Just asking. Does everybody have E&O insurance (liability)? I have but I've never had to use it. I was wondering this time around for renewal if any of you solo guys surveys without it?
If I was in business for myself I would have it, but I would deny that I did if asked. It can be a litigation magnet.
I carry it, as most of my public agency clients require it.
Required by contract for my general contractor clients - 97% of my work.
Needed it twice is 17 years. Incredibly, both incidents within about 6 months of each other, around 3 years ago.
I have Liability Insurance. Looked into Errors and Emissions Insurance, but it was too pricey. There's not a lot of need for it for the size of the jobs I do.
Emissions = Omissions, for the word police. I have way too many emissions to be insurable
And I thought the "O" stood for "Oops!"
Yes, all my clients require it.?ÿ ?ÿ
@skeeter1996 Good thing the the work is outdoors....
Same as Mr. Fleming but I think I would have it even if they did not.?ÿ My coverage this year was just under $4k this year.
I think it really depends on your cliental.?ÿ All of my government, railway, A&E and construction clients require it.
I am solo. ?ÿI have it. ?ÿLots and lots of insurance. ?ÿSo many sorts of the stuff.
Same as Mr. Fleming but I think I would have it even if they did not
I carried it when I was solo and it wasn??t a requirement as well. ?ÿ
I think its necessity is twofold; it not only protects me, but if I make a mistake that truly damages a client financially, then I have the means to make them whole.
I mean if you make a mistake that costs a client five or six figures, and then say ??sorry dude, thems the breaks?, you??re kind of a dick.?ÿ
I mean if you make a mistake that costs a client five or six figures, and then say ??sorry dude, thems the breaks?, you??re kind of a dick.?ÿ
I've never bought into this protect-the-client thing, I think that's just an effort to paint surveyors as extra-good citizens.?ÿ I carry E&O because I want to protect my assets, not because I want to protect my client's assets.?ÿ And if I make a mistake that costs a client five or six figures, saying "Sorry dude, them's the breaks" is only going to go as far as his attorney's office.?ÿ Insurance or not, he's not going to wait for me to make him whole, he's going to sue me to make sure that it happens.?ÿ It's got nothing to do with being a dick, and everything to do with asset protection.
I went bare for the first decade or so in business to save money, counting on not making any of those expensive mistakes.?ÿ When I finally had to get E&O in order to retain some public agency clients, I grumbled a bit but also heaved a sigh of relief knowing that I had a financial backstop.?ÿ I still haven't made any of those mistakes, but it's nice to know that I'm covered if I do.
For the OP, a friend of mine who had a survey business of his own with roughly half a dozen employees at any given time carried $1mill in E&O coverage & the same in liability. He said he averaged $5k to $7k annually. He sold the business back in 2013 however so those rates may be a little older
For just myself as a PE (working out of my home doing this several nights a week after work) I carry just E&O of $1mill as I’m doing land development design, Quantity Takeoff/estimating & GPS model building. Insurance is through Hanover and it’s running roughly $2k annually with all sorts of payment plan options. Good peace of mind knowing I’m the sole provider for my family & should something go wrong on $150k or more item after construction due to error on my part I’m covered
Solo, never had to use it, prudent enough to have it, resent spending the money.