When a business suffers damage to its facility caused by a hurricane, fire, or other catastrophe, the first priority for most business owners is to take appropriate steps to mitigate ongoing damage, so the company can resume normal production. However, the process of resolving a commercial property damage claims dispute is a complex business transaction. This process should be approached with the same caution and diligence used in negotiating contracts with customers, vendors, and others. Business owners seeking to obtain the full value of their claim cannot rely on the insurance adjuster’s opinion regarding the nature and value of the loss. Business owners should be aware of the full range of types of commercial coverage for property loss which include:
Property Damage: This type of coverage will provide funds to repair or replace structures, furnishings, machinery, inventory, and raw materials.
Ordinary Payroll Coverage: This coverage enables business owners to avoid the loss of employees during repairs by providing funds to continue paying hourly wage employees for a designated period of time until business operations resume.
Business Interruption: This form of compensation is intended to place the business in the financial position that it would have been in had a loss not occurred. Money is provided to sustain the company during the time that operations are suspended due to a covered peril. This form of coverage typically will cover lost profits and operating expenses for a specified duration.
Extended Period of Indemnity: This coverage provides for business interruption and extra expenses beyond the period of restoration.
Extra Expense Coverage: This form of coverage applies to additional expenses incurred because of inflated cost of operating the business in the wake of a loss. The cost incurred to mitigate damages also is included within this type of coverage. An example of this type of expense includes costs associated with temporary relocation until property damage can be repaired and operations resumed. The objective of this form of coverage is to cover the additional costs associated with returning to ordinary operations.
Utility Service Coverage: This coverage extends to extra expense and business income to insure against losses associated with an interruption of utility services resulting from a covered peril.
Ingress or Egress: This coverage compensates for losses associated with the inability to enter or leave the property.
Civil Authority: This coverage is most relevant to situations where public authorities impose mandatory evacuation. Income benefits are paid if a civil authority prohibits access to the property arising from damage to the premises or direct physical loss.
Loss of Rents: Compensation is paid under this provision when damage caused by a covered peril makes rental premises uninhabitable, and the tenant has no legal obligation to pay the rent.
Contingent Business Interruption: This coverage essentially amounts to an extension of business interruption coverage in most commercial property policies. It also provides benefits to cover extra expenses and lost profits arising from damage to a third party’s property in certain situations.
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].
