named subcontractors, and to the named material distribution companies.

Performance Bonds

They serve as a guarantee of total or partial compliance with the obligations stipulated under a work order or services contract.

Maintenance Bonds

This type of bond protects the property owner or land owner from costs that may arise to remedy or correct errors or defects related to a completed construction project or work.

Payment Bond

They serve as a guarantee of payment and to cover agreements and conditions stipulated under contracts, such as in the case of leasing a property or extended credits.

License and Permit Bond

It is a General Bond required by the Municipalities of the State that issued the License and Permits that serves to guarantee and protect the community and consumers from damages caused by the work of contractors.

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