Absolute Pollution Exclusion: What It Means for Your Insurance Coverage as a business owner or homeowner.
Insurance is a way to mitigate risk. People take out insurance for their homes, vehicles and health. Businesses also invest in insurance coverage to protect their assets. However, not everything is covered by your insurance policy. One area of exclusion to keep in mind for your Massachusetts or Connecticut business is absolute pollution exclusion.
Understanding Absolute Pollution Exclusion
Most businesses take out a commercial liability insurance policy. While this policy will have some general coverage, there are various caveats. These are known as clauses, and these clauses can have a significant impact on the state of your coverage. This is the reality of the absolute pollution exclusion. When your policy includes an absolute pollution exclusion, then your business is not protected against pollution that stems from normal business operations. These exclusions have been commonly included as a standard part of general liability insurance since the mid 1980’s.
The History Behind the Absolute Pollution Exclusion
The absolute pollution exclusion has strong historical roots to explain its existence. Its development stems from a famous case involving the Montrose Chemical Corporation of California. This company made a chemical known as DDT. During the production of DDT, the waste was released into the Pacific Ocean. Inevitably, this waste led to widespread pollution. This practice endured for decades until the federal government finally demanded reparations. Montrose was required to pay for the cleanup.
After the federal government took action, the legal and financial fallout continued. With such widespread damage, more and more insurance companies were pursued to cover reparations from the Montrose Corporations actions and inactions. In court, success was mixed, and insurance companies were forced to cover the cleanup costs. At this point, insurance companies found the cleanup too expensive and a threat to their own solvency. To prevent future exposure to these costs, these companies stopped providing protection against pollution in their standard policies.
Details of Absolute Pollution Exclusion
It is important to note that this exclusion is not comprehensive. Most liability policies still include some coverage for incidental pollution events. This means that if the pollution stems from events that are not, in any way, related to your normal business operations, you will still be able to make a claim. There are some policies however that have what is called “a total pollution exclusion”. These policies may not even provide liability coverage after any pollution event.
Despite the legal framework of the absolute pollution exclusion, its application is still open to debate in the courts. When there is a disputed claim, the courts are often the ones to decide what counts as pollution. In general, insurance companies do not want to cover issues related to pollution like lead paint, asbestos, fuel spills and more. Oil tanks that leak may not be completely covered under these exclusionary clauses. Some coverage may exist for migratory damage away from your premises. Specific pollution policies or endorsements can be purchased for an additional premium. It is important that your insurance company understands what your own specific needs so that you policy is prepared to cover those needs should an event occur.
Common Exceptions
As previously stated, while the exclusion does limit coverage in many cases, your Connecticut and Massachusetts business will still have some protection. For example, the absolute pollution exclusion does not exclude protection when bodily injury is sustained by smoke, fumes, vapor or soot caused by heating or cooling appliances. You will also be able to make a claim when a fire causes damage or injury to insured contractors. There may also be protection when fuel or other fluids leak out of equipment at an off-site location. Other instances may also exist. The important thing to keep in mind is that it is essential that your insurance company is thoroughly aware of the nature of your business operation so the most comprehensive coverage are offered for your consideration.
Oil Tanks and Leaks
Of particular concern for many is coverage for oil tanks in the event they leak. Because oil is generally classified as a pollutant, clean up for its discharge, seepage or local migration most likely will be excluded under your policy. The issue of coverage for these events and claims usually comes down to the classification of fuel oil as a pollutant. These cases are very very hard to win because the exclusions and definitions have , for the most part, already been determined by the courts. It is not too general a statement to make that all businesses need to be diligent about taking proactive, protective measures to limit their own exposure to this potentially catastrophic exposure. Additionally, even if the potential for an occurrence may be small the scope and severity of these claims is so high it may often advisable to seek out specific pollution coverage.
Oil Tanks in Owner Occupied Residential Property
Because of legislative mandates Coverage is more readily available for oil that leaks from tanks in these settings. Most carriers offer various limits of coverage, for an additional premium, on the HO-3 Homeowners Policy. Check with your insurance agent to see if this optional coverage is right for you.
