Why Is General Liability For Contractors Needed? Find Here!

Posted on April 30, 2021May 4, 2021 by BGESGroup

The first and the fact thing is that the general liability for contractors is significant in several ways. The primitive reason behind having contract insurance is that they are accountable for any accident in the business line. We BGES Group Insurance offers you all types of insurance, including personal and professional. We offer you a 50% less fee than the other insurance. You can also see that we successfully help clients to get their claims entirely with us.

In the construction industry, we suggest you take liability insurance due to the nature of the business. It would help you to cover losses. By having a great agency like us, you will get several benefits like lowering the price to start up a new business or taking a new car or anything else. Slacken high experience modification factors, Audit disputes, eliminate or reduce renewal deposits, reduce 10% policy fee, cover multiple states under one policy, etc.

General Liability For Contractors; Why It Is Needed:-

Whenever you start a new setup for your business, many things can worry you, like natural damages, etc. So to resolve these issues, we suggest you take liability insurance to ensure yourself that your business is under insurance and you can recover your losses if any. There are also more concerns about taking insurance for the business. So, know what they are:

You are fully protected:- We offer you contract liability insurance for the business protection and yours. It is for the business owner who doesn’t want to be stuck in an accident or miscalculation bill. And the main thing, many construction contractors are not able to afford to pay the expense of devastation. Liability insurance assured you all the assets are protected on the job site or whenever any mishap occurs.
We help you win bids:- In any construction business, it is important for the contractor to position themselves from a competitive standpoint. Until the contractor doesn’t plan this strategy, then they lack to achieve their goal. So we also suggest to you how you can compete yourself one step ahead of others. Contractors insurance services help you to win bids.
We potentially understand your business plan and suggest to you all the possible ways to win bids. We disclose all the things with you, like your insurance limits, that help you reach the clients for more bids.
Mandatory by law:- Construction is somehow a business sector; that’s why it needed legal constraints around having liability insurance. So for the construction contractor, the things matter is mandated by law, not for preference.

Having liability insurance is required because it covers more than just the customer’s damage on the job site due to safety issues or accidents/ mishaps. So, if you are confused about choosing the best agency for contractor insurance, you can search for contractors’ insurance near me to reach us.

Final Thoughts! This blog describes how we are able to offer one of the optimal general liability for contractors. We cover all the damage on the job site in this Insurance, like an accident, miscommunication, customer safety, etc. We hope this above write-up helps you to understand how liability insurance is important for the contractor. If you wish to know more details about it, visit the website BGES Group Insurance.

Identify, Eliminate Slip, Trip and Fall Hazards

Posted on April 29, 2021April 29, 2021 by BGESGroup

While big-ticket and dramatic workers’ comp claims make headlines, the reality is that the more run-of-the-mill injuries are the ones that end up costing employers the most.

That is especially true for slips, trips and falls and related injuries, which can often turn out to be the most expensive workers’ compensation claim an employer experiences.

Slip, trip and fall claims account for nearly one-quarter of all workers’ comp claims and some 300,000 workplace injuries every year, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance. Slips, trips and falls also account for nearly 1,000 workplace deaths annually.

While the average cost of a slip, trip and fall claim was $47,516 in 2018, according to the most recent statistics available from the National Safety Council, there are a number of hidden costs to employers as well.

These include lost productivity, the cost of additional overtime for workers that cover for their injured colleague, and hiring and training a replacement for when the worker is mending.Also, the cost of one claim can send your company’s X-Mod higher.

With these grim statistics in mind, it should be a priority for your company to do all it can to minimize these expensive and easily avoidable claims.

High-risk areas for slips, trips and falls include:

Where floors can become wet or oily
Slippery or uneven external grounds
Sloping surfaces
Work areas where lifting and carrying, pushing and pulling tasks are performed
Areas where the pace of work causes people to walk quickly
High pedestrian traffic areas
Constantly changing worksites, such as building projects
Unfamiliar locations, client sites
Accident locations that have not been secured and cleaned up.

