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What We Learned About the Tree Care Industry in 2022

by NIP Group

TreePro

Recapping 2022 and Looking Forward to 2023

As a broker who specializes in the tree care industry, you know how important it is to stay on top of trends to better serve your clients. From planning for the future to learning new and improved ways of operating, understanding industry trends and forecasts is crucial for identifying opportunities and growing your business.

Join NIP Group’s tree care industry experts plus Tim Walsh, President of the Utility Arborist Association (UAA), as we recap what we’ve learned in 2022 – plus the top claims we’ve seen this year – and then look forward to what’s coming up in 2023. We’ll also discuss the expected updates to ANZI Z133 standard.

You won’t want to miss this one – register today!  

Note: Webinar will be available on-demand to registered participants. 

Date: December 6, 2022 at 2 pm ET / 11am PT

Presenters:

  • Tim Walsh, President, UAA 
  • Tim Greifenkamp, Program Manager, TreePro 
  • Tom Doherty, SVP, Specialty Programs, NIP Group 

Register for this Tree Care Webinar Now!

What We Learned About the Tree Care Industry in 2022

by NIP Group

TreePro

Recapping 2022 and Looking Forward to 2023

As a business professional who specializes in the tree care industry, you know how important it is to stay on top of trends to better serve your clients. From planning for the future to learning new and improved ways of operating, understanding industry trends and forecasts is crucial for identifying opportunities and growing your business.

Join NIP Group’s tree care industry experts plus Tim Walsh, President of the Utility Arborist Association (UAA), as we recap what we’ve learned in 2022 – plus the top claims we’ve seen this year – and then look forward to what’s coming up in 2023. We’ll also discuss the expected updates to ANZI Z133 standard.

Watch on-demand now!

Presenters:

  • Tim Walsh, President, UAA 
  • Tim Greifenkamp, Program Manager, TreePro 
  • Tom Doherty, SVP, Specialty Programs, NIP Group 

Watch this Tree Care Webinar On-Demand Now!

Arborist Insurance: Big Risks, Big Rewards

by Tom Doherty

The field of arboriculture is not the most popular career choice for young adults, which is why arborists are in high demand. Arborist insurance is a niche that many insurance brokers and agents overlook, yet it can be a lucrative way to help you build your book of business, especially when you have a specialty arborist insurance product to stand behind you.  

Arborists spend some of their time on the ground, but you will also find them climbing tall trees. The arborist profession is wrought with risks of injury and illnesses, and the right insurance products give business owners and sole proprietors peace of mind knowing they are protected from the most common types of losses. 

We are providing an informative overview of the arborist and tree services niches, reviewing some of the more common risks, and guiding you on how to recommend arborist insurance coverage to this interesting niche of clients.  

Getting Acquainted With the Arborist Niche 

What exactly does an arborist do? Simply put, an arborist defends trees.  

Arborists must be certified and professionally trained in the science and art of trees. While trees make up a large part of an arborist’s repertoire, they also assess and treat plants, shrubs, and other forms of plant life.  

You may hear arborists called by other names, such as a tree doctor or tree surgeon. Businesses and individuals call upon arborists to assess the condition of trees, identify diseases, and obtain recommendations for how to care for trees and plant life and maintain them. Arborists also prune trees, trim trees, mitigate drought problems, fertilize trees and plants, and address issues with insects or other animals.  

Arborists obtain certifications, so they have the proper training and experience, as well as vast knowledge about tree life. They must go through a comprehensive examination process to get their certification, and the education does not stop once they receive their certification. It takes years of practicing their craft to become a master at managing the growth and development of trees. Being an arborist requires a high level of expertise, and continuing education enables arborists to stay current with the latest techniques and technologies related to arboriculture.  

Springtime is the high season for arborists, but any time of year is appropriate to seek out new clients in the field of arboriculture.  

What Kinds of Risks Are Associated With Arborist Insurance? 

