Contractors insurance is essential to have to protect your business and your personal assets. If you are acting as an independent contractor, this is even more important because chances are you are operating as a sole proprietor and therefore your personal belongings are at risk in a legal dispute.

Contractors insurance is very helpful and frequently required as a prudent measure to protect the business you are contracting out to. Most business professionals required that subcontractors and contractors carry their own business liability insurance. This type of insurance assures protection to clients also, against non-performance and other problems that commonly occur when using contractors.

Insurance is available for all trades, including roofers, electricians, mechanical contractors, HVAC professionals, plumbers and other contractors. When you enter someone else’s premises or property, you can be held liable for any damage that occurs. This can be accidental damage, damage due to faulty equipment or damage due to negligence.

Carrying contractors insurance is a good way to obtain work. Many individuals and businesses will refuse to hire a contractor who does not carry their own insurance. Use your insurance coverage as a selling point when seeking new business. Accidents happen even under the best of circumstances. To work without adequate insurance is just asking for troublesome lawsuits. The cost is very reasonable and would be tax deductible as a business expense.

Visit www.rhhinsurance.com today to receive details regarding contractors insurance that you need. Their insurance professionals can explain what coverage you should have and why you need it. They will look at your particular area of expertise and have the experience to pinpoint the coverage you should have immediately. A checklist of coverages needed for your type of contracting work will be created to ensure that you do have all the coverage you should have in order to conduct business successfully.

Lowering your exposure to risk is another area where insurance expertise is essential. At www.rhhinsurance.com, their insurance experts know from experience what coverage will actually help lower your risks from damage that occurs while on the job. They will confirm that you have all the proper coverage limits in effect, examine the financial state of your insurance carrier and check for overall correctness.

Coordinating your contractors insurance with your clients’ specifications in contracts is another important detail to look at. Meeting all insurance and indemnification provisions is a “must do” in today’s litigious society.

Tags: Baltimore, Contractors Insurance, Contractors Insurance Maryland, Ellicott City, Insurance Maryland, maryland, md

Even soaring gas prices and a sluggish economy won’t slow down the American road warrior. So how do you determine whether you need a Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) when renting a car? First and foremost, educate yourself. Know what’s covered by those seemingly steep fees so you can make an informed decision when you step up to the rental car counter. Avoid the costly mistakes of either wasting money purchasing unnecessary coverage or having dangerous gaps in coverage. Before renting a vehicle, you should make two phone calls-one to your insurance agent and the other to the credit card company you will be using to pay for the rental car.

Tags: insurance, Insurance Agent, Insurance Maryland, LDW, Loss Damage Waiver, Rental Car Coverage

If you are in an accident or your car breaks down, safety should be your first concern. Getting out of the car at a busy intersection or on a highway to change a tire or check damage from a fender bender is probably one of the worst things you can do. The Insurance Information Institute recommends the following precautions when your car breaks down:

1. Never get out of the vehicle to make a repair or examine the damage on a busy highway. Get the vehicle to a safe place before getting out. If you’ve been involved in an accident, motion the other driver to pull up to a safe spot ahead.
2. If you can’t drive the vehicle, it may be safer to stay in the vehicle and wait for help or use a cell phone to summon help. Under most circumstances standing outside the vehicle in the flow of traffic is a bad idea.
3. Carry flares or triangles to use to mark your location once you get to the side of the road. Marking your vehicle’s location to give other drivers advance warning can be critical. Remember to put on your hazard lights!
4. In the case of a blowout or a flat tire, move the vehicle to a safer place before attempting a repair—even if it means destroying the wheel getting there. The cost of a tire, rim or wheel is minor compared to endangering your safety.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance, howard county, insurance, maryland, Maryland Insurance, maryland insurance company, rhh insurance

Slips, trips and falls in outdoor environments can be caused by rain, sleet, ice and snow, and particulate soil that causes surfaces to become slippery or produce poor traction. While we cannot control environmental conditions that increase slipperiness of outdoor walkway surfaces, we can certainly reduce the likelihood of falls through improved design of exterior sidewalks, curbs, parking areas, improved lighting, and improved maintenance to increase awareness and eliminate hazards.