To minimize the likelihood of a slip, trip or fall in your workplace, follow these important tips:

Immediately clean up any water or grease — the leading causes of slips — on floors.
Install slip-resistant flooring (with a 0.50 or greater coefficient of friction) with deep profiles for draining wet areas.
Require staff to wear slip-resistant shoes in areas where conditions increase the slipperiness of floors, such as kitchens.
Make sure that you keep floors clean and uncluttered of items that people can trip over.
Fix damaged or uneven floors and steps.
Pay attention to your cords, leads and cables and make sure they are not in any area where someone would walk.
Ensure that there is adequate lighting in work areas, stairs and passageways, as well as in sidewalk and parking areas.
Prepare for adverse weather conditions such as ice, snow and rain by using walk-off mats at all entrances and a good supply of walkway cleaning supplies.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits; 9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

Federal Paid Sick Leave Legislation Introduced

Posted on April 29, 2021April 29, 2021 by BGESGroup

Two U.S. senators have introduced legislation that would require employers around the country with 15 or more workers to provide up to seven days of paid sick leave annually to their staff.

The effort is part of a rumble that started at the state level, where a handful of states have enacted paid sick leave laws. The issue has gained traction during the pandemic, which has shined a spotlight on leave policies that left many employees forced to choose between their health and going to work because they could not afford to take time off.

The bill’s author — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) — noted in the legislation that 29% of the private sector workforce and 9% of the public sector workforce lack paid sick time.

“Working people without paid sick days are more likely to go to work sick and delay or forgo needed health care,” the bill states “A 2016 study in the journal Health Affairs found that working adults without paid sick days are 3 times more likely to forgo medical care for themselves, and 1.6 times more likely to forgo medical care for their family, compared to

working adults with paid sick days.”

The key elements

Here are the nuts and bolts of the bill:

It applies to employers with 15 or more workers.
It requires employers to let full-time employees earn up to 56 hours of paid sick time, including paid time for family care. Employers can choose to provide more than that, but not less.
It requires employers to provide one hour of earned paid sick time for every 30 hours worked.
It requires employers with fewer than 15 workers that opt not to offer paid sick leave to provide up to 56 hours of unpaid sick leave during the course of a year to each full-time worker. This provision is treated in all respects as the provision for paid sick leave, but with no pay.
Employers must carry over any unused paid sick time earned from one year to the next.
Employees will begin to earn paid sick time when they start a new job and will be eligible to take paid sick time starting on the 60thcalendar day after their first day on the clock. After that 60th calendar day, the employee may use the paid sick time as the time is earned.
Employers may “loan” paid sick time to an employee to use before their 60thday of employment.
The law would not require employers that already provide up at least 56 hours of paid sick leave a year to provide additional paid sick leave.

Under the legislation, a worker could take paid sick leave for:

An absence resulting from a physical or mental illness, injury or medical condition.
An absence resulting from obtaining professional medical diagnosis or care, or preventative medical care.
An absence for the purpose of caring for a child, parent, spouse, domestic partner or any other individual who they have a relationship with, or to attend a school meeting for their child.
An absence resulting from domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

State of play in Congress

The bill was introduced in mid-April and the House leadership has signaled support for the measure. There are rumblings that mirror legislation will be introduced in the U.S. Senate in May.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

Having Problems with Your Workers’ Compensation? Let Us Help Fix Them!

Posted on April 25, 2021May 24, 2021 by BGESGroup

Rates Too High – Believe it or not, there are insurance companies whose rates are up to 40% higher than others. If you’re an auto service, contractor (we have GREAT plans for contractors), limousine service, local trucker or manufacturer, we can offer you low rates.

Have Poor Loss Experience Causing Your Rates To Skyrocket or Company To Cancel Coverage – This is where we excel. We can find you a new company at the best possible rates. Many companies have come to us for help. If this is your problem, let us help you fix it.

