Extended Power Outage Survival Guide

As weather becomes more erratic and natural disasters increase, more people are at risk of suffering a power outage.

Be that people in wildfire areas, or regions susceptible to flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes, power outages will often come with the territory during catastrophic events.

Power outages can:

  • Disrupt communications, water supply and transportation.
  • Close retail businesses, grocery stores, gas stations, ATMs, banks and other services.
  • Cause food spoilage and water contamination.
  • Prevent use of medical devices.

The best way to survive a power outage, particularly if you don’t know how long it will last, is to be prepared.

Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to prepare for an outage. Also, you will be able to weather it better if you know what to do when one happens. Here are some tips from the Federal Emergency Management Administration:

Steps to take now

  • Take an inventory now of the items you need that rely on electricity.
  • Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life.
  • Plan for batteries and other alternatives to meet your needs when the power goes out.
  • Sign up for local alerts and warning systems. Monitor weather reports.
  • Install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central locations on every level of your home.
  • Determine whether your home phone will work in a power outage and how long battery backup will last.
  • Review the supplies that are available in case of no power. Have flashlights with extra batteries for every household member. Have enough nonperishable food and water.
  • Use a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so that you can know the temperature when the power is restored.
  • Keep mobile phones and other electric equipment charged and gas tanks full.

How to survive during an extended power outage

  • Keep freezers and refrigerators closed. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours. Use coolers with ice if necessary. Monitor temperatures with a thermometer.
  • Use food supplies that do not require refrigeration.
  • In homes that have lost power but suffered little other damage, you can safely cook on a gas stove. Cook food that is at risk of spoiling first, so it doesn’t go to waste.
  • Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Generators, camp stoves or charcoal grills should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows. Never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home.
  • Check on your neighbors. Older adults and young children are especially vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
  • Go to a community location with power if heat or cold is extreme.
  • Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment or electronics. Power may return with momentary surges or spikes that can cause damage.

How to stay safe after an outage

  • Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odor, color or texture.
  • If the power is out for more than a day, discard any medication that should be refrigerated, unless the drug’s label says otherwise. If a life depends on the refrigerated drugs, consult a doctor or pharmacist and use the medicine only until a new supply is available.

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 60+ 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

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

We are Workers’ Compensation Specialists Looking to Partner with Accounting Firms to Help Their Client’s With Their Worker’s Compensation Needs!

Here’s are Issues We Can Help With:

1. Rates too high?   We have programs whose rates can be up to 40% less. Specifically, we have programs for contractors, limousine operators, local-truckers, manufacturers, distributors, offices, real estate companies and wholesalers.  We can get any business owner Workers’ Comp.   

2. In the middle of an audit dispute?   Client being told pay or be cancelled?  Company charging for uninsured subs that have insurance?  We can help YOU with your client’s audit disputes as well as give them a back-up plan just in case one is needed.

3. Now without coverage? We can help client’s get worker’s compensation even if they’ve been without coverage for months.

4. Classified Incorrectly? – Client in a wrong class code and company won’t budge? There are some companies that if your i’s are not dotted and t’s crossed will take all your payroll and throw it into the highest rated codes. They have no interest in helping. They want your client to pay as much as possible. We know the rules and will help your client’s get properly classified.

5. Working in multiple states If you have a client whose home office is in state A but has employees working in state B, depending on their plan, they can be without coverage.  For example, you have a contractor who has their main office in State A, has their Worker’s Comp in a state or assigned risk plan, gets a 2 month job in state B and while working in state B one of his employees gets injured.  Employee lives in state B so he files claim in state B.  Most likely claim will be denied.  We have solutions.

6. Poor loss experience? – Client had bad luck? We’ve helped two with claims totaling $500,000 and $1.2 million get coverage. Over the past few years there have been more questionable claims.  Depending on what client does, we have a company who can insure them even id they’ve had a streak of bad luck.

7. Is client’s agency’s service poor? Can they get someone on the phone when needed? Do they speak to a different person every time they call?  When they send an email does it take days before they hear back? Is their agency charging a 10% service fee yet doing nothing?  With us they’ll speak to one person who will immediately answer their call.

8. Client Have their Worker’s Compensation with a payroll service who is NOT transparent?  This should not be the case.  Some companies charge for everything so if you’re not scrutinizing their bills client can end up paying more than they think.  Let us help figure what they are paying so they’re not overpaying.

9. High Experience Modification Factor? – Let us do an analysis and try to lower it.   Won’t cost anything.  Maybe we can get client back money!

