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PROFESSIONAL AND MANAGEMENT LIABILITY

WHAT IS PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE?

Professional liability insurance is designed to provide protection to individuals and companies against the expenses associated with defending a lawsuit that accuses them of negligence, malpractice, or misrepresentation. This type of insurance becomes crucial for those who offer services or advice in exchange for a fee, as general liability insurance policies do not typically cover claims of this nature. Depending on the specific profession, professional liability insurance may be referred to by different names, such as malpractice insurance or errors and omissions (E&O) insurance.

In recent years, the number of liability lawsuits targeting professionals has seen a rise. Professionals across various industries face the risk of being sued, whether the allegations are valid or baseless. Such lawsuits can have severe financial consequences, leading to potential ruin both professionally and personally, including the loss of assets such as homes, cars, and careers. Professional liability insurance helps alleviate the financial burden associated with these events.

WHO BENEFITS FROM PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE?

Professional liability insurance is advantageous for any individual or business that offers services, expertise, or advice to clients in exchange for a fee. Regardless of having competent employees and implementing risk management practices, errors and mistakes can still occur. A general liability policy might not provide coverage for these potential mistakes. Thus, having professional liability insurance becomes crucial as it safeguards your business and its financial stability in the event of such circumstances.

WHAT TYPES OF COVERAGE ARE OFFERED?

WHAT IS ERRORS AND OMISSIONS INSURANCE?

Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance offers protection to businesses or individuals in cases where they are held accountable for a service provided or the failure to provide a service that did not yield the expected results. This type of insurance is commonly referred to as malpractice insurance for medical professionals like doctors and dentists, while professionals such as lawyers, accountants, or engineers may know it as professional liability insurance. Regardless of its name, E&O insurance covers errors or omissions that either the insured party has made or that the client perceives them to have made.

In recent years, there has been an increase in liability lawsuits targeting professionals, putting many at risk of being sued. Small companies can face financial ruin due to the costs associated with lawsuits, while even large companies may experience negative impacts on their financial performance. An E&O policy provides coverage for legal fees and settlements in such situations, regardless of fault.

WHO BENEFITS FROM ERRORS AND OMISSIONS INSURANCE?

Any business that provides services for a fee has exposure to E&O risks. Have you considered the potential consequences if your services are performed incorrectly or not delivered on time? Even with competent employees and risk management practices in place, mistakes can still occur. A general liability policy might not offer coverage for these types of mistakes. Errors and omissions insurance steps in to protect your business and its financial well-being if such an event arises.

It’s important to note that there is no standard E&O policy. We will assess your business to determine its specific exposures and assist you in obtaining the appropriate coverage tailored to your needs.

WHAT IS EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES LIABILITY?

Employment Practices Liability (EPL) refers to a type of insurance coverage that protects businesses against claims made by employees regarding employment-related issues.

It is a policy used to cover your risks due to some of the most common employment-related lawsuits, including:

  • Sexual harassment
  • Discrimination
  • Wrongful termination
  • Breach of employment contract
  • Negligent evaluation
  • Failure to employ or promote
  • Wrongful discipline
  • Deprivation of career opportunity
  • Wrongful infliction of emotional distress
  • Mismanagement of employee benefit plans

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES LIABILITY?

Employment practices liability insurance is designed to offer essential resources for defending your company against lawsuits and covering the costs of claims. These claims can arise from various aspects of the employment process, such as recruitment practices, employment applications, job offers, employee orientation, annual performance reviews, enforcement of policies, termination, or inadequate documentation of any of these procedures. By having employment practices liability insurance in place, your company gains the necessary support to handle legal challenges and potential financial liabilities associated with these claims.

WHAT IS DIRECTORS & OFFICERS LIABILITY INSURANCE?

The directors and officers of a firm are protected against lawsuits by directors and officers liability insurance. The coverage, also referred to as D & O Insurance, guards against claims of wrongdoing while executives are operating on behalf of their companies. Misstatements, inaccuracies, violations of duty, and other wrongdoings are examples of wrongdoings. For businesses having a corporate board or advisory group, directors & officers liability insurance is advised. If this safeguard isn’t in place, a lot of investors and board members might decline to participate.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DIRECTORS & OFFICERS LIABILITY INSURANCE?

A company and its directors may be sued by its customers, stockholders, and employees. Whether justified or baseless, the ensuing legal costs and reputational harm can be significant. Directors and officials may be held liable for a company’s actions, endangering their personal assets. Companies and their officers are shielded from legal action due to claims of wrongdoing by directors and officers liability insurance.

WHAT IS CYBER LIABILITY INSURANCE?

Customers’ sensitive data stored on company servers and in the cloud is open to hacker and other online criminal activities. Most individuals believe that major organizations are the only ones at risk from cyberattacks. However, there is a risk to all companies that employ computers that are connected to the Internet.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CYBER LIABILITY INSURANCE?

More than one-third of businesses experience a data breach each year. If a similar event happened at your business, would you be able to pay for the resulting damages?

Many cyber liability policies cover a variety of expenses associated with a cyber attack:

  • First & Third Party Network Security/Privacy Coverage
  • Breach Notification
  • Credit Monitoring Service Costs
  • PCI Fines and Penalties Coverage
  • Computer Forensic Costs
  • Crisis Management and Public Relations Costs
  • Regulatory Defense and Penalties Coverage
  • Cyber Extortion
  • Unauthorized Access
  • Media Coverage
  • Malicious Coding
  • Intellectual Property
  • Denial/Loss of Service Attacks
  • Copyright, Trademark Infringements
  • Cyber Theft
  • Data Restoration
  • Disclosure of Information
  • Privacy Breach Response Services
  • Consumer Redress Coverage
  • Social Engineering
  • First Party Business Interruption

 

A general liability policy often excludes losses incurred because of the Internet. A cyber liability policy can fill in that gap. It may be the difference between closing your business and making a comeback.