About: ria

It’s that time of year again!  Time to take stock, give thanks, celebrate with friends and family…and be named in a host liquor liability lawsuit!  Nobody wants to be reminded that alcohol and gasoline don’t mix, but reality doesn’t take a holiday.   The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reported that 40% of traffic-related deaths during Christmas and New Year’s involve drunk drivers – 12% more than the rest of the month…

In the Wizard of Oz Dorothy and her friends were afraid to follow the yellow brick road through the forest.  They imagined the awful things the “lions and tigers and bears” might do to them.  What do skid steers, scissor lifts and bulldozers have to do with Oz?  Nothing. Its Halloween.  Work with me.  Like most general contractors, you probably don’t own much mobile equipment.  You rely on your subcontractors’ equipment and expect them to…

Show of hands.  How many know what Personal and Advertising Injury is?  Don’t feel bad if the answer doesn’t spring to mind.  You have coverage for it with its own limits in your RWC Insurance Advantage General Liability policy.  And if you advertise in any form of social or public media, you’ve got risk.  Story time:  A large national builder buys land in your area and puts up a lot of cookie cutter homes priced,…

Here’s a true story.  The name of the builder has been omitted to preserve privacy. Back in 2012 we sold a Builders Risk insurance policy to a builder in New Jersey.  The project was near the coast.  Flood insurance could have been added to the policy, but the premium was a bit stiff given the proximity of the Atlantic and the fact it was still hurricane season.  This builder’s project was just getting underway.  A…

Ever hear that old expression?  Its about being surrounded by an ocean of water that you know you can’t drink.  Add a few sharks and it’s not a very pleasant thought.  Well, home builders are surrounded by people wanting to buy homes, but few can afford them.  When you do find a buyer, how often have you been faced with a shortage of skilled labor or skyrocketing materials costs?  We share your frustration.  We find…

Ok.  I know.  The only thing more boring than insurance is talking about contracts, but we really need to discuss this.  So listen…please.  As a general contractor, you work with many independent subcontractors.  If you’re smart, you have written contracts with each.  If you’re really smart there’s a hold harmless agreement in those contracts that says something like “subcontractor shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless general contractor against all claims for property damage, bodily injury, including…

Preventing accidents is a whole lot better than paying claims that could have been avoided.  Of course, a fair question is; “what can the RWC Insurance Advantage offer to help me eliminate or reduce risk?”  We got specific in February with our blog LOSS CONTROL – THE 7 BASICS.  In a our March post, MOST RISK FOR ACCIDENTS – 5 AREAS, we talked about where accidents are most likely to happen.  Now we are happy…

Have you ever been sued?  If you’re in most any business long enough the odds are you will face some kind of litigation sooner or later.  Maybe you already have.  If so, your general liability insurance company probably paid to defend you.  These defense costs did not reduce the limit of insurance in your policy.  That’s how most general liability policies work, including those sold by the RWC Insurance Advantage.  But, this is not a…

In our February 2019 blog we discussed the 7 BASICS of a good loss control program.  But, where do you have the most risk for accidents?  Obviously, knowing this will allow you to focus your loss control efforts more efficiently.  It turns out most businesses have the greatest risk in 5 AREAS. These suggestions are intended as a rough guideline to help you get started in establishing a loss control program.  If you already have a program, it…

In an earlier blog (July 19, 2017) we talked about how safety meetings can LOWER YOUR INSURANCE COSTS by earning you UP TO 25% DISCOUNT off your first year’s general liability premium, if you are new to our program, or at your next renewal.  But what if you don’t have a formal loss control program?  You may be doing a lot to ensure a safe jobsite, but how do you prove it?  Then too, you may have been intending…