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Business Insurance

Coverage and risk management solutions for companies of all sizes.

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Business insurance throughout California.

In today’s ever-changing environment, risk is constant. Business insurance isn’t. We’ll thoroughly assess your business and situation to develop creative, comprehensive, cost-effective solutions that fit your needs.

We know that you cannot outrun your risk, but you can be ready for it. What if a hurricane causes you to lose power to your building and your operations cease, or if a fire severely damages your building? You shouldn’t have to pay for this yourself, and with the right protection, you won’t have to. Our insurance advisors can help you identify gaps in coverage, look for ways to save money, and keep your assets and income protected.

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Which business insurance is right for your company?

Explore how having the right business insurance can protect your company from the unexpected.

Work Safety
Pre-Hire Physical
Risk Factor

Are you about to hire your next workers' compensation claim? In an effort to get a position filled quickly, you may take shortcuts that could cost you thousands of dollars.

Solution

Prospective employees should be required to complete a pre-hire physical. A copy of the intended job description can then be given to the medical provider with the physical requirements of the position. This helps to ensure only those capable of doing the job are hired and keeps other employees safe.

Education and Injury Reporting
Risk Factor

Oftentimes employees don’t understand the workers' compensation process and may be afraid to report a claim for fear of losing their job or impacting a daily count of injury-free days that are tied to an incentive program.

Solution

Educate employees on the workers' compensation system. During the hiring process, consider explaining how workers' compensation coverage protects your employee when an injury occurs. Your employees should understand that it is their responsibility to report an injury immediately and follow the company’s guidelines for seeking medical attention. Explain your return to work policy and have your employees sign an agreement stating they understand the process.

Communication
Risk Factor

Your employee may become injured and you might be tempted to rely on someone else to communicate with them. As a result, your employee may be confused by the workers' compensation process and unsure where to turn.

Solution

You and your supervisors need to stay in constant communication with your employees. Your insurance broker can provide some coaching and guidance throughout the process. Above all, your employees should feel that you care about their injuries and that you will be involved in helping them recover. Your direct supervisors play a key role in this process and should be trained to effectively communicate with your employees throughout the injury.

Return to Work Program
Risk Factor

When your employees become injured, they may need time to recover. As an employer, you may be tempted to rely solely on the workers' compensation insurance company and/or your employee’s medical provider to communicate throughout the process. If you do, the process can become unnecessarily prolonged.

Solution

As the employer, let your insurance company and your employee’s medical provider know that you have a return to work program in place. Ask the medical provider to refer to the job description that has been provided for the injured employee. As soon as the employee is medically cleared, offer a light duty position and ask them to report to work. If needed, your employee can continue to receive treatment while they continue to recover.

Payroll Audits and EMR
Risk Factor

Statistically, your company’s Experience Modification Rate (EMR) has more than a 70% chance of being incorrect. Your EMR is a number used by insurance companies to gauge any past cost of injuries and future chances of risk. In addition, over 80% of payroll audits are done incorrectly. Both factors impact your workers' compensation coverage.

Solution

Trust your insurance advisor and have them assist and advocate during the annual payroll audit conducted by the insurance company. Your agent should also monitor all claims, but especially claims reserved over a $10,000 threshold. Larger claims should have a quarterly report prepared by your insurance agent to let you know the status of the claim. Your agent should work with your insurance company’s claims adjustor to close any claims as quickly as possible.

Medical Provider Communication
Risk Factor

Claims can remain open longer than needed due to poor communication between you and your employee’s medical provider. As a result, you may be unaware that your employee is well enough to return to work on a modified basis.

Solution

Get to know the doctors that are helping your employee heal. Your insurance broker should foster this relationship by assisting you in the selection of the medical provider prior to a claim. Meet with the medical provider, interview them, tour their facilities, ask them to tour your location, and explain your return to work program. Job descriptions can be provided to the medical provider and an agreement of services can be achieved. Once a claim takes place, a clear line of communication should be established so you are kept aware of your employee’s status.

Safety Training
Risk Factor

Sometimes employees are trained to do a job well, but are not trained to do their job safely. Many work-related injuries can be avoided by effective training.

Solution

Your insurance broker should be able to organize monthly training classes. Many insurance carriers offer training tools at no charge and your broker can help you utilize these tools to your advantage. For example, topics such as proper lifting techniques can be critical for many job functions. Also, using tools like payroll stuffers can be very effective.

OSHA Inspections
Risk Factor

Many employers are concerned about their next OSHA visit. Worried about citations and fines, employers see OSHA as the enemy. Sound familiar?