This reference note addresses slip, trip, and fall hazards, and describes interventions, including outdoor walkway design and maintenance, visible warnings, and snow/ ice removal strategies. Walkway surfaces include sidewalks, curbs, parking areas, curb ramps, and entrances. Stairway design is not addressed in this reference note. See LP 5158, Controlling Falls on Stairways, for guidelines on stairway fall prevention.

Trip Hazards

A trip occurs when the foot strikes a near-ground obstacle that abruptly arrests the movement of the food when the body’s center of gravity is in motion.  This causes the center of gravity to rapidly move out of the area of the body’s support base (the planted foot), resulting in a fall.  A trip most often results in the person falling forward, while a slip most often results in the person falling backward.

Most state, local, and federal codes and standards describe changes in level of ¼ inch or higher in the course of travel as a trip hazard.  The obstacle should be eliminated through facility design or maintenance, if at all possible.  However, if elimination is not possible, other options include:

•    For changes of level ¼ inch to ½ inch (6mm to 13mm), bevel the edge with a slope no greater than 1:2.

•    Slope is the angle of incline usually given as a ratio of the rise (or vertical height) to the run (or horizontal length).  The larger the run, the more gentle the incline angle.

•    For level changes greater than ½ inch (13mm), install a ramp with maximum slope 1:12.

•    A third, but less desirable option, is to make the hazard visually noticeable through appropriate detectable warnings.

Sidewalks, Curbs and Parking Lots

A business owner may not be responsible for injuries resulting from a fall on a public sidewalk located outside his or her property.  However, some courts may impose liability for injuries on a sidewalk used exclusively by customers coming to and from the business.  Consult with your legal counsel if you have questions on liability.

A parking lot owner, however, can be responsible for maintaining the parking lot in a manner such that it is reasonably safe for people using it.

This includes:

•    Filling and patching cracks and holes

•    Repairing and eliminating raised areas due to tree roots, settling, cold weather (frost heaves), and ordinary wear and tear.

•    Reducing surface water by directing roof drainage away from sidewalks and parking areas.

•    Clearing sidewalk/parking areas of snow/ice before employees and guests arrive.

•    Centering and securing parking stoppers.

•    Painting or staining parking stoppers near entrances Safety Yellow to improve visibility.

Curb Ramps and Handicap Ramps

State, local and national codes specify guidelines/requirements for curb ramps and handicap ramp design.  For example, ramp slopes 1:15 minimum to 1:12 maximum with “slip-resistant” surfaces is often cited.  There are no specific guidelines as to what “slip-resistant” means, but some codes specify grooving or other alternations of the curb ramp to improve slip-resistance.  Check with your state and local codes for requirements on ramp slip-resistance guidelines.  Handicap ramps and curbs are colored Safety Yellow (see section on Color, Contrast, and Visible Warnings).

Entrances

Entrances represent unique slip and fall issues and are addressed in LP 5408, Preventing Slips and Falls: Selecting the Right Matting System.  For outdoor walkways at entrances exposed to the elements, consider installing a canopy to reduce snow, ice and water from being tracked into the building.

Color, Contrast and Visible Warnings

Recent U.S. Access Board Research recommends Safety Yellow as the preferred color for persons having very low vision.  Yellow or yellow-orange warning surfaces are preferred over black warning surfaces.  Safety Yellow, therefore, is a color standardized for use as a warning in the pedestrian/highway environment.

Ice, Snow, Water

Slips and falls from snow, rain, and ice are common in northern climates.  Falls can be caused by inadvertent accumulation of ice and snow due to misapplication.  Misapplication can be caused by selecting less efficient deicing chemical(s) and friction additives (sand), and inadequately managing application schedules.  Effective ice removal often occurs during the day with full sun.  But, full sun will melt adjacent snow or ice, placing water on the de-iced walking surface.  This will dilute the solution and tend to refreeze at night.  With the dropping temperatures, ice can re-form with the falls occurring first thing in the morning.

