Georgia Errors and Omissions Insurance for Professionals

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As a professional in Georgia, you're likely aware of the importance of protecting yourself and your business from potential lawsuits. Errors and omissions insurance is a type of liability insurance that can provide financial protection in the event of a mistake or oversight.

In Georgia, errors and omissions insurance is typically required for certain professionals, such as architects, engineers, and lawyers. This is because these professionals often work with high-stakes projects and clients, and a mistake can result in significant financial losses.

Georgia law requires that professionals carry a minimum amount of errors and omissions insurance to practice in the state. The specific requirements vary depending on the profession and the type of work being done. For example, architects are required to carry a minimum of $500,000 in coverage, while lawyers are required to carry a minimum of $300,000.

Having errors and omissions insurance can provide peace of mind and financial security for professionals in Georgia. It can also help to protect their reputation and business relationships in the event of a mistake or oversight.

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What Liability Covers

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General liability insurance covers physical damage, but it may not be enough to safeguard your assets, especially if your business provides professional services or advises others. This is where errors and omissions liability insurance comes into play.

If your business offers professional advice or services, such as financial professionals, contractors, non-profits, engineers, doctors, legal professionals, and the like, you'll want to consider having an E&O policy for your business.

An E&O policy typically covers the business owner, salaried and hourly employees, and subcontractors against claims of professional negligence.

An E&O policy will generally cover the costs of any damages themselves and the costs of defending claims.

Here are some examples of claims that may be covered by errors and omissions insurance:

  • An IT company suffers a data breach and fails to protect client information.
  • An investor takes advice from a stockbroker that goes poorly and is said to have been inaccurate.
  • A custom product fails to work as promised and results in financial losses for the client.
  • A software package fails to run or lacks promised capabilities, despite representation by the developer/salesperson as being powerful and bug-free.
  • A fight breaks out in your bar, but assault and battery are excluded from your general liability policy.
  • Your company caters a wedding reception and is supposed to deliver hot food to be served at 5:00 p.m., but the food arrives unheated at 5:00 and takes another hour for catering staff to heat through and prepare.
  • A company rents out your nightclub for a networking event and finds that there is not enough seating space as represented to them by a nightclub employee.

Insurance companies are typically ranked A to E, with A as the top rating. The higher the rating, the more financially stable the carrier.

Businesses That Benefit from Coverage

If your business offers professional advice or services, such as financial professionals, contractors, non-profits, engineers, doctors, legal professionals, and the like, you'll want to consider having an E&O policy for your business.

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Businesses that give professional advice to their clients benefit the most from E&O coverage. This includes companies that provide advice, supply software, and similar tools that clients might then use for their own businesses.

Some industries have higher risks, such as architecture or engineering, where clients may require E&O insurance to provide financial protection in case of a lawsuit.

Who Should Consider Coverage

If your business offers professional advice or services, you'll want to consider having an E&O policy for your business. This includes financial professionals, contractors, non-profits, engineers, doctors, legal professionals, and the like.

Companies that provide advice are essential to have an E&O policy. It may also prove useful for companies that supply software and similar tools that clients might then use for their own businesses.

You'll want to consider an errors and omissions liability insurance policy that will cover both the costs of any damages themselves and the costs of defending claims for your business.

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An E&O policy will generally cover the business owner along with all salaried and hourly employees of the company. Most policies also extend to provide coverage for any subcontractors you have working on behalf of your business.

If you provide a professional service, give advice to clients, or are obligated by a contractual agreement, you should consider having errors and omission coverage. This includes industries like architecture or engineering, where your risks may be higher since you may be designing expensive structures or machinery.

Best Carriers

When working with experienced brokers and insurance providers, businesses can access top E&O insurance carriers.

LandesBlosch can provide quotes from some of the top E&O insurance carriers, including.

E&O insurance can be complex, but working with the right provider can make a big difference.

Businesses that benefit from coverage often rely on brokers and insurance providers with a proven track record.

Understanding Coverage

If your business offers professional advice or services, you'll want to consider having an E&O policy for your business, which can cover errors, omissions, and negligence.

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An E&O policy will generally cover the business owner along with all salaried and hourly employees of the company, as well as subcontractors working on behalf of your business.