10. Whatever client’s issue we can helpEven though we have not mentioned the issue of concern know we can help.   For 38 years we’ve specialized in Workers” Comp. Helping client’s is our #1 priority.  We are frugal when it comes to their money. We do not charge service fees (unless the insurance company we use does not pay us a commission).  We want to understand their needs, their issues, and work together WITH YOU to help!

If Acceptable To You:

We will pay you a monthly referral fee or however we need to structure it so long as it’s in compliance with the law for as long as we service account.

All you have to do is have your client fill out one of our questionnaires which takes less than ten (10) minutes.  We do the rest.  You will not have do anymore paperwork.

Depending on state (we only cover NY, NJ, CT) we can set up client   where every years there’s not an annual audit or a simplified audit.  Less headaches for you.

We will handle all problems, questions, paperwork, servicing.

This can further cement your relationship to your client.

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.

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) – 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.

New Jersey and Connecticut Contractors:  We have a fiercely competitively priced (savings up to 50%)  General Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Workers Compensation program.  Want to lower these costs?  Get a quote today!

Identity Theft – Over the past year hundreds of thousands of people have had to deal with identity theft.  This has become such a huge problem so we now offer Identity Theft Protection. We heard stories of kids going for car loans and learning they owe $200,000+ to companies they never heard of.  Under our program you can protect yourself, spouse and up to 10 children.  Anyone you know can purchase this protection though our plan!  Click here to learn more or sign up.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or email: bgesgroup@gmail.com or visit our website: www.bgesgroup.com.

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Reviews

2022 plan year information for Paid Family Leave coverage

New York State Department of Financial Services has released the . Please note changes in regard to maximum weekly benefit, maximum covered wages and maximum employee contribution: Benefit percentage and premium rate remain unchanged for 2022.

All changes are effective January 1, 2022.

You can view the full release here.

New Maximum PFL Weekly Benefit

The maximum PFL benefit percentage in 2022 has remained unchanged at 67% of the employee’s average weekly wage, not to exceed 67% of the statewide average weekly wage, which is $1,068.36 per week. The maximum allowable duration of a PFL claim has remained unchanged at 12 weeks. The 4-year tiered PFL benefit roll-out was reached last year and will remain the same going forward unless otherwise determined by the Superintendent.

Year Benefit % Maximum Weekly Benefit Payout Benefit Duration
2018 50% $652.96 8 weeks
2019 55% $746.41 10 weeks
2020 60% $840.70 10 weeks
2021 67% $971.61 12 weeks
2022 67% $1,068.36 12 weeks
New Maximum Covered Wages

The maximum covered employee wages used in calculating the PFL contributions for 2022 have increased to $82,918. All eligible employee wages, including commissions and bonuses, up to $82,918 annually will be subject to the premium charge.

Year Maximum Annual Covered Payroll
2018 $67,908
2019 $70,570
2020 $72,860
2021 $75,409
2022 $82,918
Premium Rate / Maximum Employee Contribution

The PFL premium rate for 2022 will remain unchanged at .511% (.00511).

Year Maximum Annual Covered Payroll Premium Rate Maximum Annual Employee Contribution
2018 $67,908 .00126 $85.56
2019 $70,570 .00153 $107.97
2020 $72,860 .00270 $196.72
2021 $75,409 .00511 $385.34
2022 $82,918 .00511 $423.71
Applicability

Keep in mind that PFL, like DBL, is a required statutory coverage.  All premiums are paid through employee contributions.  Failure to provide PFL coverage is subject to penalty by New York State.

Form Availability

We have begun the process of updating our systems to accommodate this new information. We feel confident that the transition into 2022 will be a smooth one. Policy documents (NYPFL-0122) will be available during the 4th quarter of 2021.

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 60+ 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

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

COVID-19 Drives Surge in Employment Practices Claims

COVID-19 Drives Surge in Employment Practices Claims

New:

1. Have high value property located along the shore line or on islands like Fire Island, Block Island, Long Beach Island, etc?  We have a property/liability/flood program that can give you the coverage needed.  Call 914-806-5853 for help today!

2. Check out our new Construction News website which will tell you what’s going on in the construction industry throughout the country.  Click here.

Article:

Employers are being hit with a wave of COVID-19-related employment lawsuits, which is starting to have an effect on employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) rates and coverages.

A tally by the law firm of Fisher Phillips found that as of August 2021 there had been 2,950 COVID-19-related employment lawsuits filed in the U.S. Most of the complaints concern remote work arrangements, workplace safety and discrimination.