Selection of ice melting chemicals

•    Rock salt (Sodium Chloride) is the least expensive but is somewhat corrosive and can damage concrete, interior surfaces, and vegetation.  It may need a wetting agent for application at low temperature.

•    Calcium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride are more effective than Rock Salt, and most effective at lower temperatures.  Magnesium Chloride is somewhat less corrosive than Calcium Chloride, which is about as corrosive as Rock Salt.

•    Calcium Magnesium Acetate is the most environmentally friendly, but is more expensive and is least effective at lower temperatures.

•    The following are guidelines for managing slips and falls from snow, ice and water:

•    Plow, shovel, and use deicing, salting, or ice melting chemicals to remove ice and snow.

•    Pre-apply deicing chemicals before a storm, followed by snow/ice removal during and after the storm.  Use plenty of deicing materials, as using “barely enough” will leave patches of ice.

•    Check the surface regularly.  For parking areas, this can be time consuming, but it is well worth the effort.

•    Aim for evaporation.  If the water can drain (e.g. drains aren’t blocked) and there is full sun, or even reasonable wind, the water (even ice) will evaporate.  A dry pavement is a clear indication there is no ice.

•    Use a friction additive.  Sand is the most popular because it’s cheap.  Use a lot of it.  Make certain that anyone walking on the surface has a lot of traction.  You can clean up the mess once the bad weather is over.

•    Check and treat surfaces every morning, especially around snow piles where melting may have created new problem areas.  Reevaluate during the day and re-treat as needed.

•    Remember that a clean-looking surface is only “safe” if it’s dry.  A wet surface can contain ice, and can also turn to ice in the shade or overnight.

•    Hold facility managers, custodians, grounds maintenance staff, and contracted snow removal personnel responsible for snow and ice removal.

•    Train those responsible in procedures for safely maintaining walkway surfaces, including the location of equipment and supplies.

Outdoor lighting

Inadequate lighting may also lead to accidents involving falls in parking lots, trips over curbing, falls on a step or stairs from a parking lot to a store, and trips and falls due to holes, cracks, and uneven surfaces.

Recommended outdoor lighting levels for general parking, ramps and corners, pedestrian areas, and entrances are giving in LP 628, Lighting for Safety and Performance.

Tags: liability insurance, maryland, Maryland Insurance, md

Hidden liability comes along with holiday festivities. For those who mix alcohol with corporate or private parties, proper insurance is essential.

Holidays can be fun times filled with office and private parties, but they can also be deadly with increased drunk driving this time of year. Anyone hosting a holiday party should take steps to limit their liquor liability and make sure they have the proper insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

Social host liability laws vary widely from state to state. Some states do not impose any liability on social hosts. Others limit liability to injuries that occur on the host’s premises. Some extend the host’s liability if the person who was provided the alcohol is killed or injured, or kills or injures another person. Many states have laws that pertain specifically to furnishing alcohol to minors.

“Most people are aware that serving alcohol to minors is illegal, yet a survey of young people shows that the most common sources of alcohol are from their own home or from persons over the age of 21 who purchase alcohol for them,” said Loretta Worters, vice president with the I.I.I. “Depending on the jurisdiction, violations of social host laws can lead to civil or criminal fines, imprisonment and monetary damages awards.”

Worters also pointed out if you are throwing a party where alcohol is served, it is your responsibility to make sure that your guests are capable of driving safely. “You don’t want to allow anyone who has been drinking to drive home and possibly kill or injure themselves or others on the road.”

