Virginia Business Insurance

With services that might include offering managerial advice, recommending marketing strategies, and maintaining confidential business and financial information, the work of a business consultant in Virginia is extremely sensitive, so these businesses can benefit from the protection of a range of insurance policies.

Professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions insurance, covers claims against businesses that provide professional and personal services, such as business consultants. It offers protection even in cases in which the business hasn't made a mistake, such as if a business consultant advises a client to alter their internal process to increase productivity, the client does not implement the recommendations as specified, and productivity subsequently drops. The client may decide to sue, even though the business consultant is not at fault.

General liability insurance, which protects against claims of bodily injury or property damage, is also helpful for a business consultant who frequently travels from office to office or to clients' homes. If the consultant accidentally knocks over an expensive vase while visiting a client's home or office, general liability insurance will cover the costs of repairing or replacing the vase.

A personal trainer in Virginia might help clients get in shape, recover after injuries, or even train for a competition, and as personal trainers know well, there are many physical risks associated with physical training. Whether it's an injury sustained during a workout or chronic pain that occurs after sessions, the risks that come along with any fitness regimen may prompt litigious clients to file a claim against personal trainers, even when the trainer is not at fault. 

Professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions insurance, covers claims against businesses that provide professional and personal services, such as personal trainers. It offers protection even in cases where the personal trainer hasn't made a mistake, so if an older client happens to suffer chest pain and has to be rushed to the hospital after a session with a personal trainer and later claims that the personal trainer caused his heart attack and mental anguish, then a Hiscox professional liability policy will not only provide an attorney to defend against such claims, but it will also cover the costs of any settlement or judgment in the case. 

In addition, general liability insurance, which protects against claims of bodily injury or property damage, can be especially useful in the heavily physical realm of personal training. This would protect the personal trainer's business if, for example, a client trips over a stack of weights and blames the personal trainer for not keeping the area clear and safe. 

From factory floors to clients' bathrooms, Virginia's janitorial and cleaning services operate at a level of risk every day: they handle delicate and expensive items, they work on-site at customers' offices and homes, they operate cleaning equipment owned by clients, and they use dangerous chemicals. Even baseless liability claims can drain a business's assets, so Hiscox specializes in providing tailored coverage to give cleaning professionals peace of mind and protection against potential litigious situations. 

General liability insurance, which protects against a third party's claims of bodily injury or property damage, is the most common policy used by janitorial and cleaning services. Protection against bodily injury might be needed, for example, if a client trips over an employee's cleaning equipment and breaks an ankle; even if the employee didn't directly cause the client's injury. Another example might be if an employee is cleaning an executive's office and, while dusting the shelves, breaks an antique figurine; the customer may demand that the cleaning service pay for the cost of repairing or replacing the antique. General liability insurance also protects against claims of personal injury, such as if an employee on their lunch break is overheard making disparaging comments about a client, who subsequently hears about the gossip and sues the business for slander. 

In Virginia, a lawn care provider might serve commercial customers, residential homeowners or both. Landscapers and gardeners might operate heavy equipment around homes, use sharp tools near clients, and handle harsh chemicals—activities that all bring a heightened risk of bodily injury and property damage that expose lawn care providers to potential liability. For all of these reasons, Hiscox provides tailored insurance that can fit the specific needs of each individual Virginia lawn care business. 

Most lawn care providers will choose a general liability insurance policy, which protects against bodily injury, so if a client trips over a lawn care professional's tools and cuts open their hand, the policy will cover the costs of the client's medical care. It also protects against property damage, so if an employee breaks a window in a customer's home while working on the lawn, the policy will cover the costs associated with replacing the glass. And it also protects against personal injury, so if an employee is at lunch and starts talking to the cafe's owner about a client in a false and unflattering way and that client subsequently hears about this discussion and sues for slander, then the policy will cover the claim and pay for a defense attorney, as necessary.  

Whether they shoot for the news, corporate clients, weddings or beyond, photographers in Virginia face the constant challenges of interacting with clients, navigating challenging environments, and getting the perfect shot—all while managing and maintaining their valuable equipment.  

Photographers can find peace of mind through comprehensive professional liability insurance coverage, also called errors and omissions insurance, which covers claims against businesses that provide professional services. These claims might arise, for example, if a faulty memory card prevents a photographer from delivering photographs to a client or if a difficult client is dissatisfied with a photographer's work. 

General liability insurance, which protects against a third party's claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury, provides another layer of protection. A photographer might face claims like these if a client trips over a tripod or a lighting stand and sues to cover associated medical costs or if the photographer's assistant is overheard gossiping about a client, who subsequently sues for defamation. 

General liability insurance, known as Commercial General Liability (CGL), protects your business from another person or business’s claims of bodily injury, associated medical costs, and damage to property. Some examples of what could be covered are below:

• Bodily injury: A client comes to an accountant’s office in Vienna on a rainy day. The client slips and falls in the entryway of the building, breaking their wrist. The accountant’s general liability policy could cover the costs associated with the client’s injury, including lost wages.
• Property damage: An interior decorator in Leesburg is measuring a client’s windows for new window treatments. The stepladder falls, knocking an expensive vase off a table and breaking it. The decorator’s general liability policy could cover the cost to replace the vase.
• Lost wages: A client came to the office of a human resources consultant to discuss a possible project. While there, the client tripped over an area rug and fell, hitting his head on a desk. The accident resulted in a concussion, the treatment for which required that he stay out of work for six weeks. The client insisted that the consultant was responsible for his lost wages. General liability insurance protects HR consultants against third-party claims of bodily injury, associated medical costs and property damage.

Learn more about general liability insurance costs for your business. 

Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance (E&O insurance), covers another person’s claims against businesses that provide professional and personal services. Some examples of what could be covered include:

• ‘Bad’ advice: A management consultant in Fairfax recommends several cost-cutting measures to a client company, including laying off some experienced staff. The consultant’s report is very specific about the steps to take, including severance pay. The company lays off the staff but does not follow all of the consultant’s recommendations. One employee sues the company, and the company sues the consultant. A professional liability policy could protect the consultant, including covering legal costs as well as any settlement or judgment, even if they didn’t make a mistake.
• Dissatisfied customer: A photographer is hired to take pictures at an Alexandria wedding. The bride requests that the photographer take photos of her relatives who have travelled from outside the country to attend the wedding. The photographer tasks their assistant with taking these photos, and the assistant neglects to do so. The mistake is not discovered until after the wedding is over and the relatives have gone back home. The bride sues the photographer. The photographer’s professional liability policy could cover the liability, even though the mistake was made by the assistant.

Learn more about professional liability insurance.