Lawyers predict a new wave building as employers get pushback from some employees about their vaccine policies and continuing safety measures.

The most common COVID-19-related complaints are:

  • Remote work and leave issues (28% of total)
  • Employment discrimination (26%)
  • Retaliation/whistleblower (24%)
  • Wage and hour (7%)
  • Unsafe workplace (3%)
  • Wrongful discharge (3%)
  • Negligence/wrongful death (3%)

Fisher Phillips in a recent blog post warned that a few signs point to a continued surge in litigation:

No summer case slowdown — Usually there is a slowdown in new employment litigation during the summer months, according to Jay Glunt, a Fisher Phillips partner. “But the fact that we didn’t see much of a lull in employment-related COVID litigation – and in fact saw an uptick — sends a clear signal that we could be in for a rough couple of months ahead.”

In fact, the number of COVID-19 workplace lawsuits jumped 61% during June through August 2021 to 715 cases, compared to 444 such lawsuits filed in the same period of 2020, according to the law firm.

During the first eight months of 2021, there was an average of 253 new COVID-19-related employment claims filed per month, up 59% from the average 159 new lawsuits filed in the final eight months of 2020.

Furthermore, according to Fisher Phillips COVID-19 Tracker, the busiest litigation months follow periods when coronavirus cases have been surging, such as in January to March 2021, when 826 cases were filed (an average of 275 a month).

Vaccine mandates — Employment lawyers also predict that as more employers devise ways to get their staff vaccinated, many will get pushback from workers. Some employees may just quit and find work with a company with a more relaxed approach, but others may seek out legal counsel and sue their employers.

This is the biggest concern for businesses who are requiring that all their staff be vaccinated at risk of losing their jobs. While there seems to be cover for such employers from the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, that is unlikely to deter some people from mounting claims anyway.

Even if an employer manages to win the case or settle, that usually won’t happen until tens of thousands of dollars have been spent on legal fees and discovery.

To date, vaccination-related employment practices claims account for less than 5% of COVID-19 suits, but that is expected to rise as mandates and other “sticks” become more commonplace.

The backstop

In light of this growing exposure, employers would be wise to consider purchasing an EPLI policy. These policies are triggered for employment-related claims, which include COVID-19-related claims and cover legal defense costs, settlements and compensation awards.

However, many insurers have increased their rates as well as the deductibles that policyholders have to bear. Some are also capping policy limits. Rate hikes have been averaging more than 10% on EPLI policies as litigation has skyrocketed during the pandemic.

If you have an EPLI policy, it can be tapped if you are sued, but policies won’t cover all types of claims, including the following:

  • A returning employee alleges he or she contracted COVID-19 at the office as a result of the employer’s inadequate safety policies and practices. Many EPLI policies exclude losses resulting from OSHA violations and for workers’ compensation claims.
  • An employee alleges that an employer had failed to provide legally required protective equipment, resulting in enhanced risk of exposure to COVID-19. Many EPLI policy forms exclude coverage for costs incurred to comply with injunctions and equitable relief, such as claims demanding accommodations for disabled persons under the Americans with Disabilities Act or to repair unsafe workplace conditions.

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 60+ 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

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Coronavirus Tax

FEMA Recovery Centers Open in Westchester

FEMA Recovery Centers Open in Westchester

We are sharing some more news received from Westchester Legislators … On Thursday, FEMA announced the opening of two disaster recovery centers in Westchester. They are located at:
  • The Grinton I. Will Library, 500 Central Park Ave., Yonkers, NY 10710 and
  • The Mamaroneck Village Court, 169 Mt Pleasant Ave., Mamaroneck, NY 10543
They will be open from 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. daily, until further notice. People may also register with FEMA online at www.disasterassistance.gov, or by phone by calling 800-621-3362. Individuals who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly. These toll-free telephone numbers are operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week with multilingual operators.
Start Your Recovery Process:
  1. Take photos of your damaged home and belongings.
  2. Make a list of damaged or lost items.
  3. Save yourself time. If you have insurance, you must file a claim with your insurance company (If you do not have insurance, skip to step 4).
  4. 3 ways to apply:
Documents You need to Provide to FEMA:
  • Proof of identification
  • Insurance determination letter
  • Proof of occupancy or ownership
*Special Note: FEMA cannot provide assistance for losses that are covered by insurance.