Tree work of any kind is very dangerous. Many things can go wrong, causing injuries or illnesses to arborists. As you pursue a niche in arborist insurance, it is prudent to get acquainted with the common arborist risks, such as those listed below: 

  1. Faulty gear – Arborists are trained on how to use ropes and other gear to allow them to scale and descale trees safely. Tree gear has a limited shelf life, and faulty gear can cause falls.  
  2. Power lines – While arborists are trained on how to safely navigate power lines, shock and electrocution can occur, causing injuries or fatalities. Arborists have a “10-foot rule,” which means anyone who is not certified must not work within 10 feet of a power line.   
  3. Swinging branches and limbs – Tree branches and limbs can sway unpredictably when the wind is blowing, causing falls or injuries.  
  4. Weather-related – Wind, snow, hail, rain, and frost can create hazardous conditions on the ground and while climbing trees.  
  5. Falling tools and debris – Risks are prevalent when arborists are climbing high, but tree workers on the ground are also susceptible to falling tools or debris.  
  6. Heart attacks – Climbing high causes stress and anxiety, and when combined with the physical strain of climbing, the risk of a heart attack while tethered to a tree is notable.  
  7. Decayed trees and weak tree limbs – While a quick glimpse shows a tree is healthy, good trees can be weakened by mold, fungi, decay, animal or insect infestations, or old age, causing them to be weak in various sections.  
  8. Animals and insects – Bees, hornets, opossums, rats, mice, owls, raccoons, and other animals live in trees.   
  9. Chainsaw injuries – A chainsaw is a staple tool for arborists. If not used properly, chainsaws can create serious injuries or the loss of limbs.  
  10. Inconspicuous electrical hazards – Telephone lines, street lamps, and distribution lines, along with water and humidity around power sources, are major hazards for arborists. 

As you can see, the risks associated with arborists and tree service workers are numerous and hazardous. Arborist insurance protects against all of them and other unprecedented risks as well.  

What Kinds of Special Insurance Coverages Support the Arborist and Tree Service Niche? 

How do you put together an arborist insurance package for a client? A tree service or arborist business requires many of the same commercial insurance coverages as other types of businesses, and specialized coverages allow you to customize the package.  

As an insurance broker or agent, your commercial customers rely heavily on you to make recommendations for the most appropriate insurance coverages to protect their businesses. A commercial package policy is an individualized policy that includes certain necessary coverages for arborist insurance. Commercial package policies cover general liability, property, and other coverages bundled into one policy.  

Explain to your insureds that while a commercial package policy groups coverages together, each coverage has its own declarations, definitions, conditions, endorsements, exclusions, and covered perils. Some endorsements may be mandatory, and others will be optional.  

With these things in mind, begin putting the following basic commercial insurance coverages together and explain to your clients why each of them is critical: 

  • General liability 
  • Commercial auto  
  • Property 
  • Inland marine 
  • Umbrella liability 
  • Crime liability 
  • Employment practices liability 
  • Cyber liability 
  • Workers’ compensation (if the company employs workers)  

In addition to the main commercial insurance coverages, arborists may need the following specialty insurance coverages: 

  • Arborist errors and omissions 
  • Pesticide and herbicide applicator coverage 
  • Arborist broad form also called loggers broad form 
  • Crane coverages 
  • Limited jobsite pollution 
  • Auto pollution broadened coverage  

TreePro: Specialized Arborist and Tree Service Insurance 

Arborists and tree service companies face some of the highest risks and challenges in the green industry. Risks can be more complex than in other industries, and with the huge risks associated with the industry, arborist business owners need to get their insurance right.  

Specialty niches call for specialty insurance coverages and insurance expertise in the niche. What arborists need is a multi-line commercial insurance package that offers them the best tree service insurance coverage and value. Standard insurance products simply will not hold up in this industry. 

Final Thoughts 

NIP Group offers a tree service insurance program called TreePro which is designed specifically for arborists and tree service companies, and we have been insuring tree professionals for over 30 years. We are proud to say it is the largest green program of its kind.  

Arborists and tree service companies can expect specialized coverages, risk control assistance, claims management, and a complete library of resources for the industry. For example, TreePro covers crane and boom exposures, as well as snow and ice removal, which other competitors do not include.  