You can expect to pay varying costs for an E&O policy, depending on your business type, location, and past lawsuits or claims made against you.

The cost of an E&O policy may vary depending on your business type, your location, and if your business has had lawsuits or claims made against you in the past.

To give you a better idea, here are some typical events that would trigger coverage under an E&O policy:

  • An IT company suffers a data breach and fails to protect client information.
  • An investor takes advice from a stockbroker that goes poorly and is said to have been inaccurate.
  • A custom product fails to work as promised and results in financial losses for the client.
  • A software package fails to run or lacks promised capabilities, despite representation by the developer/salesperson as being powerful and bug-free.

Basics

If your business offers professional advice or services, you'll want to consider having an E&O policy for your business.

Most E&O policies cover the business owner along with all salaried and hourly employees of the company.

Subcontractors working on behalf of your business are often also covered by the policy.

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The cost of an E&O policy may vary depending on your business type, location, and if your business has had lawsuits or claims made against you in the past.

Insurance companies are typically ranked A to E, with A being the top rating, indicating a more financially stable carrier.

A higher rating usually means you want to buy E&O insurance from a carrier rated A or better.

E&O insurance helps pay for costs like disciplinary hearings, loss of earnings, and defense against lawsuits.

E&O policies do not cover criminal prosecution and certain liabilities that may arise in civil court not listed in the policy.

These exclusions are part of what keeps insurance affordable, but you may need to line up other insurance coverage to plug any risks that fall under your E&O carrier's exclusions.

The limit of liability on your E&O policy should be large enough to cover the total cost of a property that your client has purchased.

Here are some examples of general business situations that may be covered by E&O insurance:

  • An IT company suffers a data breach and fails to protect client information.
  • An investor takes advice from a stockbroker that goes poorly and is said to have been inaccurate.
  • A custom product fails to work as promised and results in financial losses for the client.
  • A software package fails to run or lacks promised capabilities, despite representation by the developer/salesperson as being powerful and bug-free.

Choosing Coverage

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Exclusions aren't necessarily bad - it's part of what keeps insurance affordable, though you may need to line up other insurance coverage to plug any risks that fall under your E&O carrier's exclusions.

Insurance companies are typically ranked A to E, with A as the top rating. The higher the rating, the more financially stable the carrier.

Most E&O policies will generally cover the business owner along with all salaried and hourly employees of the company. Most policies also extend to provide coverage for any subcontractors you have working on behalf of your business.

To compare errors and omissions insurance quotes, look for insurance companies rated A or better.

Here are some key factors to consider when choosing coverage:

The higher the amount of coverage you want, the higher your premiums will be. For example, all else being equal, $500,000 in coverage will cost less than $2 million in coverage.

Protection Beyond Claims

Protection beyond claims is a crucial aspect of errors and omissions insurance. This type of insurance can cover costs associated with false accusations, even if the claims are groundless.

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In some cases, litigation costs may be covered, as stated in Example 6. This means that even if a claim is unfounded, you can still expect to receive support from your insurance provider.

Your insurance can also protect you against more than just claims related to errors, omissions, or negligence, as mentioned in Example 5. This can include a range of other protections, depending on the coverage you choose.

Some examples of general business situations that may be covered by errors and omissions insurance include:

  • An IT company suffers a data breach and fails to protect client information.
  • An investor takes advice from a stockbroker that goes poorly and is said to have been inaccurate.
  • A custom product fails to work as promised and results in financial losses for the client.
  • A software package fails to run or lacks promised capabilities, despite representation by the developer/salesperson as being powerful and bug-free.

These situations highlight the importance of having comprehensive insurance coverage that goes beyond just claims related to errors and omissions. By choosing the right policy, you can protect your business from a range of potential risks and ensure that you're prepared for any eventuality.

Victoria Funk

Junior Writer

Victoria Funk is a talented writer with a keen eye for investigative journalism. With a passion for uncovering the truth, she has made a name for herself in the industry by tackling complex and often overlooked topics. Her in-depth articles on "Banking Scandals" have sparked important conversations and shed light on the need for greater financial transparency.

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