Sick of Time Consuming, Interrogational Audits – Depending on your state and plan, we may be able to get you away from annual audits. Some of our companies offer simplified audits. They just check a few things then leave you alone.

With a State or Assigned Risk Plan – Do you have employees working out of state weeks at a time? For example, are you a New York contractor who has employees working in New Jersey or Connecticut for weeks at a time? If so, you may be exposed to a “financially knock you out of business” problem.

Dislike Your Agent – There are agents that are order takers. Most know so little they are dangerous to ones financial wealth. They allow mistakes which cost thousands, tens of thousands of dollars. On the other hand, there are specialists, like our company, that know the rules and use them to your advantage. Go to our website by clicking the green button below and read what people think of us. We believe we are one of the best specialists in the tri-state area.

Worker’s Compensation Through a Payroll Company – Unhappy with their fees, workers’ compensation rates or service? We offer FANTASTIC options!

Feel Like You’ve Been Overcharged for The Past Seven Years – We have a program that will review your policies going back seven (7) years and if we find mistakes, get you refunds from your past carriers. This service is offered on a contingency fee basis and requires you to sign just thee documents then we do the rest. Interested? You should be because it’s a WIN situation for YOU!

Unhappy With Your Workers’ Compensation Company or Agent – Quite a few companies provide lousy service. Can’t get someone on the phone when you need to? Have to wait hours or days for a certificate of insurance? They charge ridiculous fees of $500 to $5,000 or 10% of your premium Your employees receive collection notices from providers because their medical bills are not being paid. None of this happens when you are insured with us.

Payrolls Being Misclassified – We’ve watched hundreds of business owners (contractors especially) be overcharged because their payrolls were misclassified. Payrolls end up in the wrong class codes. Special credits and payroll considerations have not been applied. Fictitious payrolls have been created. There are seven mistakes we can think of that are common occurrences. Why pay an insurance company thousands, tens of thousand more than you have to? We help eliminate these problems for you.

Paying a Monthly Fixed Premium – The state of our economy is very precarious now. With some of our plans, you pay based on the past month’s payroll. If you have no payroll you have no workers compensation payment. We have plans where the premium varies based on how business is.

Paying a 25% Renewal Deposit – We have plans where there are NO renewal deposits.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits; 9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer mechanisms. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer mechanisms, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs that lower them.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

The Effects on Your X-Mod When Purchasing Another Company

Posted on April 22, 2021April 22, 2021 by BGESGroup

Many companies are often taken off guard when their workers’ comp X-Mod shoots up after a merger or acquisition.

The experience modifier spike is usually the result of the other employer having a less than stellar workplace safety record and high workers’ comp claims costs.

But there are pre-emptive steps you can take to understand the impact of a merger on your X-Mod and, the more you know, the better chance you’ll have at coping with the changed circumstances.

The reason is that workers’ compensation rating bureaus have strict rules regarding mergers and acquisitions to ensure that companies don’t engage in shell games to hide their true workers’ comp claims experience.

The majority of states have the same rules for ownership changes and their effect on X-Mods.

First, let’s look at what a rating bureau will consider to be a change in ownership. Typically, that would mean:

All or a portion of the ownership in an entity is sold, transferred or conveyed from one person to another.
An entity is dissolved or non-operative, and a new entity is formed.
Two or more corporations undergo a statutory merger or consolidation.
All or most of the tangible or intangible assets of an entity are sold, transferred or conveyed to another entity.
A trusteeship or receivership is set up, either voluntarily or at the direction of the courts, to operate a business.

What will happen

Rating bureaus will have something known as the “Notification of Change in Ownership Endorsement,” which requires that the purchasing party or merged entity report the ownership change within 90 days of the transaction.

Once that is done, the bureau will combine the experience of the two companies on a weighted basis to calculate a new X-Mod. It will do that by transferring the experience of the selling entity to that of the purchasing entity.

