Tree Service Insurance in Massachusetts
Tree service insurance is specialized commercial insurance for arborists and their businesses. So that they can provide multiple protections, most of these policies are package policies that combine multiple individual coverage’s together.
Tree removal
Tree trimming
Tree care (municipal or commercial)
Business Property Coverage
Inland Marine Coverage
Equipment Breakdown Coverage
What is Tree Service Insurance?
Tree work comes with certain risks, and Massachusetts businesses in the arborist industry should protect themselves against these risks when possible. Purchasing tree service insurance won’t stop something bad from happening, but it could provide financial compensation in the event of a covered incident.
Tree service insurance is specialized commercial insurance for arborists and their businesses. So that they can provide multiple protections, most of these policies are package policies that combine multiple individual coverages together.
What Massachusetts Businesses Should Have Arborist Insurance Coverage?
Most Massachusetts businesses that provide tree services should consider purchasing arborist insurance. This may include businesses that offer:
- Tree removal
- Tree trimming
- Tree care (municipal or commercial)
- Tree pest management
- Landscaping
- Hardscaping
Additionally, businesses ought to consider this insurance regardless of how small or large they are. Individual sole proprietors might not have the same risk exposure as state-wide companies with multiple locations, but either type of business can face a property loss or liability lawsuit.
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What Coverages Does Arborist Insurance Come With?
While arborist insurance policies commonly come with multiple coverages, the exact combination of protections that’s found in any one policy can vary. The following are some more frequently offered protections that businesses might want to look for:
- Business Property Coverage, which may protect facilities and equipment
- Inland Marine Coverage, which may protect equipment as it’s taken to and from job sites
- Equipment Breakdown Coverage, which may protect vital equipment if it malfunctions
- General Liability Coverage, which may protect against common accidents involving third parties
- Product Liability Coverage, which may protect against sold or used products that harm third parties
- Errors and Omissions Coverage, which may protect against bad advice given to third parties
An insurance agent who’s familiar with arborist policies can help business owners go through all of the available coverage options and select the ones that make sense for their business.
Do Tree Service Businesses Need Commercial Auto Coverage?
Many tree service businesses use trucks and need to carry some form of commercial auto coverage, but the specific type of coverage needed is situationally dependent. Whether the trucks used are business-owned, personal vehicles or rented usually determines what type of commercial auto coverage should be purchased. This is a detail that an informed agent can help work through.
Do Tree Service Businesses Need Workers Compensation?
Tree service businesses that have employees are generally required by Massachusetts law to carry workers compensation, and self-employed sole proprietors may also want the protection even if they aren’t legally obligated to purchase it. Workers compensation normally covers workplace injuries, thus giving businesses that have injured employees valuable protection and possibly covering self-employed individuals’ work-related injuries if they’re excluded by standard health insurance. (Sometimes health insurance policies won’t cover workplace accidents.)
Not all arborist policies offer workers compensation within their coverage options, however. While some policies do make the coverage available, it’s also sometimes purchased via a policy that only provides workers compensation. In either case, the protection is readily available.
What Factors Influence Premiums for Arborist Policies?
Premiums for arborist policies are based on many factors, and they range as a result. A business’ location, size, scope of work, coverage needs, and chosen limits and deductibles are merely some of the details that underwriters typically look at.
An independent agent can help individual business owners find out how much insurance will cost for their particular business. Independent agents are able to compare quotes from multiple insurance companies, making it easy to see differences in coverages and rates.
Where Can Arborists Get Tree Service Insurance?
For help finding tree service insurance in Massachusetts, contact the independent insurance agents at Scott Insurance Agency. Our agents will work with you to determine your business’s specific coverage requirements, and then we’ll help you find the best policy that provides those protections.