Safety is a priority at NIP Group, and we provide the security arborists and tree service workers need so they can focus on doing their jobs and taking care of all other aspects of the business.  

The arborist and tree service markets have untapped potential. With the right commercial insurance products in your arsenal, you can work this niche with confidence and achieve success.  

Contact one of our arborist experts to learn more about how to protect against big risks and gain big rewards as you serve this overlooked market at 866-620-7152 today!

Check out these other articles on prevention and wildfire protection: 

Wildfire Prevention Services to Offer Your Clients

by NIP Group

NIP Group

Wildfire Prevention & Safety Services Your Tree Care or Landscaping Business Should Know!

In 2021, destruction from wildfires resulted in nearly 8.6 million scorched acres of land, three fatalities, and 3,629 structures that were damaged or destroyed. With devastating consequences like these becoming more common, wildfire prevention services are in high demand.

Join us June 30th at 2pm ET / 11 am PT for an educational webinar, where along with Kristen Davis and Chief Kelly Sisson of Capstone Fire & Safety Management, we will address your questions concerning fire prevention and maintenance techniques.

Whether you’re newly adopting fire prevention or are a veteran, we encourage you to submit any relevant questions via the registration form.

Watch this wildfire prevention webinar on-demand now!

Date:

June 30th, 2022 at 2pm ET / 11am PT

Presenters:

  • Michael Finati – LandPro Program Manager – NIP Group
  • Kristen Davis – Regional Business Director – Capstone Fire & Safety Management
  • Kelly Sisson – Wildland Operations Division Chief – Capstone Fire & Safety Management

Watch this wildfire prevention webinar on-demand!

Wildfire Prevention Services Your Insureds Should Offer

by Isaiah Irizarry

NIP Group

Wildfire Prevention & Safety Services Your Insureds Should Know!

In 2021, destruction from wildfires resulted in nearly 8.6 million scorched acres of land, three fatalities, and 3,629 structures that were damaged or destroyed. With devastating consequences like these becoming more common, wildfire prevention services are in high demand.

Join us June 30th at 2pm ET / 11 am PT for an educational webinar, where along with Kristen Davis and Chief Kelly Sisson of Capstone Fire & Safety Management, we will address your questions concerning fire prevention and maintenance techniques.

Whether your tree care or landscaping insurance clients are newly adopting fire prevention or are veterans, we encourage you to submit any relevant questions via the registration form.

Watch this wildfire prevention webinar 0n-demand now!

Date:

June 30th, 2022 at 2pm ET / 11am PT

Presenters:

  • Michael Finati – LandPro Program Manager – NIP Group
  • Kristen Davis – Regional Business Director – Capstone Fire & Safety Management
  • Kelly Sisson – Wildland Operations Division Chief – Capstone Fire & Safety Management

Watch this wildfire prevention webinar on-demand!

9 Good Reasons Why Your Insurance Agency Should Work With MGAs

by Tom Doherty

You’d be surprised how many insurance professionals can be stumped when you ask them this simple question: “What is an MGA?”

OK, you probably do know that the acronym stands for Managing General Agents, but given that, would you know how to explain what an MGA is in the insurance distribution system or enumerate the benefits that MGAs can bring to the retail or independent insurance agency? These questions can give pause to even the most experienced agents, even those who have used the services of MGAs!

An MGA is one of two types of wholesale brokers, with the other being a Surplus Lines broker. As a wholesaler, the MGA acts as an intermediary or liaison between a retail agent and an insurance company. For a more detailed definition, we turn to the go-to insurance glossary folks at the International Risk Management Institute (IRMI). They define an MGA as:

 “ … a specialized type of insurance agent/broker that, unlike traditional agents/brokers, is vested with underwriting authority from an insurer. Accordingly, MGAs perform certain functions ordinarily handled only by insurers, such as binding coverage, underwriting and pricing, appointing retail agents within a particular area, and settling claims.”