It’s the rating bureau’s job to review information you submit and make a decision as to how the change in ownership will affect the X-Mod for both the selling and purchasing entity.

They will decide, according to the rules for the purchasing entity, whether the modification factor will be adjusted to reflect the experience of the newly acquired business.

What you need to do

An ownership change can have a number of ramifications for an employer in terms of workers’ comp, the most significant of which would be a change to its X-Mod.

It may also have an effect on your anniversary rating date and your rating effective date.

If you run the purchasing entity, the best course of action is to review the workers’ compensation history of the company being purchased so you have a full understanding of its workers’ comp experience.

If they have a high incidence of workplace injuries, you can take pre-emptive safety measures when integrating the other company’s workforce.

You should also come to us if you know that you will be merging or acquiring another entity. We can run a test calculation to approximate what your new X-Mod will be.

We will pull your company’s data from the unit statistical report that your insurer submitted to the rating bureau, as well as that of the company you are purchasing. We can at that point determine the accuracy of the report in terms of your claims costs, payroll and classification codes.

Once we have the other employer’s information, we can crunch the numbers to come up with an estimate for your new X-Mod.

One more thing: Failure to report changes in ownership to your insurer may be considered X-Mod evasion and has serious implications. If the rating bureau determines evasion, it can go back as far as it chooses to examine your workers’ comp history.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

Contractors – 6 Ways To Lower Your Rates and Better Your Coverage

Posted on April 20, 2021May 24, 2021 by BGESGroup

Are you a contractor who is unhappy with their contractor liability insurance rates, coverage or agency servicing their account?

Umbrella premium exorbitant?

GREAT NEWS!

We represent the “Top 10 Construction Insurance Programs” for tri-state contractor’s which means if you can’t get your agent to find you better than try us because we will or at least confirm what you have is the best plan available.

BREAKING NEWS! For New York or New Jersey General or Special Trades Contractor who are unhappy with their General and Umbrella Liability pricing or coverage, we can offer you what we believe to be the “Best Priced” and “Broadest Coverage” program around! If we can get you into this program you’ll save a ton of money and get better coverage. Call 914-806-5853 and find out if you qualify!

We reduced a Queen’s General Contractors General Liability premium from $104,000 to $39,500. Their Umbrella Liability premium got reduced $15,000+!

Another N.Y.C. contractor saved $196,000! They were paying $393,000. We reduced their pricing to $197,000.

What about your auto insurance? Paying thousands of dollars per vehicle? We represent very competitively priced companies whose rates can be drastically less than what you now pay.

For example, a contractor came to us who was paying $13,500. We got them the same coverage for just $7,800! That’s a $5,700 savings!

Unhappy with your insurance agency? Do they operate like a factory? Is it hard to get someone on the phone? Does it take days to hear back from someone? Do they shop your insurance when it comes up for renewal or keep you with the same company’s year in year out even though their rates keep increasing?

We operate like a boutique. When you call you get us. No phone tag. You have a problem we take it so you can focus on what’s most important. You can contact day and evening for we are always there to HELP!

Are you unhappy with your Worker’s Compensation pricing or company? Let us help you get better!

Some Problems We Can Help You With:

Losses cause your rates to skyrocket or your company to non-renew coverage?

In the middle of an audit dispute and being told pay our exorbitant bill or be cancelled?

In a state or assigned risk program but work out of state weeks at a time? If you do you may be leaving yourself exposed to a large uncovered loss.

Unhappy with your payroll/workers comp plan because of high rates are excessive fees?

Payrolls being misclassified?

Tell us what your issues are. What you are looking for. We will go and get it for YOU!

Are you in need of higher bonding limits? Lower rates, quicker turn-a-round? We have a bond department that can get the job done. Our bond department is very strong. Has great relationships with insurance companies and can get the job done for YOU when others can’t!