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF—AND YOUR ASSETS

If you plan to host a holiday party and serve alcohol, the I.I.I. offers the following tips on how to have a successful and safe party:

• Consider hiring a professional bartender or reliable friend to serve drinks. This will discourage your friends from mixing their own drinks and help to keep track of the size and number of drinks they consume. Most bartenders are trained to recognize signs of intoxication and will limit consumption by partygoers who have had too much.
• Be a responsible host. Limiting your own alcohol intake will allow you to better determine if a guest is sober enough to drive at the end of the night.
• Serve non-alcoholic beverages. Always have soft drinks, juices and other non-alcoholic beverages available for those guests who are driving or choose not to drink.
• Don’t serve alcohol to minors. Period. The legal drinking age in every state is 21 and, as a host, it is your responsibility to abide by it.
• Don’t force drinks on your guests or rush to refill their glasses when empty. Be a smart host; push the food, not the alcohol on your guests.
• Always serve food with alcohol. It is proven that food can help counter the effects of alcohol.
• Don’t admit individuals into your home who are already intoxicated. Access to more alcohol will likely create negative outcomes that you could be held liable for, such as fighting, alcohol poisoning and drunk driving.
• Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party ends. Serve only coffee, tea and non-alcoholic beverages toward the end of your party. As the host or hostess, it is your responsibility to help your guests get home safely, so limit the amount of alcohol served toward the end of the party as guests prepare to go home.
• Speak to each of your guests before they leave the party. If you think someone is unable to drive, call a cab and pay for it yourself, arrange a ride with a sober friend, drive your guest home, or encourage that person to stay over. This will protect your guest as well as other drivers on the road.
• Encourage all your guests to wear seatbelts as they drive home. Studies show that seatbelts do safe lives.

“Talk with your insurance agent about your liability insurance coverage and any exclusions, conditions or limitations your policy might have for this kind of risk,” advised Worters. “Appropriate liability insurance coverage is necessary, but your insurance may not be enough to cover a judgment against you as a social host. If you are also charged criminally, then it is possible that your policy will not cover the civil judgment.”

Worters noted that party hosts should do their part to help reduce the number of DUI-related crashes by taking the necessary steps to help promote responsible hospitality over the holiday season. “It’s not just about the risk; it’s also about the responsibility. Nobody wants to feel responsible for someone else’s injury or death.”

The I.I.I. is a nonprofit, communications organization supported by the property/casualty insurance industry.

Tags: howard county, insurance, liability, liability insurance, maryland, md, social host liability insurance

HERE ARE SOME SAFETY TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND  WHEN DECORATING YOUR BUSINESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS…

•    Consider hiring a contractor for unusually dangerous installations such as locations which require work over large atriums, roof tops and leading edges subject to falls greater than 6 feet from the walking surface. Be sure to obtain certificates of insurance, including a hold-harmless agreement, from a sub-contractor to verify insurance coverage for workers compensation and general liability.
•    Refrain from using inappropriate substitutes for ladders, such as an unstable chair or box to reach overhead areas.
•    Electrical fixtures must be UL listed, be in good condition and not subject to damage and or overheating.
•    Use caution when selecting the area to display decorative lights. Consider displaying decorations in low traffic areas and avoid creating a trip/fall hazard with light strings and/or extension cords.
•    Be sure to consult with local authorities regarding laws which prohibit the use of live trees in-doors within public places of assembly. In some jurisdictions the use of live trees for display or electrical lights is not permitted.

Tags: insurance, liability insurance, maryland, md, rhh insurance, Workers Compensation

Maryland is classified as a high risk state for vehicle collisions with deer, which if you drive and live in our area doesn’t come as a big surprise to you! The same holds true for most of our neighboring states including West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia.  Though not in the top ten, statistics show that in Maryland, 1 in every 141 motorists will have a collision with a deer in the next 12 months. For the third year in a row, West Virginia tops the list of states where a collision is most likely to occur at 1 in 39 with Pennsylvania 1 in 94, and Virginia rounding out the top 10.

The fall, when deer are mating and in many rural areas drawn out of their habitat by hunters, is the time of year when the most deer-vehicle incidents are reported.  While Maryland has seen a 27% increase in deer-vehicle collisions in the past few years along with increases in other states, there are things you can do to help minimize your chances of being one of these statistics.