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 60+ 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

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Reviews

Major Disaster Declared – Federal Aid Available for Residents & Small Businesses

Major Disaster Declared – Federal Aid Available for Residents & Small Businesses

Today, we are sharing news received from Westchester Legislators …

Westchester residents who suffered property damage from the remnants of Hurricane Ida may be eligible for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, following President Joe Biden’s Major Disaster Declaration for our area on Monday.

FEMA and New York State have been on the ground evaluating damages for about 3 days.

FEMA will be able to offer financial assistance to residents through ‘individual assistance’ programs.

Please make sure you are carefully documenting all damage in writing and with photographs, receipts and other documentation.

FEMA will set up Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) where people can file claims for assistance in communities which are particularly damaged. The County is working with FEMA to organize DRCs throughout the county as well as mobile DRCs where residents can file online or remotely.

Those eligible for assistance are impacted residents with eligible disaster related losses.

  • Damage must have occurred during the incident period of the declaration and be a direct result of the incident.
  • Eligible losses include non-insured damage/loss to primary residence, damage/loss to eligible personal property.

For more information, and to view the FEMA individual assistance application and required application information please visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/.

If you need further information or assistance, you may also call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. This number is also for users of 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS). TTY users can call 1-800-462-7585. Helpline services are available 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET.

Small businesses recovering from Ida damage may also qualify for disaster loan assistance from the Small Business Administration.  For information please visit https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ or call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-877-8339)

Residents who need housing assistance should reach out to the County Department of Social Services.  If you have a housing emergency you may call 914-995-2099.

More information about aid is also available from Governor Kathy Hochul’s office.  Please visit https://www.governor.ny.gov/programs/governors-relief-and-response-resources to learn more.

As we get additional information, we will let you know.

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 60+ 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

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Reviews

Businesses and Insurers Are Fighting Over Coverage for COVID-Caused Shutdowns

Businesses and Insurers Are Fighting Over Coverage for COVID-Caused Shutdowns

New:

1. Have high value property located along the shore line or on islands like Fire Island, Block Island, Long Beach Island, etc?  We have a property/liability/flood program that can give you the coverage needed.  Call 914-806-5853 for help today!

2. Check out our new Construction News website which will tell you what’s going on in the construction industry throughout the country.  Click here.

Article:

In courtrooms all over the country, battles are occurring between businesses who endured COVID-19-related shutdowns and insurance companies who believe they are not obligated to reimburse them for their losses.

According to the Covid Insurance Litigation Tracker from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, more than 1,800 lawsuits have been filed in state and federal courts, over a third of them by restaurants and bars. They seek to make insurers pay for business interruption losses suffered by organizations forced to shut down by government order during the pandemic.

So far, the courts are mostly siding with the insurance companies, but not in all cases.

State courts have partially or fully dismissed 85 of 117 cases. Federal courts have dismissed nearly 400 out of 414 suits against insurers. An August 31 decision by a federal appellate court in Atlanta is representative: The court dismissed a dental practice’s suit against its insurer, saying, “We do not see how the presence of (viral) particles would cause physical damage or loss to the property.”

However, judges’ opinions are not uniform on this question.

Business interruption coverage

Business interruption insurance reimburses an organization for lost income and necessary continuing expenses when it must cease operations after its location is damaged or destroyed. Such coverage is typically included in commercial property policies.

Affected businesses argue that their buildings were essentially lost to them because of an unpredictable event. State and local authorities restricted their operations due to COVID-19 or prohibited them from operating at all. The shutdowns cost them tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in income. Many may have to close permanently without insurance recoveries.

Insurers point to the words in their policies. Almost universally, the policies say that the carriers will pay for loss of business income resulting from “direct physical loss of or damage to covered property.”

The coronavirus, they argue, did not cause direct physical loss or damage. The buildings where the businesses operated are still there. The interior and exterior surfaces, furnishings and equipment all look the same.

To the insurers, property is damaged if it has been physically changed. The virus, they say, did not change the property, and in fact died out in a matter of hours if it was on the property at all.

In addition, many insurers added “virus exclusions” to their property insurance policies following the SARS epidemic of 2002 to 2004. These policy provisions state that the insurer will not pay for losses “caused by or resulting from any virus, bacterium or other microorganism that induces or is capable of inducing physical distress, illness or disease.”

In insurers’ opinions, this wording reinforces that they never intended to cover losses from a pandemic. Most courts have agreed with them.

But not all…

Some state courts have allowed cases to proceed, finding that the phrase “direct physical loss of or damage to covered property” is open to multiple reasonable interpretations. An Oklahoma judge faulted insurers for not clearly defining the phrase’s meaning.