Insurance runs by the law of large numbers. It is not always economical or efficient for carriers to pursue emerging and niche markets, or to set up shop in remote areas of the country. MGAs can run with those markets and supply the deep expertise and service capabilities to manage those books of business for the insurer. MGAs can and do sell directly to insureds but working with retail agents affords exponential growth that is beneficial to both parties.

Here are 9 ways an MGA can benefit your insurance agency

  1. Differentiation. Most agencies are generalists, serving all comers. Some carve out a specialty or an industry focus that helps to differentiate their agency from the one down the street. Working with an MGA on niche or program business allows you to go deep, shifting your focus from a transactional all-things-to-all-people approach to more of a consultative business partner approach. Developing a reputation for sector expertise can help distinguish your agency from your competition over time.
  2. Momentum. Go where the action is. MGAs have been the rockstars of the insurance distribution system over recent years. According to research and analysis by the highly respected Conning, the MGA market has nearly doubled since 2012, when it first began studying the sector. In 2016 alone, MGAs’ rate of growth exceeded that of the total property and casualty market by 32 percent. More recently, even in the face of pandemic disruption, “the Managing General Agent and program market continued its upward trajectory in 2020, with premium growth outpacing the overall property-casualty market.”
  3. Access. Let’s face it. Most insurance agencies can only secure a limited number of carrier appointments due to volume agreements, changing appetites, and underwriting guidelines. MGAs help by broadening your agency’s access to specialty and non-standard insurers, both admittedand non-admitted, as well as to industry influencers. Most agencies would find it difficult if not impossible to secure such a broad array of markets and maintain active relationships over time.
  4. Growth. Grow your insurance agency’s sales and premium with a focused marketing approach and the marketing and underwriting expertise of a trusted partner. Grow your bottom line with increased efficiencies and decreased administrative costs. Improve your sales hit ratio with help in structuring and placing complex insurance risks.
  5. Scale. Working on niche or program business affords a more targeted focus for both your marketing and client service activities, allowing you to grow your business without a substantial increase in staff, marketing outlays, and other operational expenditures.
  6. Expertise. Tap into An MGA that has expert knowledge about a specific line of coverage (liability, inland marine, cyber insurance, surplus lines, etc.) or a particular niche or product they serve. For example, at NIP Group, we work with retail agencies to service specialty insurance programs for over 25 niche industries. Working with the MGA will help you deepen your knowledge of the niche sector’s challenges, exposures, and solutions, which will help build your agency authority and reputation, increase referrals, and strengthen retention.
  7. Technology. MGAs often offer online platforms and tools that automate and streamline processes. This allows for faster quoting and renewals, better claims processing, and numerous efficiencies in other aspects of account administration. It also brings your agency better, faster, and more actionable data analysis.
  8. Sales & marketing support. Many MGAs provide a vast panoply of marketing and sales tools from brochures and handouts to digital marketing. Some provide white label marketing tools so that you can build your agency brand with professional materials. (See NIP Group’s White Label Specialty Programmarketing support). Focusing on a niche will afford more targeted marketing opportunities through industry lists, trade associations, publications, industry shows, sponsorships, blogs, and social media.
  9. Industry-specific loss control. MGAs develop deep expertise in the risks and exposures of the programs and industry niches they serve. Agencies can tap into and use any available resources and tools that the MGA provides (such as the NIP Vault) to prevent or mitigate losses. This, in turn, allows your agency to help its client base to prevent losses from occurring in the first place, or minimizing the cost of those that do occur.

There are many other reasons why your agency should work with MGAs – in fact, more than a decade ago, Insurance Journal compiled 50 Reasons Why Retail Agents Choose Managing General Agency Partners. These thoughts from agents have held up over time.

Working with NIP Group

NIP Group’s Specialty Brokerage is a market leading wholesale brokerage operation serving 25 niche industries. We target non-standard commercial risks underwritten by admitted and non-admitted specialty carriers. Agents can leverage our expertise in placing and servicing complex risks through relationships with global insurance markets. Our philosophy of providing ingenuity in insurance has established us as one of the nation’s most respected specialized business insurance and risk management intermediaries, and a recognized leader of innovative insurance solutions. Our brokers and the businesses they serve are the central focus of everything we do at NIP Group. We are service fanatics to the core, seeking to exceed expectations. We are committed to a core philosophy of true partnerships at every level.