Group Health Insurance – Unhappy with your rates, coverage or getting help with claims? Our health department is incredible and can provide service unlike any insurance agency out there. If you need help give us a try!

Want better rates, better coverage, better service, call Gary Wallach TODAY by dialing 914-806-5853 or emailing bgesgroup@gmail.com.

Hope to hear from you!

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

What Cyber Insurance Underwriters Look For

Posted on April 19, 2021April 19, 2021 by BGESGroup

As the number of cyber attacks against businesses continues to grow, insurers that provide cyber liability and other cyber-related coverage have started intensifying their scrutiny of their clients’ databases and operational security.

When a business suffers a cyber attack it could result in fraudulent wire transfers or having its systems rendered frozen, which can be unlocked only by paying a ransom. Some companies will also have their intellectual property stolen in attacks.

But while these attacks grow in number and cost, cyber insurers are expecting their policyholders to do more to protect their data and systems.

CFC Underwriting, a global insurer, says there are six things its underwriters look for when pricing cyber insurance policies:

Close unused remote desktop protocol ports — RDP ports are for remote workers so they can access their office desktop and the company database from afar. CFC recommends that any unused RDP ports be closed, and the ones that are in use should be protected with a virtual private network and multi-factor authentication (MFA).RDP ports are major vulnerabilities and CFC estimates that more than 50% of ransomware attacks that it sees occur thanks to open RDP ports. Close an RDP if it’s not absolutely necessary.
Use multi-factor authentication — These days complex passwords are not enough to provide the security you need to protect your data. That means there should be another layer of security used to authenticate a user, such as a thumbprint or a unique code that is sent to their phone by text message and that they need to enter to proceed. This is common technology on many websites and apps today.This can prevent brute-force attacks where criminals try multiple usernames and passwords in automated rapid succession to try to hack a system because, even if they get it right, they won’t pass the second authentication. Typically, when they use this type of attack they can steal credentials and sell them on the dark web, which can in turn lead to them accessing financial accounts.
“For that reason, our cyber underwriters love when a business has MFA in use across all business email accounts and on other key business software too,” CFC writes.
Have a data management strategy — Underwriters like to see that a company’s data is stored and segregated properly, like splitting client records across multiple servers so that if one server is compromised not all the data is lost. That, in turn, can reduce the likelihood of a catastrophic loss.If you’re using a cloud service, it would be wise to ensure they have the proper authorized access controls in place and that they are running security checks on any third party vendors.
Run endpoint detection and response — Besides firewalls and antivirus software, cyber insurance underwriters also advise that businesses use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools. These systems continuously monitor all devices connected to your network to make sure they are secure and have not been compromised.

This is important because an employee can be using a device that gets compromised by clicking on a malicious link on their smartphone, which can unleash an attack on the company’s network.

An endpoint might be anything from an employee workstation and company server to a mobile phone.
Conduct regular and secure backups — Businesses need to do more than just back up their records and servers. What’s important is what is done with that backup information. If you are backing up your servers and then storing that data on those same servers, it doesn’t do you much good if your system is compromised.Underwriters like to see that data is stored and segregated from the main network, and even stored offline in an offsite location. This will make recovery quick and easy if you suffer a ransomware attack.
Make risk management a priority — Cyber insurance underwriters will also look at:

Any policies and procedures you have in place in terms of cyber risk management.
If you have a key person in charge of these policies.
And that the key person knows about the different kinds of data you are storing, and how it is stored.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

How the Pandemic May Affect Your Homeowner’s Insurance

Posted on April 19, 2021April 19, 2021 by BGESGroup

While COVID-19 continues raging across the country, the pandemic has made many people worry about their homeowner’s insurance coverage.

We’ve all seen how the pandemic has damaged the U.S. economy and it is affecting the insurance industry as well, prompting some to worry about large policy rate hikes or their ability to pay their premiums on time, if at all.