More than 100 cases are on appeal. It will likely be some time before courts resolve the argument over whether a microscopic virus inside of a building causes damage.

The takeaway

If your business suffered any adverse effects from the pandemic, particularly if ordered to close, it’s important that you keep an eye on these cases, but you must have filed a claim with your insurer.

These cases will continue to play out in the courts.

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 60+ 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

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Practice Safe Driving When Operating a Forklift

Understanding Waivers of Subrogation

New:

1. Have high value property located along the shore line or on islands like Fire Island, Block Island, Long Beach Island, etc?  We have a property/liability/flood program that can give you the coverage needed.  Call 914-806-5853 for help today!

2. Check out our new Construction News website which will tell you what’s going on in the construction industry throughout the country.  Click here.

Tens of thousands of forklift-related injuries occur every year in U.S. workplaces, most of them preventable.

Employees may be injured when a lift falls between loading docks and an unsecured trailer, and others are injured or even killed when forklifts are accidentally driven off loading docks.

According to Fed Osha, some of the most common types of forklift accidents are:

  • Forklift rollovers
  • Human impacts
  • Falling loads
  • Truck falling off a dock or trailer
  • Crushed by a forklift

Training

Common mistakes that cause forklift accidents include improper backing techniques, turning and failure to warn others about a forklift usage nearby.

Proper training and monitoring are crucial to avoiding forklift accidents and injuries. Employees need adequate training under close supervision in proper operational procedures and safety regulations.

Such training should include written operating procedures and safety regs, as well as the inspection guidelines and maintenance schedule for the machinery.

Forklift operating procedures should be clearly written and monitored. They should be posted where everyone can see them and include the obvious; everything from not giving rides to the need for good communication between those in the work area when the equipment is in use.

Inspection and maintenance

Furthermore, equipment requires continuous inspection and maintenance.

An operator should inspect the equipment every day before using the forklift, ensuring that the brakes and steering are in good working order. They should also check fluid levels and visually inspect for leaks beneath the equipment.

The final step in ensuring safe forklift operations is to make sure all machinery is kept in good maintenance.

If a forklift begins to show its age, it should be replaced. No employee should be forced to use equipment that is clearly unsafe or has not properly been maintained.

You may not think that a forklift that hasn’t undergone regular maintenance is dangerous: think again:

  • Brake failure can lead to an out-of-control forklift.
  • Broken tines can drop heavy loads.
  • Bald tires are more likely to skid, and
  • Dirty machines are more likely to contribute to fires.

The takeaway

Forklift safety is serious business. They are unwieldy, heavy machines with lots of blind spots. In a busy workplace, dangers abound.

So do the right thing if you have forklifts on your premises. Train your workers and keep the machines in good working order to avoid deadly consequences.

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 60+ 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

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Treat Your Insurance Policies as Valuable Assets

New:

1. Have high value property located along the shore line or on islands like Fire Island, Block Island, Long Beach Island, etc?  We have a property/liability/flood program that can give you the coverage needed.  Call 914-806-5853 for help today!

2. Check out our new Construction News website which will tell you what’s going on in the construction industry throughout the country.  Click here.

Even though your insurance premium payments appear on your books as an expense, you are in fact purchasing a valuable asset.

The law firm of Anderson Kill recommends in a blog that companies treat their policies as assets that must be actively managed if their full value is to be realized when they are needed.

It recommends the following steps for maximizing the value of your insurance policies:

Save your policies — Make sure that you retain your insurance policies and accompanying documentation. If you are considering destroying an old policy, make sure first to review your activities and the policy to make sure you may not need it to respond to a future loss or a new claim that dates back to the time the policy was in effect.

New claims that are related to others made during the policy period can also arise, as can claims that arise out of circumstances that were reported during the policy period.

Be smart about how you organize your old policies. If you have multiple lines of coverage, you may want to consider using a spreadsheet to keep them organized.

Review new policies immediately — Once you receive a new policy, make sure that it matches the certificate and/or your correspondence with your broker or carrier. If you review the policies upon receipt, you can identify any potential problems. At this point it is usually not too late to get any issues fixed. Wait too long and that may not be the case.

If you do find any discrepancies, your insurer may be able to issue a revision, endorsement or clarification. If they don’t, at least you’ll be on record disputing a portion of the policy and you’ll have proof you did not waive anything.

Review coverage after every loss — Whenever you are faced with a potential loss, you should immediately assess which of your policies would respond. You can call us for assistance if needed.

