Commercial Umbrella Insurance
Commercial Umbrella Insurance for Tree Service Companies
Some accidents are bigger than the limits of a standard insurance policy.
When your crews are working with heavy equipment, large trees, bucket trucks and commercial vehicles, a serious accident can result in a significant liability claim.
Commercial Umbrella Insurance can provide additional liability protection above the limits of certain underlying insurance policies.
Tree Trimmers Insurance Agency helps tree service companies and arborists evaluate whether their current liability limits provide the level of protection their business needs.
What Is Commercial Umbrella Insurance?
Think of commercial umbrella insurance as an additional layer of liability protection.
Your business may already carry policies such as:
- General Liability
- Commercial Auto
- Employers Liability
Those policies have limits on how much they will pay for a covered claim.
When a covered claim exceeds the applicable underlying policy limit, a commercial umbrella policy may provide additional coverage, subject to the umbrella policy's terms, conditions, limits and exclusions.
Why Would a Tree Service Company Need an Umbrella Policy?
Tree service businesses can face substantial liability exposures.
Your crews may be working around:
- Homes and commercial buildings
- Neighboring properties
- Vehicles
- Pedestrians and customers
- Roads and traffic
- Large or hazardous trees
- Bucket trucks and other heavy equipment
One serious incident can potentially involve injuries or property damage that exceeds the limits of an underlying policy.
Commercial umbrella insurance can provide another layer of protection when a covered liability claim becomes a large one.
How Does Commercial Umbrella Insurance Work?
Here's a simplified example:
Suppose a covered accident results in a $1.5 million liability claim, and the applicable underlying policy provides a $1 million limit.
If the claim qualifies for coverage under the commercial umbrella policy, the umbrella may respond to the amount exceeding the underlying policy limit, subject to the umbrella's own limits, terms and conditions.
Actual coverage depends on the policies involved and the circumstances of the claim.
How Much Umbrella Coverage Does a Tree Company Need?
There isn't one limit that's right for every tree service business.
When evaluating commercial umbrella coverage, consider:
- Size of your company
- Annual revenue and payroll
- Number of employees
- Number of vehicles and drivers
- Types of jobs you perform
- Size and value of the properties where you work
- Contracts you enter into
- Required insurance limits
- Existing liability limits
- Overall business assets and exposures
As your company grows, the liability limits that worked several years ago may no longer fit your operation today.
Your Customers May Require Higher Liability Limits
Commercial customers, municipalities, property managers, general contractors and other organizations may require tree service companies to carry specific liability limits before work begins.
An umbrella policy can sometimes help a business meet higher insurance requirements when appropriately structured with the underlying policies.
Before signing a contract, review its insurance requirements with your insurance professional.
Commercial Umbrella Isn't a Replacement for Your Other Insurance
An umbrella policy doesn't replace general liability, commercial auto or other underlying insurance.
It works alongside eligible underlying policies to provide additional limits for certain covered claims.
That's why it's important to look at your entire insurance program—not simply purchase an umbrella policy by itself.
Is Your Current Liability Limit Enough?
Ask yourself:
When was the last time we reviewed our liability limits?
Have we added trucks, employees or crews?
Are we taking larger jobs than we were a few years ago?
Are we working on higher-value residential or commercial properties?
Do our contracts require higher insurance limits?
Would a major liability claim put the future of the business at risk?
If your tree company has grown, your insurance should grow with it.
Additional Protection for a Business You've Worked Hard to Build
Tree Trimmers Insurance Agency specializes in the insurance needs of tree service companies and arborists.
We'll look at your general liability, commercial auto and other applicable coverage to help you understand your current limits and determine whether commercial umbrella insurance should be part of your overall insurance program.
Let's Review Your Liability Limits
Already have coverage?
Send us your current insurance information.
We'll review your existing limits, learn more about your tree service operation and help you explore available commercial umbrella options.
Request a Tree Service Insurance Review
What Can Tree Trimmer General Liability Insurance Cover?
Depending on the policy, coverage may include:
Thirdy-Party Bodily Injury
If someone other than an employee is injured as a result of your business operations, general liability insurance may help cover eligible medical expenses, legal costs and settlements.
Property Damage
Tree work takes place around homes, vehicles, fences, utility structures and other valuable property. General liability may provide coverage when your work accidentally damages someone else’s property.
Completed Operations
A claim doesn’t always happen while your crew is still on the job. Completed operations coverage may provide protection for certain covered claims arising after work has been completed.
Personal and Advertising Injury
General liability policies may also provide protection for certain claims involving offenses such as libel, slander or advertising injury.
Legal Defense Costs
Even when a business believes it did nothing wrong, defending against a lawsuit can be expensive. General liability coverage may help with covered legal defense costs.
Tree Service Isn't the Same as Landscaping
Tree trimming and removal can involve exposures that are very different from those of a traditional lawn care or landscaping company.
Your crews may be:
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