Defensive driving tips to avoid hitting a deer:

• Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before and after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for deer-vehicle collisions.
• Drive with caution when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland. Deer seldom run alone. If you see one deer, others may be nearby.
• When driving at night, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of deer on or near the roadway.
• Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away.
• Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.
• Always wear your seat belt. Most people injured in car/deer crashes were not wearing their seat belt.
• Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer. These devices have not been proven to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.

If your vehicle strikes a deer, do not touch the animal. A frightened and wounded deer can hurt you or further injure itself. The best procedure is to get your car off the road, if possible, and call the police.

Contact your insurance agent (Rossmann-Hurt-Hoffman, Inc. of course!) to report any damage to your car. Collision with an animal is usually covered under the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy if you carry that coverage.  http://www.iii.org/individuals/auto/lifesaving/deercar/

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance, insuarnce maryland, maryland, md

Do you have any employees?  Do you know the criteria used by the State of Maryland, or any other state, to determine whether someone working for you is considered an employee?  Workers’ compensation laws  vary greatly state by state, so be sure and call one of our Workers’ Compensation specialists today at 1-866-847-0449 and they will help you determine if you are in a situation that legally requires you to purchase this coverage.  If you find that you do need workers compensation insurance, be sure and ask about our “Pay As You Go” plan that is offered by many of our insurance carriers!

For more information regarding workers’  compensation coverage click here: http://www.rhhinsurance.com

Tags: insurance, maryland, Maryland Insurance, md, Workers Compensation, workmans compensation

If the flu becomes more severe this fall and winter, it is likely to be a prolonged and widespread outbreak that could require major changes in many areas of society, including schools, businesses, transportation, and government. To be prepared, government health agencies encourage individuals, businesses, and communities to consider the following:

• Talk with your local public health officials and health care providers, who can supply information about the signs and symptoms of a specific disease outbreak and recommend prevention and control actions.

• Adopt business practices encouraging sick employees to stay home, and anticipate how to function with a significant portion of the workforce absent owing to illness or caring for ill family members.

• Practice good health habits, including eating a balanced diet, exercising daily, and getting sufficient rest.

• Take steps to stop the spread of germs, including frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying away from others as much as possible when you are sick.

• Stay informed about pandemic influenza and be prepared to respond. Businesses can receive e-mail updates on guidance and H1N1 facts and figures virtually daily through the federal government’s clearinghouse for influenza information: www.flu.gov.

At the end of the day, both the public and private sectors must incorporate the lessons we learned this spring. Being prepared to respond to an emergency is in a business’ own interest; it is also a shared responsibility of both business and government to become actively engaged in preparation and prevention efforts—working separately and together.

Tags: flu, H1N1, Health Insurance, insurance, maryland, Maryland Insurance

The extensive damage caused by the water-main break in Dundalk last week has lead to many coverage questions and potentially erroneous interpretations.
Normally this type of loss should be considered a flood, and in order for there to be coverage there must be a Flood Policy in effect.  This was confirmed by the Maryland Insurance Administration.  Some insurance companies, however, have indicated they might cover the claims under homeowners’ or other property policies.  This will depend on the wording of the individuals’ policy, specifically the water-damage exclusion, coverage for burst pipes and/or backup of sewer and drains coverage.
Here are the MIA’s official guidelines concerning this incident:
•    People who have flood insurance can file under their flood policy
•    People who don’t have flood insurance should file a claim with their property  insurer and get any denial in writing; and
•    The MIA will handle any complaints they get and look at the specifics at that time.

Floods can happen anywhere and everyone is at risk, as demonstrated by the Dundalk water-main break.  This is a perfect example of why even if you don’t live near the water you still need a Flood Insurance Policy!

Tags: annapolis, Baltimore, Elicott City, flood insurance, home insurance, homeowners insurance, insurance, maryland, Maryland Insurance, md