There is also the possibility of increased costs of medical care due to how hospitals are having to work with non-COVID-19 patients, which could mean that any liability claims involving medical care could increase in cost.

While the overall effects from the pandemic have yet to be realized, here are some of the insurance questions homeowners have been asking.

Will my premiums go up?

With the widespread economic hit the economy has taken, it’s natural to assume insurance companies have been too, which means they could need to hike their rates. There may be some lines of commercial insurance that will see premium hikes, but overall, homeowner’s claims during the pandemic have been declining.

The pandemic has reduced the risk of burglaries because so many people are working from home or have no work, so they are, you guessed it: at home. Burglars aren’t keen on breaking into homes that aren’t empty.

On top of that, because many people are at home so much more than before, they are more likely to immediately notice other issues, such as a fire, leaks, and other issues that suddenly occur. If a homeowner is away when these events occur, the damage is likely to be more extensive, while someone who is at home can stop something like a fire before it gets out of control.

What if I can’t pay my premiums?

Tens of millions of Americans have lost their jobs during the pandemic. One in four adults have had trouble paying their bills since the coronavirus outbreak started, a third have dipped into savings or retirement accounts to make ends meet, and about one in six have borrowed money from friends or family or gotten food from a food bank.

Naturally, paying an insurance premium instead of putting food on the table is really not a choice. Fortunately, many insurers have offered to temporarily suspend payments. If you are in this position, you can call your insurance company to make arrangements to keep your policy in force.

Do I need to increase my liability coverage?

Homeowner’s policies, besides covering your structure, also provide liability protection should a guest injure themselves at your home or one of your family members damages a third party’s property.

Usually, in these scenarios, you could file a claim against your homeowners’ policy, but due to the pandemic, the cost of treating non-COVID-19 patients is costing more. Hospitals have to test and take many more precautions than before the pandemic, which is driving up the cost of care.

That could mean that your liability coverage limits may not be enough to pay any medical bills for a third-party claimant. Additionally, if you have a get-together at your home and someone claims they contracted COVID-19 there and can prove it, you could be sued for negligence if you had people over knowing that one of them or one of your family had the virus.

To make sure your homeowner’s policy can adequately cover injury claims, you may consider increasing the liability limits or purchasing a reasonably priced umbrella policy.

What if a claims adjuster wants to visit my home?

While this is something that many policyholders would naturally be afraid of in the current circumstances, the pandemic has made it more difficult for insurance companies to inspect the damage as they process a claim. Some may ask that you take pictures of the damage and also provide “before” photos if you have them.

Some insurance companies are performing exterior inspections on policyholders’ homes while observing social distancing measures the entire time. Others are using virtual claims processing.

Filing a virtual claim takes no more than signing into an app or website, writing a report that details the extent of the damage or loss, and submitting photos and videos as evidence.

The takeaway

Fortunately, the pandemic fallout is limited so far for homeowner’s insurance policyholders.

But when your renewal is coming up, you may want to call us about what to expect and if you should change some of your coverage limits. Your insurer may also be imposing policy language changes that could affect future claims. We can help you sort through it all.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

Home Inventory Is Crucial for Getting Your Claim Paid

Posted on April 19, 2021April 19, 2021 by BGESGroup

You’ve had a fire and many of your possessions have been singed to a crisp. It’s time to file that homeowner’s claim, but can you remember everything that was destroyed?

This is a regular problem for homeowners when they file claims. They just can’t recall everything that was lost, let alone how much the items cost. Without that information it will be hard to make your claim and be reimbursed for your loss.

To make sure you don’t find yourself in this predicament, one of the smartest things you can do is create a home inventory. But do you know how to put one together? And where to start?

To get started, the first thing you should do is go through your policy with your agent. You should try to ascertain:

If your possessions are covered for their replacement value or actual cash value.
If you have unique items that may need special endorsements to your policy.
If your recreational items (skis, bikes, golf clubs) are covered.

