Engineering Consultant Liability Insurance in Massachusetts
Engineering consultant liability insurance is a specialized form of errors and omissions (E&O) insurance for engineers. This insurance generally covers mistakes that engineers make when giving advice.
Most engineers in Massachusetts ought to consider engineering consultant insurance if they offer advice to clients. This includes engineers who consult full-time and those that engineer as a side gig.
Engineers who work as independent contractors may receive insurance coverage in some situations, but coverage is far from guaranteed. Engineers who are actual employees are much more likely to get insurance coverage through their employer’s policy, but coverage isn’t guaranteed.
What is engineering consultant liability insurance?
Engineering consultants help clients make major decisions about their buildings, structures and other projects. Should any of the advice that a consultant provides prove to be errant, the consultant could be held financially responsible for a large expense. Engineering consultant liability insurance may help engineers in Massachusetts protect themselves from this sort of risk.
Engineering consultant liability insurance is a specialized form of errors and omissions (E&O) insurance for engineers. This insurance generally covers mistakes that engineers make when giving advice.
What professionals in Massachusetts should have engineer consultant insurance?
Most engineers in Massachusetts ought to consider engineering consultant insurance if they offer advice to clients. This includes engineers who consult full-time and those that engineer as a side gig.
Without insurance in place, engineers could be in a world of financial hurt if they offer wrong advice that has a significant negative impact. Engineers also might find that clients won’t hire them without liability insurance in place.
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What types of errors does engineer consultant insurance provide?
Each policy that offers insurance for engineering consultants has its own terms, which dictate precisely what errors a given policy will and won’t cover. With the right terms, a policy might cover errors in which an engineer
- Forgets to warn clients of a potential problem that a project has
- Rushes and makes a mistake which necessitates redoing work
- Miscalculates and makes a mistake which results in catastrophic failure
In the event of a covered error, a policy will normally cover attorney fees, court fees and a settlement (up to the policy’s limit).
An agent who’s knowledgeable about policies that offer insurance for engineering consultants can help engineers check what sorts of errors a particular policy will cover.
Do engineering consultants receive insurance from their employers?
Engineering consultants sometimes receive liability coverage from a hiring company, but this isn’t always the case. Whether a company’s own policy provides insurance for engineering consultants depends on the terms of the policy and how an engineer is hired.
Engineers who work as independent contractors may receive insurance coverage in some situations, but coverage is far from guaranteed. Engineers who are actual employees are much more likely to get insurance coverage through their employer’s policy, but coverage isn’t guaranteed.
In either case, any employer-provided insurance for engineering consultants comes with three notable limitations. An employer’s policy:
- May have lower limits than an engineer would like
- Usually won’t cover side gigs or pro bono work
- Might cover the employer first if multiple parties are sued
Before relying solely on an employer’s policy, engineers should first assess their coverage needs with an agent who knows engineer consultant insurance well. An informed agent will have the expertise necessary to help engineers make sure they’re well protected whenever they offer consulting services.
How much do policies that offer insurance for engineer consultants cost?
Premiums for engineer consultant policies vary, as they’re based on many factors. Engineers can find out how much a policy would cost them by comparing quotes with an independent insurance agent. Independent agents are able to compare quotes from multiple insurers, which makes assessing premiums easy.
How can engineers in Massachusetts get engineering consultant liability insurance?
For assistance with engineering consultant liability insurance, contact the independent insurance agents at Scotti Insurance Agency. Our agents have worked with many engineers located in Massachusetts, and we’ll make sure you’re well protected when consulting.
