Landscaping Insurance in Massachusetts
What is landscaping insurance?
The work that landscapers do comes with inherent risks. From stolen equipment to leached chemicals, landscaping insurance may protect Massachusetts landscapers when they’re driving vehicles, cutting lawns, applying treatments, or doing most anything else.
Landscaping insurance is tailor-made to meet the needs of lawn care and landscaping companies. Policies usually have both liability and property coverages, which companies may customize.
What companies in Massachusetts is lawn care insurance for?
Most businesses offering lawn care or landscaping services in Massachusetts should have this insurance. This tends to be the most suitable type of insurance, and not insuring can be disastrous.
Importantly, the need for insurance isn’t limited to just larger businesses in the state. While statewide companies almost certainly should have insurance, it can also be important for local companies and even self-employed sole proprietors to protect themselves. Anyone in the industry could have something happen.
What protections can landscapers get through lawn care policies?
Lawn care insurance policies generally provide a mix of liability and property coverages.
Liability coverages broadly cover instances where a business could be held financially responsible for harm caused to another party. Some important liability protections to consider are:
- General Liability Coverage: Normally insures against liability lawsuits stemming from common accidents for which a landscaper is allegedly responsible. Typically doesn’t include auto accidents.
- Errors and Omissions Coverage: Normally insures against errors made when advising customers on the installation or management of their landscaping (E&O).
- Product Liability Coverage: Normally insures against injuries, illnesses, and property damage that are caused by products a landscaper uses or sells. Could cover fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and other products.
- Environmental Liability Coverage: Normally insures against local environmental damage caused by products like fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Could cover leaks, spills, and over-application.
- Commercial Auto Coverage: Normally insures a landscaper’s vans and trucks, potentially covering both liability risks and damage to the vehicles.
- Commercial Umbrella Coverage: Normally provides an additional layer of insurance, potentially covering lawsuits that exceed another liability coverage’s limit.
Property coverages generally protect assets, such as buildings or equipment, that a landscaper owns. What’s protected and when it’s protected depends on the specific coverage in mind:
- Commercial Property Coverage: Normally insures building(s), and the items stored within them. This could include chainsaws, wood chippers, lawnmowers, trimmers, spreaders, and other equipment, as well as seeds, plants, and chemicals.
- Inland Marine Coverage: Normally insures equipment, seeds, plants, and chemical treatments, as they’re transported to/from customer locations.
- Equipment Breakdown Coverage: Normally insures essential equipment against malfunction, often paying for prompt repairs if covered equipment breaks.
Do landscapers get workers compensation coverage?
The purpose of workers compensation is generally to protect against injuries and illnesses that employees could sustain while working. These could include everything from injuries sustained while operating mowers, to accidental burns when a chemical spills.
In Massachusetts, businesses with employees typically need workers compensation coverage. Local and statewide companies that have employees should expect to get this coverage. Self-employed sole proprietors who have no employees likely don’t need to have it.
Can lawn care insurance policies cover snow plowing?
Many lawn care insurance policies are able to cover snow removal services too. Landscapers who need coverage for snow plowing should work with an insurance agent who specializes in these types of policies. A knowledgeable agent will be able to confirm that a specific policy covers both landscaping and snow removal services well.
Can landscape architects insure themselves with a landscaping policy?
Landscape architects may find that a landscaping policy provides the protections they need. They should confirm that a policy does indeed meet their needs, however. One important coverage to check is errors and omissions. This is something an insurance agent who’s familiar with these policies can assist with.
Where can landscapers and lawn care companies find landscaping insurance?
If you need help with landscaping insurance, get in touch with the independent insurance agents at PIKE Insurance. Our Massachusetts agents will make sure you find a policy that’ll protect your business well.