Reasons You Should Have Cyber Liability Insurance.
Why Your Business Needs Cyber Liability Insurance
In today’s competitive business environment, an internet presence is considered a necessity. Online services continue to expand and now include sophisticated e-commerce capabilities and mobile access. Businesses of all sizes are collecting credit card information and assembling sophisticated customer databases. By providing information to the public, a business assumes the role of a traditional publisher. This exposure can lead to an assortment of potential liabilities. Whenever data is collected or distributed by a business, the company assumes responsibility for the safety and accuracy of the information. If customer data is stolen or lost, the business can face significant legal liability and possible regulatory action.
The Importance of Cyber Liability Insurance
Cyber liability insurance is critical for every business that operates a website or stores vital customer information. While large ecommerce sites receive the most attention when a cyber crime is committed, over 50 percent of all data breaches occur at companies with less than 100 employees.
Most general liability policies expressly exclude losses incurred from online activity. Conversely, cyber liability insurance covers internet related losses such as penalties, fines, server infrastructure damage and actions related to client data. Cyber liability insurance mitigates these risks and provides protection regardless of where the data is stored.
Since internet liability laws are still in their infancy, many business owners assume they are protected from the effects of a data breach, especially if it occurs through a third party hosting service. Small businesses typically use point-of-sale systems that are outsourced to an independent provider. While the control of the system may be offsite, any revenue losses resulting from a breach are the sole responsibility of the subscriber and not the host.
How Cyber Liability Insurance Reduces Risk
Also known as e-commerce insurance, cyber liability protection was developed to help reduce the risk associated with a company’s internet presence. Policies provide specific safeguards to combat the harmful effects of a cyber attack. While insurance carriers offer different policy features, the most common coverage includes:
- Data Breach Insurance: This provision covers expenses relating to incident management, investigation, victim credit checking services, remediation, legal costs and regulatory fines.
- Cost Reimbursement: This coverage provides reimbursement for costs relating to any cyber attack including staff hiring, independent contractors, supplies and other related expenses.
- Defamation Protection: Coverage is provided for any legal action relating to defamation, copyright infringement or invasion of privacy.
- Network Security Protection: Businesses are covered against third-party inflicted damages that result from denial of access attacks, theft of data actions and other expenses related to lost information.
- Extortion Liability Protection: This provision provides coverage for losses resulting from extortion threats and the professional fees associated with addressing the crime.
Key Elements in a Cyber Liability Policy
Cyber liability insurance policies can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the client. Most policies provide basic coverage and offer a variety of additional options. The core policy should always include coverage for data loss or theft, data corruption and loss of business income from a documented attack. Liability coverage for legal costs, judgments, regulatory actions and settlements is also recommended.
Does my business really need General Liability Insurance?
Question: What is General liability insurance?
Answer: Sometime General liability is known as business insurance and business insurance is the policies most commonly used by business’s and companies to protect themselves for loss of assets that can result from litigation for liability.
Question: I work from home, do I need liability insurance?
Answer: Yes, even if you are a home based business, you should have liability insurance. The insurance policy will provide both damages and defense if you, your employees or your services or your products bring about Property damage or Bodily injury to a third party.
Question: What are the benefits of Liability insurance?
Answer: If for any reason your business/company does gets involved in a lawsuit for anything it did to cause an accident of for anything it might have failed to prevent such an accident, a general liability insurance policy is great to have to for your protection.
Question: What levels of general liability coverage Do I need?
Answer: By working with a general commercial liability insurance specialist at O’Connor & Co. Insurance Agency, Inc., you can be sure that your business/company will get the adequate amount of coverage given your unique circumstances. Our liability insurance specialist can help guide you to an appropriate insurance baseline for your policy.
Don’t delay. Contact O’Connor & Co. Insurance Agency, Inc. for any information and free quotes on business insurance to protect you. Call 800-254-9594 or 508-943-3333 for any question you have your any of your business insurance needs.