NIP Specialty has the expertise, efficiency, and strengthened relationships that wholesalers can bring to the process.

NIP Group is open to all independent agents – Click here to get appointed today

Related resources to insurance carriers for independent agents:

Help Your Commercial Clients With Business Wildfire Protection

by Tom Doherty

If you want to distinguish your insurance agency from the competition and demonstrate added value to your landscaping and tree care clients with exposures to wildfires, developing deep expertise in specialized insurance from an MGA like NIP Group, as well as risk management are very effective. Customer surveys demonstrate that business and personal clients alike seek more from their brokers than simply quoting and policy management. They look for expertise and help to mitigate their exposures.

If your agency insures businesses in any of the 38 US states at elevated risk for wildfire or any state experiencing drought conditions, a wildfire specialization is a great opportunity for additional revenue. To properly protect your business clients, agencies need to offer such value-added services as risk consulting, loss mitigation, and recovery assistance.

Here are ways that insurance agents can help commercial clients with wildfire protection:

  • Conduct annual reviews to ensure the right insurance coverage. Educate your clients about their commercial policies and what is and isn’t covered. Look for any gaps or uncovered exposures. Review any facility additions, renovations, or upgrades that were made to the property since the last policy. Discuss any equipment, fleet, or costly acquisitions, change in staff levels, and inventory levels. When assessing for coverage adequacy, don’t forget to factor in the current costs for repairs and rebuilding. Discuss potential endorsements and supplementary coverages.
  • Educate your clients about how they can protect their business by creating defensible zones around their property. This guide on Protecting Your Business from Wildfire from the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) offers several concrete suggestions for steps that you can take to improve the defensibility of your property. This includes developing Fire-Resistant Landscaping for their business properties. Also see Selecting Firewise Plants.
  • Encourage your commercial clients in high-risk areas to consider fitting or retrofitting their businesses  with features that deter fire. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) encourages an upgrade to a Class A fire-rated roof, noncombustible and fireproofed materials, and blocking openings that could be ember entry points. Direct clients to the Regional Wildfire Retrofit Guides by IBHS, which include risk assessment checklists and a cost estimator to help both businesses and homeowners prioritize necessary retrofit projects.
  • Hold wildfire protection webinars for commercial clients and prospects in advance of wildfire season. It’s easy and cost-effective to hold remote webinars for large numbers using web conference software. Seek partners and experts to participate, such as forestry and wildfire protection experts, insurance company representatives, and members of emergency management services. Promote webinars on your website, on social media, and in community news sources.
  • Help your clients learn how to work with others in their communities to build Fire Adapted communities and to become a certified Firewise USA site. This is particularly pertinent to condominium and homeowners associations, but also valuable to business parks, retail centers, urban centers, and neighborhoods in high-risk areas.
  • Supply your business clients with checklists for what to do before, during, and after a wildfire. Publish these lists on your blog and link them on social media. Tap into and distribute freely available handouts from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other public sources. Taxpayer-funded government resources are generally fair use and free from copyright but check for permissions to be certain.
  • Learn about the different types of warning systems you can subscribe to from authorized federal, state, and local public alerting authorities, such as FEMA, the National Weather Service, and local Offices of Emergency Management. Encourage your commercial clients to subscribe to and follow alerts, particularly in peak fire season. During peak wildfire season, keep an eye on regional reports from the S. Drought Monitor.
  • Ensure your commercial clients develop an emergency plan for their business that includes preparedness for wildfires and other disasters. In fact, any business with 10 or more employees is mandated by OSHA to have a written Emergency Action Plan. Teach your clients the importance of creating and practicing multiple evacuation plans and routes. The free Ready Rating Program from the American Red Cross will help businesses conduct a readiness assessment and build an emergency plan, as well as other services to enhance preparedness. Also see Wildfire Pre-Evacuation Steps For Your Business.
  • Encourage businesses you insure to establish a disaster crisis team. One model for this is the Incident Command System (ICS), a widely accepted emergency framework that encompasses specified roles, responsibilities, and accountability from the incident commander down to the front lines and among the groups and organizations involved. (See Lessons from a Wildfire)
  • Use your social media channels and blogs to share news, risk management tips, and helpful resources before, during, an after emergencies. Be sure you collect cell numbers and get text permission from clients. Don’t abuse this access, use it for emergencies and key notices only.

