As recent public health concerns continue to evolve, and the economic impacts of social distancing recommendations, shelter in place orders, and mandatory business closures increase, businesses everywhere are adapting their operations to accommodate the changing needs and shopping habits of customers.
Those changes have resulted in a dramatic increase in delivery services being offered by businesses of all sizes. Restaurants, grocery stores, and other merchants are working hard to keep their businesses operating, to accommodate varying levels of demand, and to better serve their customers by offering alternatives to traditional, in person shopping. This is great for consumers, and will have an immeasurable impact on public health, but it can have negative consequences for business owners, their employees, and independent contractors who haven't considered the potential impacts of these decisions on their insurance coverage. While coverage and exclusions differ between insurance carriers, we highly recommend local business owners contact their agent or insurance company to discuss any recent changes in operations that have added delivery service. This is especially important if your employees are making deliveries in their personal vehicles on your behalf. Luckily, there are endorsements that can be added to many policies to enhance coverage and reduce risk. At a minimum, you'll want to make sure your commercial liability coverage extends to your modified operations. Employees and independent contractors that have taken on delivery work as a way to make extra money, or have been reassigned to duties involving use of their personal vehicles for business use should also consider contacting their personal insurance agent to verify coverage will not be negatively impacted. Your insurance coverage could be reduced in a claim, with coverage for your liability or physical damage to your vehicle being excluded. While coverage provided and exclusions vary by policy and insurance carrier, it is best to avoid surprises by consulting with a professional prior to experiencing a claim. If we can do anything to assist please feel free to reach out to us with your questions at 830-992-3460, via email at [email protected], or by visiting www.texasinsuranceadvisers.com. We'll be happy to provide general guidance, or can build you a quote for your home, auto, or business to make sure the things that are most important to you are adequately protected. We may also be able to find you a better value on your insurance, so you can put that savings to better use elsewhere. Thanks, and be well!
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