Solution

OSHA's On-site Consultation Program offers free and confidential safety and occupational health advice to small and medium-sized businesses in all states across the country, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. On-site Consultation services are separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations. Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice on compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing injury and illness prevention programs.

Business Owners Insurance

A business owners policy combines business property and business liability insurance into one convenient policy. We'll work with you to design coverage that protects your business from a variety of risks, unique to you.

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General Liability Insurance

No matter the size and nature of your business, there are always uncertainties. We'll work with you to determine your business risks and we'll put together an insurance package that makes sense for your business.

Business Auto Insurance

Whether you have one vehicle or a whole fleet, we can help you implement custom coverage that will protect your business and personal assets from the additional exposure that commercial vehicles bring with them.

Commercial Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance protects your assets in the event that they are stolen, damaged or destroyed in a fire or natural disaster. We'll partner with you to design insurance coverage that will protect your company's property.

Workers' Compensation Insurance

Workers' compensation insurance covers employees injured on the job or in auto accidents while on business. It also covers work-related illnesses. We'll work with you to find a solution that creates a safer and more productive workplace.

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Commercial Umbrella Insurance

Commercial umbrella insurance is designed to supplement existing insurance policies, giving you an additional layer of protection for your business. We'll work with you to find the right umbrella solution to cover all your business needs.

Cyber Liability Insurance

Cyber liability insurance protects your business against the expenses associated with a data breach. We'll help you evaluate the data liability risks your business faces and find you a policy that meets your specific needs.

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Employment Practice Liability Insurance

As an employer, you face a rising tide of employment practices litigation alleging discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and other employment-related issues. We'll work with you to help you assess and manage your risk proactively.

Errors & Omissions Liability Insurance

Errors & omissions liability insurance protects any business that gives advice, makes educated recommendations, designs solutions or represents the needs of others. We'll design coverage that will ensure that one simple mistake does not cause financial devastation.

Directors & Officers Liability Insurance

Directors & officers liability insurance covers directors and officers for claims made against them while serving on a board of directors and/or as an officer. We'll work with you to protect your organization's greatest asset: your senior leadership.

Flood Insurance

At least 25 percent of businesses that close after destructive events such as floods never reopen. We'll design a policy that will protect your business, as well as its physical contents and assets, from the damage costs that come from floodwater.

Crime Insurance

Every company, regardless of size, is a potential target for white collar crime. We'll work with you to design insurance coverage that helps you minimize risk and protects your business and your assets from theft, fraud and forgery.

Builders Risk Insurance

Did you know you can protect your properties even before they are finished being built? Builders risk insurance protects from risks like fire, theft and more.

Liquor Liability Insurance

As a business that serves alcohol, liquor liability insurance is essential. This type of policy protects you and your business in the unfortunate event that a customer causes damage or injury after being served alcohol by your business.

Special Event Insurance

The stress and cost of organizing a special event is tough enough. The last thing you need to worry about is the financial risk you could face if something were to go wrong! Special event insurance removes this burden and allows you to focus on the event.

Surety Bonds

A surety bond is a great way to guarantee that a large investment in a project is not lost—whether or not the work gets done. This type of insurance is especially common in the construction industry, and is often utilized for government contracts.

Ocean Marine Insurance

Ocean marine insurance is insurance used to protect cargo, vessels and other items while they are being transported across the ocean. We'll work with you to design coverage that provides real protection when you're in open waters.

Inland Marine Insurance

Inland marine insurance is coverage that protects your business property while it's away from your business location. We'll help you ensure that your property is protected not only at your location but also while it is off-site or in transit.

Environmental Insurance

Environmental concerns continue to be a leading societal and business risk issue, sometimes posing serious unexpected challenges. We'll work with you to create a custom solution to help protect your business against environmental risks.

Systems Breakdown Insurance

Systems breakdown insurance covers the sudden and accidental, physical damage to equipment that requires its repair or replacement. We'll design comprehensive coverage to protect your business against a financial disaster.

Key Man Life Insurance

Key man life insurance can keep your business afloat in the event of the death of any employee who is an integral asset to the company's survival. We'll work with you to design coverage that helps assure continuity of your business for employees, customers and creditors.

Fiduciary Liability Insurance

Fiduciary liability insurance protects individuals acting as ERISA fiduciaries against fiduciary-related claims of mismanagement of a company's employee benefit plan. We'll work with you to ensure that employee benefits are handled responsibly and your trustees are protected.

Captive Insurance Management

Captive insurance is a unique way for a business to insure itself. In many cases it can improve a business' tax position and help to avoid legal pitfalls. Could captive insurance be an option for your business?

Westways Insurance Agency Inc. offers comprehensive business insurance options.

Business Insurance Quote Request

As an independent agency, we offer multiple options at competitive prices.

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