Being an active partner in helping your clients to protect their employees and valuable business assets, prepare for business continuity, and build business resilience will go a long way to ensuring a long-term relationship. Highlighting and sharing your expertise will also strengthen community ties and help build a great brand for your agency.

Check out these other articles on prevention and wildfire protection: 

Safeguarding Your Snow Removal Business

by NIP Group

Whether you’re a solo operator with a plow blade on your truck or a larger commercial enterprise, snow plow insurance is a necessary cost for protecting your business. We offer an overview of the basics. 

According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, more than 70% of the nation’s roads and population are in snowy regions. Annually, more than $2.3 billion is spent by state and local agencies on snow and ice control operations. The U.S. private snow plowing services industry adds another $20 billion, according to IBISWorld, encompassing 87,487 businesses and 176,744 employees. According to SIMA, the industry is highly fragmented with 80% of operations being sole proprietors, and the remaining 20% being larger operators with employees. The top  operators control just 1/12th of the industry’s total revenue!  

Wherever your business falls – a small seasonal operator with a plow attached to your pickup that services  homes and businesses in your neighborhood or an established business with commercial contracts – the hazards are rife. They include extreme weather conditions, dangerous road conditions, and fatigue-inducing, erratic schedules with long hours. Potential exposures include vehicular accidents;  stolen or damaged equipment; property damage to others; personal injuries to yourself, your workers, or to pedestrians/drivers; and lawsuits, to name but a few. It’s a business that you need to protect. Insurance is imperative and, generally, some level of coverage is required by law in most states, as is licensure.  

Snow Plow Insurance Coverage

Because so many snow plow operators are small, seasonal businesses, they are usually engaged in other seasonal work. One misconception is that an existing small business policy would be sufficient coverage for any seasonal work. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, because the perils of snow plowing are specific and require coverage related to the exposures. Sometimes, existing policies can be supplemented with endorsements or with specialty coverage designed to address snow plowing. For example, NIP Group offers landscaping business insurance packages that can be customized for snow and ice removal  operations, too. Find an insurance agent/broker who knows and specializes in snow plow insurance. They will know state licensing and insurance requirements and will help you find the best insurance coverage for your industry that is tailored to your operation’s specific needs. An expert agent can help you to avoid any potentially expensive coverage gaps or exposures.  

Here are the primary types of snow plow insurance coverage you should discuss:  

Commercial General Liability –  a general policy that covers other people besides you or one of your employees. It covers damage to a property or pays for healthcare costs due to an injury or death to a third-party in a non-vehicle related accident, such as a slip and fall involving your customer or a pedestrian. If you have contracts, this coverage is often required.  

Commercial Auto Insurance – comprehensive automobile coverage for any vehicles used in your business operations. If you or one of your workers is responsible for a vehicular accident while driving any business-owned vehicle, a commercial auto policy would help pay for damages or injuries to other parties. It’s in your best interest to get more than the minimum requirements to protect your business. Obtain limits as high as you can afford for both liability and comprehensive coverage to your vehicles. 

Workers’ Compensation – if your employee is injured while on the job, this would cover medical expenses and temporary wage replacement during recovery.  

Inland Marine Insurance – Don’t be fooled by the name of this coverage. If your business’s equipment or tools are damaged, destroyed, or stolen while being moved, inland marine insurance will usually cover those losses. Inland marine policies and coverage can vary substantially from insurer to insurer.  

Ask your insurance agent/broker if there are other coverages or endorsements that might be beneficial to your particular operation.  

Snow Plowing Insurance Costs 

There are many factors that contribute to your snow plowing insurance cost. These include your location, the scope and type of services you provide, the number of vehicles you have, specialized tools and equipment, what types of clients you service, your claims history, your driving history, and the number of workers you employ.  

