What happens if the person you hire doesn’t have liability insurance? If you’re having some work done around your house and you decide to hire a contractor who doesn’t carry current workers’ compensation coverage, you are putting yourself at risk should they get injured or have an accident while working on your property. Liability insurance is one of the most important things to consider when interviewing or hiring a contractor to do any work for you.
During the estimate, you should ask the contractor to provide you with a certificate of insurance. The certificate is issued by the contractor’s insurance agent and defines the terms of coverage your state has established for workers’ comp. On the certificate, you will also find the name and number of the insurance agency so you can verify the coverage is current and won’t expire before your project is completed.
If a worker is injured while working on your property and the contractor doesn’t have liability insurance, you may be liable to pay for injuries and rehabilitation for the injured worker filing the claim. You could wind up paying out of pocket if your homeowner’s policy doesn’t cover the bills. Be aware that contractors can say they are exempt from carrying workers’ compensation insurance when they outsource their labor to another agency. You are putting yourself at risk if you choose to work with an uninsured contractor because the agency for the subcontractors can still come after you.
Unfortunately, you will not be able to tell which people working on your property are independent contractors, leased laborers, or individuals who may be hired by your contractor “under the table” for cash. Your best line of defense in protecting yourself is to request the certificate of insurance. If your contractor can not produce the certificate before you sign the contract, you should seek another estimate from a reputable company.
At Outback Guttervac, safety is our top priority. We comply with national (OSHA) and state safety requirements and all our technicians have received extensive training in safety procedures. Outback Guttervac carries comprehensive insurance to protect employees and customers should an accident happen on your property. You can have peace of mind knowing we are covered and so are you.
