New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut Contractors — Is This Happening to You?
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If you’re a contractor in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, you already know how difficult it is to manage the risks on your jobsite. But what about the risks in your insurance program? Many contractors are walking around with policies that are overpriced, improperly written, or flat-out dangerous — and they don’t even know it until something goes wrong.
We talk to contractors every day who are frustrated, confused, and stuck. Their insurance costs too much. Their policies don’t meet job requirements. They can’t get answers. And when they do, they don’t like what they hear.
Here are 10 of the most common problems contractors face with general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. If any of these sound familiar, BGES Group can help — but more on that later.
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1. You Think You’re Covered for Completed Operations — But You’re Not
Completed operations coverage is one of the most misunderstood and overlooked parts of a liability policy. Many contractors believe they’re protected once the job is done — but that’s not always the case. The problem? Even when you have endorsements like CG 20 37, your policy might only provide completed operations coverage for a limited number of parties. That means the general contractor, owner, or lender you’re contractually required to cover might not actually be covered under your policy. That’s a serious exposure — and a deal-breaker on many projects.
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2. You’re Naming Additional Insureds — But They’re Not Actually Covered
It’s standard practice for project contracts to require contractors to name the GC, property owner, lender, and others as additional insureds. But what you intend to cover and what your policy actually covers may not match up. Many policies only grant coverage to parties with direct written contracts — even if your agreement says otherwise. This leaves you open to breach-of-contract claims and liability disputes you didn’t see coming.
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3. Your General Liability Premiums Are Through the Roof
If your business is based in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, you’re already dealing with some of the most expensive liability insurance rates in the country. But just because premiums are high doesn’t mean yours should be higher than necessary. Misclassifications, poor marketing by your broker, and outdated policy structures can inflate your costs by thousands each year — for no reason.
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4. You’re Being Charged Excessive Broker or Policy Fees
Far too many contractors are stuck paying $2,500 to $10,000 (or more) in broker or “policy service” fees — year after year. These charges are often hidden in the fine print or tacked on at renewal with no explanation. You end up paying more for the same coverage — without any added value.
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5. You’re Paying Full Payroll for Owners When You Shouldn’t Be
If you’re the owner of your business and still working in the field, your payroll could qualify for capping under your general liability and workers’ comp policies. But many brokers either don’t understand the rules or simply don’t take the time to help you save. That means you’re often paying premiums on payroll amounts that insurers don’t even require — and your broker doesn’t bother to correct it.
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6. Your Workers’ Compensation Audit Was a Total Disaster
Workers’ comp audits are notorious for causing panic, surprise bills, and frustration. If your payroll was underestimated, subcontractor documentation was missing, or job classifications were off, you might get hit with a huge audit balance. Many contractors don’t know how to prepare — and their brokers don’t help until it’s too late.
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7. You Can’t Get Certificates Issued On Time — or With the Right Language
Certificates of insurance should be simple — but in reality, they’re anything but. Whether it’s listing dozens of additional insureds, satisfying specific jobsite wording, or adding waivers of subrogation and primary/non-contributory language, certificates can delay jobs or cost you bids if they’re not done right. And if your broker takes days to issue them or always “gets it wrong,” your business suffers.
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8. Your Subcontractors Are Creating Risk You Didn’t Sign Up For
You hire a subcontractor to help on a job — and think your liability ends there. But if they’re uninsured or underinsured, or their policy doesn’t name you correctly, you could be the one footing the bill for their mistakes. Worse, some insurance companies will charge you at audit as if the subs were your employees — spiking your premium.
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9. You Can’t Find Decent Insurance If You Work in New York City
Contractors who do work in the five boroughs — especially on scaffolds, rooftops, or multi-story structures — face the toughest insurance market in the country. Labor Law 240/241 (Scaffold Law) makes carriers nervous, and many either decline to quote or charge sky-high rates. If your broker only works with a limited set of carriers or doesn’t know how to market NYC contractors effectively, you’re stuck.
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10. Your Broker Doesn’t Understand Construction
This might be the most frustrating problem of all. You call your broker with a jobsite issue, a question about a certificate, or help interpreting contract language — and they either give you a vague answer or read directly from the policy. Construction is complicated. Your broker should know the difference between CG 20 10 and CG 20 38, between scheduled and blanket endorsements, and how to make sure you’re in compliance with every job contract you sign.
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BGES Group: Contractor Insurance Done Right
At BGES Group, we specialize in helping contractors in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut with their general liability, workers’ compensation, and umbrella insurance.
We don’t try to be everything to everyone — we focus specifically on construction and contractor insurance. That means we understand your contracts, your jobsite exposures, and your policy forms. We’ve spent decades helping contractors solve these exact problems.
What makes us different?
• ✅ No ridiculous broker or policy fees
We don’t tack on hidden charges or junk fees. You pay for your policy — and that’s it.
• ✅ We review every endorsement
We make sure your additional insureds — including GCs, owners, banks, and others — are actually covered, for both ongoing and completed operations.
• ✅ We help you save on premiums
From applying owner payroll caps to reclassifying your work accurately, we look for every legitimate way to reduce your cost without compromising coverage.
• ✅ We’re fast and responsive
Need a cert today? Need contract language reviewed before you sign? We’re available — and we know how to help.
• ✅ We’re your partner, not just your broker
We care about keeping you in business and out of trouble. That’s why our clients stay with us year after year.
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Get in Touch With BGES Group Today
If you’re a contractor dealing with any of the problems above, let us help. We’ll review your policies, check your endorsements, and give you straight answers — without pressure or sales gimmicks.
Contact: Gary Wallach
📞 914-806-5853
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Contractors: You build New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Let us help protect what you’ve built — the right way.