Since some coverages are experience-rated, or based on your prior experience, it is essential to do whatever you can to prevent and mitigate losses.  

Here are snow plowing loss prevention tips: 

  • Establish mandatory best practice safety standards for your operations.  
  • Train new employees in safety and equipment use. Hold retraining sessions for all staff each season. This Introduction to Snow Removal – Winter Operations Training Series from the Iowa Department of Transportation is an excellent 13-part video series. 
  • Learn what safety and loss prevention services and trainings are available from your agent/insurer and tap into them.  
  • Report any accidents with injuries or property damage  to your agent/insurer same day, and to state insurance authorities and or police, as required; Report claims for lost, stolen or damaged equipment as soon as feasible.  
  • Educate your clients and community about driving safely and sharing the road with snowplows. You can often get materials from insurers or state Departments of transportation.  
  • Join industry associations such as the Accredited Snow Contractors Association (ASCA) and the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) to keep up on trends, issues, new legislation.  
  • Enlist the services of an attorney to develop snow removal contracts specifying work to be performed and fees. 
  • Visit client worksites/ home properties preseason or prior to a snowfall to scope out the property  surface conditions and to note any obstacles or hazards.  
  • Document work performed with photos, videos, and notes to log the date, location, services performed, start and completion times, and any notes about conditions or problems. Make this a standard operating procedure.

Remember, the least costly accidents and claims are the ones that never happen. Safety and loss mitigation are worth the effort!  

Related resources for your snow removal business  

Understanding Commercial Auto Insurance for Arborists

by Tom Doherty

Your tools are the most important thing you need for the work you do, and this includes the vehicles you use. Whether it is a chipper truck, boom truck, or just the pickup truck you use to get from job to job, your needs will vary based on the work you do. No matter what work vehicle you use, it should have commercial auto insurance. 

It can help protect your business from unexpected financial claims and get you back up and running quickly if something happens.  

At-Fault vs Not-at-Fault 

Depending on where you do business, insurance claims are handled differently based on the state’s fault laws. Each car crash involves unique circumstances, but the way injuries are handled depends on whether the state where the crash happens an “at-fault” or “no-fault” state. 

In an at-fault state, the driver who caused the crash is responsible for the damages and medical expenses for those involved – up to the policy limits. 

In a no-fault state, the driver who caused the crash is still responsible for the damages, but each driver’s insurance company will pay for the insureds’ medical expenses using personal injury protection. Therefore, even if you or your employee are not-at-fault for the crash, you may still have to file a claim with your own insurance company to cover your or your employees’ medical expenses. 

Twelve states and Puerto Rico have no-fault insurance laws, including Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Utah. However, state laws differ based on the size or severity of the claim. 

The no-fault system was established to lower the cost of car insurance by taking small claims out of the courts and having each insurance company compensate its own policyholders for the cost of minor injuries – regardless of who was at fault in the accident.  

Insurance Coverages 

If your vehicles are insured in a no-fault state, personal injury protection (PIP) insurance is required. However, if you are insured in an at-fault state, but drive into or do business in a no-fault state, you will want to ensure you are covered. 

In some at-fault states, you can get PIP insurance for this additional protection, but PIP is not offered in 29 states. Therefore, you can often alternatively get medical payments coverage. 

In the event of a crash, medical payments coverage helps pay for the medical expenses of the policyholder, their passengers, or other drivers listed on the policy, regardless of fault. 

Commercial Auto Insurance Coverages to Consider 

While auto liability coverage is mandated by state laws, physical damage coverage is an option that is very beneficial in the tree trimming industry. This coverage helps repair the vehicle in the event of a collision, as well as damage from falling objects, such as tree limbs. It can also cover specific causes of loss, such as fire, lightening, or theft.  

Physical damage coverage is an important consideration if your business cannot afford to repair or replace the damaged vehicle if something happens. Fortunately, the cost of the coverage can be balanced by a deductible that the business can afford. 

