COVID-19 Coronavirus
BUSINESS INTERRUPTION INSURANCE CLAIMS
COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS
BUSINESS INTERRUPTION
INSURANCE CLAIMS
Small business in Pennsylvania has been decimated by Covid-19.
Weeks without revenue have made it impossible to cover even modest expenses, especially those who were forced to close or remain closed under Governor Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order. Civil authorities across the country have ordered many businesses to close to the public, both large and small, and it’s having enormous consequences for millions of Americans.
Today, thousands of so-called "non-essential" business owners are struggling to recover losses, and some of them are finding an additional roadblock where they thought they’d find help.
Most business insurance policies include coverage for lost earnings due to government shutdowns. This coverage is typically called “Business Interruption” and “Civil Authority” coverage. Insurance companies are denying business interruption claims, even though the state requirements represent nothing short of a costly business disruption.
If your business insurance company recently denied your business interruption insurance claim, then let us help. The attorneys at Daly & Clemente believe you deserve the coverage you paid for, and we’ll fight for you to get it.
If you have a business interruption insurance policy and your insurance company is denying, delaying, or underpaying your claim, call us. Even if you think they are right, contact us to take a second look at your case, for free. To learn more about how our attorneys may be able to help, please fill out our no-cost case review form today.
WHAT IS BUSINESS INTERRUPTION INSURANCE?
Los conductores en las carreteras alrededor de Filadelfia están distraídos en estos días. Los teléfonos celulares, los niños gritando, el tráfico, la construcción de carreteras, las fusiones repentinas y el mal tiempo son distracciones que definitivamente interfieren con su concentración en las carreteras alrededor del valle de Delaware.
A medida que más distracciones en el camino conducen a más accidentes, su necesidad de representación es mayor que nunca. Cuando se comunique con nuestros abogados de lesiones personales para obtener representación legal, obtendrá interacciones personalizadas y cara a cara con nuestros abogados. Si sufre lesiones graves en un accidente automovilístico o de camión, ¡nuestros abogados especializados en lesiones personales acudirán a usted!
Are my losses covered?
THAT'S WHY YOU NEED OUR EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS
Many small business owners are filing claims; unfortunately, many insurance companies are denying those claims.
In some cases, this is due to the definition of “damages.” Business interruption policies require the presence of clear physical damage (e.g., broken windows, fire and smoke damage, etc.) to validate the claim. However, business owners are quick to point out that even though the virus may not leave behind a visual trail of destruction, contaminated surfaces, inventory, HVAC systems, etc. represent a form of physical damage.
While viruses may not always have a clear place in business interruption policies, other perils are included in policy underwriting. Some policies, for instance, include civil authority ingress/egress clauses.
Under a civil authority clause, policyholders have a right to file a claim if they were forced to halt business operations due to government-issued orders that prevented an individual from entering or exiting a property.
A loss of business due to emergency city closures and curfews may be covered under this type of policy. As such, there may be legal grounds to pursue a claim should your business be shut down due to government orders, as is the case with so many Pennsylvania small businesses that were forced to close due to the ongoing COVID 19 crisis.
Approved Business Interruption/Loss Insurance Claims typically cover the following:
-
Lost revenue based on what you’d typically make if your business remained operational.
-
Payroll for all employees
-
Mortgage and lease/rent payments for the business in question
-
Tax payments (monthly and quarterly)
-
Business loan payments that are due while your business is closed
-
Relocation costs associated with a new location or a temporary location
