In business insurance, a loss run is a letter or statement from your current and prior insurance companies listing the claims you have made. It will give the date of the claim(s) and details of what happened and how much was paid out. It’s common to ask for 3–5-year loss runs or loss history. Unlike car and home insurance, there is no central reporting organization like CLUE (comprehensive loss underwriting exchange) for business insurance. We need to rely on the information provided by your prior carrier. No claims? The loss run will state that most insurance companies want proof in writing.

Werner Insurance recommends that you call our office first. We want to discuss the possible claim before you call it in. Most insurance companies have direct reporting nowadays, but you must be selective in what you turn in. We often see that the claim would be below the deductible or that turning in a small claim could cost you more in increased premiums. The choice is always yours, and you are in full control of your account.

We recommend having a commercial auto policy if you use your vehicle in business. Personal automobile insurance policies can exclude business use if you're hauling tools and equipment or hauling a business trailer. We have seen weight limits or coverage are excluded entirely. The requirements are different for every company. Some will allow you to add business use on your personal auto policy, depending on what you are doing. A good example of what personal auto companies will add under business use is a real estate agent. Feel free to contact Werner Insurance at 651-437-9200 if you have further questions.

It is recommended that all businesses carry insurance. It may not be a legal requirement, but it will help protect your assets if something happens. Without insurance, you could be run out of business if an accident, natural disaster, or lawsuit occurs. The first policy a business would typically purchase is general liability insurance. General liability, also called public liability insurance, helps protect you from bodily injury and property damage claims from third parties.

A personal umbrella policy provides an extra layer of protection against personal exposures such as autos, homes, property, motorcycles, and boats. The most common limit is $1,000,000, but higher limits are available. You don’t need to be a millionaire to purchase a million or more in coverage. The real question is: Do you want to keep your assets?

Workers' comp insurance protects businesses with employees by providing benefits to employees if they become injured or sick due to their employment. Workers’ Compensation insurance pays for medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs. It also benefits the employee’s family if death occurs because of a work-related cause.