Unfortunately, physical damage coverage does not cover diminution of value to the vehicle. So even if the vehicle is repaired with high-quality parts, it may lose some resale value. This is usually covered by liability insurance, so if someone else is at fault, you may be able to seek diminution of value in your claim. 

As members of the tree trimming and arborist industry, you know that if one of your critical vehicles is down for any reason, it can have a big impact on your business. Another commercial auto insurance coverage to consider is loss of use coverage. 

When commercial vehicles are damaged, the calculations of “loss of use” or “lost profit” damages are complicated and vary by state. By having loss of use/revenue coverage, you can ensure you are protected from the financial impact of losing a vehicle from your fleet. 

Arborist commercial auto insurance accident

Following an accident 

If you or your employees are ever involved in an accident, first check to make sure everyone involved is safe. If there are injuries, call 911. If not, get everyone to a safe location and call the police. 

Next, exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. Be sure to capture the other drivers’ : 

  • Full name and contact information 
  • Driver’s license number 
  • License plate number 
  • Insurance company and policy number 

Writing this information down and taking pictures of all of these things helps ensure you get the information you need for your insurance claim.  

Documentation/Photographs 

In addition to capturing this basic information, use your smartphone to get pictures or video of the vehicles involved from several different angles to show the damage done to both cars. Try to record the entire scene, noting: 

  • The date and time of the accident 
  • The damage to each of the vehicles 
  • Any additional property damage 
  • Skid marks 
  • Street names 
  • The direction the vehicles were headed before the accident 
  • The location/direction they ended up 
  • Any other circumstances that could have an impact on the accident 

In addition to narrating the video or dictating what happened using the voice memo app on your phone, sketch a diagram of the crash scene and include your notes about the weather or any other conditions which may have been a factor in the crash. 

Witnesses 

Be sure to avoid discussing who was at fault with the other driver. If there are any witnesses to the crash, be sure to capture their names and contact information. This will be helpful for those investigating the crash to gain additional perspective and determine fault. 

Witnesses have no personal or financial investment in determining who was at fault, so the information they provide is often the most beneficial.   

Arborist commercial auto insurance accident report

Estimate the damage 

Your insurance agent or adjuster will gather all of the documentation and information you collected and will guide you through the claims process. One of the first steps of that process will be to get an estimate of the damage. 

Take your vehicle to a repair shop to inspect the damage and send a report to the insurance company. The insurer will take the repair shop’s estimate into account when determining how much they will pay to repair the vehicle. 

Maximizing compensation 

When seeking compensation or legal recourse for injuries from an accident, it may not always be straightforward. Each case must be evaluated individually, but you should consider every potential contributing entity. 

For example, a construction company may have tracked mud onto the street causing it to be extra slippery. The construction company may be partially at fault and could be a source of recovery compensation. Perhaps the crash was caused by defective brakes, and the manufacturer or mechanic that installed them could have contributed to the accident. 

Be sure to consider all of the factors that contributed to the accident, as they may also be another source of recovery for compensation related to the crash. 

Handling the claim yourself 

In addition to considering the other contributing factors to the accident, there are several other things to consider if you plan to handle the claim yourself.  

Consider the extent of the damages. In addition to the physical damage to the vehicles, did it impact your ability to do business or your potential income? Does a resulting injury prevent you from doing something at your job? Be sure to think about the impacts as well as the damages. 

Before agreeing to a settlement, understand what you may be agreeing to. Many agreements do not allow for any future claims related to the incident. 

Your insurance agent 

While you can handle the claim and settlement yourself, it helps to have the benefit of those who have extensive experience in this area. Your insurance agent has likely dealt with similar situations and can guide you through the process. They also want to ensure the promise they sold you is satisfied. With their experience and expertise, your insurance agent can also help you maximize your compensation. 

Additionally, arborist and tree service professionals should carry the right tree service insurance coverage to protect their business in the event of an incident.

Contact Us:

900 Route 9 North, Suite 503
Woodbridge, NJ 07095-1003

Toll Free: 800.446.7647
Fax: 732.791.1630
info@nipgroup.com

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