And if you think that a policy or policies may cover a potential loss, notify your insurance carrier promptly. This is important so that you are abiding by your policy’s “timely notice provisions” requiring that you give notice within a certain period of time once you become aware of a potential loss or liability.

Don’t let the matter languish until it becomes a full-fledged claim or wait to see if another party will pursue payment for an alleged liability.

This strategy will work in your favor. If you eventually decide to handle it on your own and not file a claim, there has been no harm for you or the insurer. However, if you fail to file the claim in the required period of time, you could well be setting yourself up for forfeiture of the claim. And if you do wait and the insurer disputes the claim, you could be in for a long and costly legal battle.

Mergers, spin-offs and acquisitions — If you are going through a merger or acquisition, you need to pay special attention to insurance issues. It may not always be easy to transfer insurance assets that cover both a division that’s being spun off and other parts of the operations.

While it’s desirable that insurance for a covered unit be transferred with the sale, this is not always possible, particularly if the insurance company decides not to approve the transfer. If it refuses, you may have to consider other means of transferring risk.

Call us if this is the case.

Additional insured? Ask for policy copy — If your company is named as an additional insured on another company’s policy, ask the other firm for a copy of the policy, and not just a certificate.

Once you obtain the policy, you can then review it to make sure that your company was properly added as insured.

Also, if you have a copy of the policy in hand, you’ll be better able to respond should a loss or a claim arise. You will know where and how to give notice, what coverage is available, what exclusions might apply, what other conditions might apply, and how deductibles, retentions and limits of insurance are allocated and calculated.

Conversely, if you don’t have a copy of the policy, you have effectively ceded all of the control over the loss and claims-making process to your contractual partner.

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 60+ 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

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Why Some Businesses Need Terrorism Insurance

Understanding Waivers of Subrogation

New

1. Have high value property located along the shore line or on islands like Fire Island, Block Island, Long Beach Island, etc?  We have a property/liability/flood program that can give you the coverage needed.  Call 914-806-5853 for help today!

2. Check out our new Construction News website which will tell you what’s going on in the construction industry throughout the country.  Click here.

While the U.S. has escaped a major terrorist attack for a few years now, the threat is always present as there are many organizations and lone wolves that would like to do harm to people and property.

Besides the risk of loss of life and injuries, an act of terrorism can sink a small or mid-sized business. That’s because the standard business property insurance policy typically excludes coverage for terrorism.

There are usually two categories of effects from terrorism on enterprises:

  • Businesses that suffer direct damage to their property and assets from a terrorist attack.
  • Businesses that suffer indirect damage, such as business interruption as a result of being forced to shut down due to their proximity to an attack or an attack affects part of a supply chain the business relies on.

Meanwhile, payouts are also dependent up on how the government classifies an attack. Businesses with terrorism coverage have to wait for the U.S. Treasury Department defining an attack as either terrorism, civil disturbance or political violence.

All of these can cause businesses to shut down. One-third of insured losses resulting from the September 11 attacks in 2001 were from business interruption, more than any other coverage.

Terrorism insurance

Fortunately, the cost of terrorism coverage is relatively low compared to other lines of insurance.

Companies with a total insured value of less than $100 million paid a median of $62 per million in coverage in 2018, according to the “2019 Terrorism Risk Insurance Report” by risk-management research company Marsh. Prices differ depending on the industry and location, with construction paying some of the highest rates.

Some issues to consider:

  • Is terrorism coverage worth it for your business? It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it. There is a wide range of factors that you’ll use to determine whether this coverage is wise. First, consider your location. If you’re in a small town, then your need for this coverage is likely much lower than a company located in New York City.If you are concerned, you can start by analyzing your current insurance coverage and determine if you are protected in the event of a terrorist attack. Many businesses don’t know they have gaps in their coverage for terrorism.
  • Consider the cost. Cost is another issue, though it will be tied to your location. In a small town you might pay as little as $25 for an entire year’s worth of coverage, but in larger metropolitan areas the rates are typically higher, although not by much.
  • What’s covered by terrorism coverage? A commercial terrorism policy covers damaged or destroyed property — including buildings, equipment, furnishings and inventory. It may also cover losses associated with the interruption of your business. Terrorism insurance may also cover liability claims against your business associated with a terrorist attack.

The takeaway

As with any type of coverage, the key to deciding if you need to add terrorism insurance comes down to a simple risk assessment. What do you stand to gain if you have the coverage and you need it, and what you stand to lose if you need it and don’t have it?

You can start by reviewing your exposures with us to determine the best way to handle this issue. We can help you make a decision that’s right for your company.

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 60+ 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

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group