With summer comes a rush of vacationers descending on Miami and the surrounding areas of Florida. This glut of consumers will mean a business boom for local store owners and owners of other types of commercial properties. However, the high volume of people also can increase the probability of accidents or intentional crimes committed against patrons. Shoppers may slip and fall on the floor of your store while shopping, or a customer might suffer an injury when an item falls from a higher shelf. Beyond innocent accidents of this kind, nefarious actors may assault patrons in your parking lot or rob tourists who they suspect are carrying a significant amount of cash on your property.
Anytime a patron or another person visits a commercial property, the victim of an accident or an assault committed by a third party may file a lawsuit against your business. This risk of liability is why business owners carry general liability insurance coverage. While business owners can mitigate these risks by implementing safety precautions and installing adequate security measures, there is no way that the possibility of lawsuits can be eliminated. Even if an accident is not the fault of a business owner, the victim may sue the business owner.
After a lawsuit is filed because of injuries sustained in an accident or crime on the premises of a commercial establishment, the business owner will face the cost of defending against the lawsuit and/or the expense of paying a judgment or settlement. In some cases, the cost of prevailing in litigation is a hollow victory because of the expenses associated with mounting a strong defense.
A business owner’s commercial liability insurance coverage provides protection against liability claims. The insurance company will generally step into the shoes of an insured who is facing a lawsuit. The insurance company will conduct negotiations with the plaintiff and his or her attorney while investigating the claim and attempting to negotiate a settlement. If an appropriate settlement cannot be reached, the insurance company may hire attorneys to represent the insured in litigation in the courtroom.
Despite the fact that a business owner pays premiums in a timely manner, his or her insurance company may fail to meet its contractual obligations under the policy when a liability claim is filed. The insurance company might deny the claim based on the contention that the incident that caused the injury is not covered under the policy.
Alternative bad faith tactics might include refusing to accept a reasonable settlement offer within policy limits before losing at trial. This result could expose the policyholder to a judgment significantly exceeding policy limits. If this occurs, the policyholder may be liable for the deficiency between coverage limits and the judgment.
You can reach Miami Insurance Claims Lawyer J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by dialing his direct number at (786) 272-5841, calling the main office at (305) 461-1095, or Toll Free at 1 (866) 71-CLAIM or email Attorney Gonzalez-Sirgo directly at [email protected].