Take pictures of your home Start with the outside from different angles, as well as any outdoor structures, decks, patio furniture, decorations and landscaping.
Then move inside and photograph each room from enough angles to cover all of the furniture and items. Since it costs nothing to take photos these days with your phone, snap away. The more shots the better.
Go through every drawer and closet Go through your drawers and list all items that would need to be replaced. For each item you should document when you purchased or received it. Where you got it from and how much it cost. If you have receipts, that’s even better. If you don’t keep receipts of your big ticket items, you should.
Scan receipts to keep with your home inventory. Keep the receipts of new household purchases in a special folder, so you can update your inventory once a year.

After going through your drawers, move to the closets. Take pictures and separate items that have a value of more than $300, and take photos.
Electronics Take photos of each electronic item (TVs, mobile phones, stereos, computers, tablets). Make sure that you also photograph the model and serial number of each item.
Fine china, crystal If you have nice dinnerware in your home, you should take a picture of each item front and back so that the logo is showing. Also take pics of any crystal glasses or decorative items you own. Take a picture of where you store these items.
Garage In your garage you likely store power tools, hardware, garden equipment, sports equipment, bikes and more. Take pics and document it all.
Special items and things with sentimental value Do you keep any collections of valuable items? If so, you should make sure that it’s all documented and you have photos.
Also, if you have special photo albums and family heirlooms, make sure you document those too.

And finally, don’t forget to include any luxury or rare items that you have at home.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

Malingering, the Gray Area in Workers’ Comp Fraud

Posted on April 19, 2021April 19, 2021 by BGESGroup

Nearly 25% of all lost-time workers’ compensation claims are exaggerated, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

While only a small percentage of workers’ comp claims are fraudulent, quite a few include employees staying away from work even after they’ve been cleared to return by their doctor and when they feel able to work. The term for this is malingering and it can cost an employer a lot of money.

When injured workers malinger, the claim lasts longer than the medical disability. The employee has recovered enough to return to work, but has not gone back.

This can be due to employee intent, a medical provider’s lack of knowledge about the job requirements, employer disinterest, or other reasons. As you can see, it’s not always the employee’s fault.

When an employee malingers and doesn’t return to work when they are able to, the cost of the workers’ compensation claim will continue to rise, counting against the employer’s claims experience. Additionally, malingering can evolve into a self-perpetuating cycle: the longer someone stays away from work, the less likely it is they will ever return.

While it’s not a good idea to spy on your workers at home, you also don’t want one of them drawing out the claim to both your and their detriment. However, there are signs indicating that an injured worker may be malingering.

20 Indicators of Malingering or Fraud

Tips from neighbors, relatives, friends or co-workers that a claimant is actually more active than alleged.
The injury coincided with a company’s reduction of the workforce.
Nurse case manager, doctor and therapist report a healthier and more active claimant than what is alleged.
The lack of organic basis for the disability; most of the complaints and allegations are subjective.
Premature or excessive demands for compensation.
The claimant works in a seasonal occupation.
The claimant often misses their therapy and/or doctor appointments.
Having “dueling doctors,” with one physician stating that the claimant is disabled while another reports a completely different prognosis indicating they are not disabled.
No witnesses to the reported accident.
The claim was reported after the claimant was terminated, suspended or had resigned.
The claimant had only been employed for a short while when the alleged accident occurred.
The claimant is not home when you try to contact them.
The claimant is disabled longer than is normally associated with the reported injury.
The claimant has a history of workers’ comp claims or short-term employment.
The claimant’s job performance has been below average, or they were disciplined at some point.
The claimant’s Facebook or other social media page shows they are more active than they claim they can be.
The claimant has financial problems.
The course of treatment seems to be too much for the injury, like extensive treatment and testing for a minor injury.
If it was a car accident, the damage to the vehicle is inconsistent with the claimed injuries.
The documentation of treatment is suspect — for example, photocopies of bills, no record of dates of treatment, no itemization.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com