FAQ
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What is public liability insurance?
This is one of the most common questions a insurance broker will receive. In short Public Liability Insurance is designed to protect your business in case you or an employee cause third party personal injury or third party property damage due to your negligence.
What is products liability insurance?
Products Liability Insurance is designed to protect your business in case your product causes third party personal injury or third party property damage.
How do I make a claim on a public & products liability insurance policy?
To lodge a public & products liability claim you will first need to contact your broker who will walk you through the process. You will need to complete a claim notification form and provide the following information:
- Letter of demand from the third party
- Any photos you might have
- repair or replacement quotes for property damage claims and medical bills in regards to third party injury claims.
The insurer will then asses your claim and inform you should they require further information.
How do I make a claim on my contents or stock?
To lodge a claim on your contents or stock insurance, your insurer will require you to complete a claim notification form that your broker will provide. Your insurer will also require the following information:
- Police report
- Proof of ownership
- Repair or replacement quotes
The insurer will then asses your claim and inform you should they require further information.
After I have purchased a policy, is there a waiting period before I can claim?
Generally speaking, no there isn’t a waiting period before you can claim on a business insurance policy. However, it is your duty to disclose any possible claims or circumstances which may lead to your insurer prior to requesting they bind cover. Failure to do so can result in your policy being voided.
What does a claim in occurrence policy mean?
Public & products liability policies are an occurrence based policy meaning your business is covered for incidences that occurs during that policy period even if the claim made against you, is lodged after your policy expires.
What is a “claims made” policy?
A claims made policy is different from an occurrence policy. You will find these on a professional indemnity & and management liability insurance policies. If you have a claims made policy, you must have a policy in place when the claim is lodged regardless of whether or not you had insurance when the incident occurred.
Some policies will have a retroactive date from inception, it is important to ensure your retroactive date, dates back as far as possible.
Why should I use a broker instead of going directly to an insurance company?
There are many benefits to using a broker instead of dealing with an insurer direct. Brokers have access to a wider market of insurance companies. This is due to a large number of insurers that only deal with brokers and don’t offer policies directly to customers. This gives us brokers the ability to shop around with more insurers and negotiate better policies for our clients. As brokers, we also get a better understanding of your business and business needs. We take pride in getting to know you and your business so that we can help make sure your business is protected.
As clients, you buy insurance to protect your business with the hope of never actually using your policy. Claims can be very stressful, and should an incident happen we are here to help you through the process. We will talk to the claims officer on your behalf and negotiate the best settlement possible for your business.
What is my duty of disclosure?
You and everyone who is insured under an insurance policy must comply with the duty of disclosure.
You must provide complete and accurate information and instructions in a timely manner so that we can assist you fully.
You have a duty to disclose to the insurer before a contract of insurance is entered into, upon any renewal or alteration/endorsement to the contract, every matter that is known to you that is relevant to the decision of the insurer whether to accept the risk.
It is important that you tell us every matter that you know or that a reasonable person in your circumstances would know that would be relevant to an insurer's decision whether or not to insure you and on what terms. You must give honest and complete answers to each of the insurer’s questions. You should disclose in answer to each question any matter that is known to you and which a reasonable person in the circumstances could be expected to have told the insurer in the circumstances.
Failure to comply with your duty of disclosure may allow the insurer to avoid liability for a particular claim or to void the policy.