Contact us

(831) 722-3541

Contact us

Contact details:

Message:

Your message has been sent successfully. Close this notice.

Commercial Insurance Quote

Coverage Information

Current Coverage Information

Contact details:

Your Quote Form has been sent successfully. Close this notice.

Auto Insurance Quote

Contact details:

Current Coverage Information

Your car:

Your Quote Form has been sent successfully. Close this notice.

Homeowners Insurance Quote

Your house:

Current Coverage Information

Contact details:

Your Quote Form has been sent successfully. Close this notice.

Life Insurance Quote

Life Insurance Details

Current Coverage Information

Contact details:

Your Quote Form has been sent successfully. Close this notice.

Health Insurance Quote

Coverage Information

Current Coverage Information

Contact details:

Your Quote Form has been sent successfully. Close this notice.
9 years ago · by · 0 comments

Do I need Workers Comp Insurance? Employees vs No Employees

Workers’ comp insurance is designed to cover employees should they become injured or sickened while on the job. It protects employees from being responsible for covering medical expenses for accidents and injuries that occur while they are working. Workers’ comp also protects employers by ensuring that they cannot be sued for payment of medical expenses by their employees.

Workers’ Comp Insurance Basics

In California, the law is pretty clear about the responsibilities of the employer when it comes to providing workers’ comp insurance. Even those companies who have only one part-time employee are required to have such insurance.

The penalties for not providing workers’ comp insurance are fines up to $10,000, sentencing to the county jail for not more than one year or both. California can also levy additional penalties of up to $100,000 against uninsured employees. Employers are required to bear the full cost of this insurance.

Is Workers’ Comp Required if There are no Employees?

California does not require you to have workers’ comp insurance if you are self-employed. However, while it is not required, it does not mean that such insurance is not a wise investment – not only for your own health but also for the health of your company. Think about the consequences of an injury that causes you to be unable to work.

If you are the sole employee of your business and you become injured while performing your job duties, it could spell disaster for the long term viability of your business. Common injuries such as those incurred as the result of a car accident or during a slip-and-fall could result in you being unable to fulfill your job duties. Without workers’ comp insurance, you might find it difficult to keep your business afloat while you are recuperating. You could also find yourself struggling to pay your personal bills as well.

Read more

9 years ago · by · 0 comments

Tips to Keep Your Commercial Auto Insurance Rates Low

Scurich InsuranceOf all of your business expenses, none can be as necessary as commercial auto insurance for your fleet of business vehicles. Unfortunately, automobile accidents involving a commercial vehicle place your business as the primary person of responsibility rather than the individual driver, your employee, of the vehicle. As such, when determining the best ways to approach your commercial auto insurance, you need to take some special considerations for your drivers and vehicles.

Driver Responsibility

All of your employees need to exhibit the responsibility and care in driving your commercial vehicles as they literally have the future of your business in their hands. Prior to allowing employees to drive a commercial vehicle, have them complete the following strict set of criteria.

  • Pass a standardized drug screen to check for the presence mind-altering substances. In addition, you may need to conduct a questionnaire about each employee’s alcohol use. If you ever suspected an employee of coming to work while under the influence of alcohol, you cannot allow that employee to drive your commercial vehicles.
  • Complete a defensive driving course. All of your drivers need to be extraordinarily aware of their surroundings when driving during the course of business. Furthermore, you may consider continuing education for monthly updates on changes to existing traffic laws.

Commercial Vehicle Responsibility

  • Do not allow commercial vehicles to be used outside of the course of work. The more time you or your employees spend driving work-related vehicles, your risk for having an accident increases.
  • Ensure your commercial vehicles receive proper, routine maintenance. Check the brakes, tire pressure, turn signals, headlights, taillights, and license plate visibility of your commercial vehicles once per week if not every day prior to use.

Although you may have already purchased a commercial auto insurance policy, you have a duty to actively work to prevent auto accidents. In addition to keeping your employees and other drivers safe on the road through driver diligence and vehicle maintenance, you need to make sure your investment will be protected against disasters.

Read more

9 years ago · by · 0 comments

Insurance for Your Small Business

Scurich Insurance Services, CA, Managing PeopleStarting your own business is the first step towards achieving your dream of self-reliance and fulfillment in your career; however, the chaos of the world will try to bring your thriving business to the ground. You have the ability to prevent undue damage to your business when you purchase an insurance policy for your small business. There are many different types of insurance policies available for small businesses, which range from covering your business structures to your employees’ inappropriate actions, and you need to know what each policy means for your business

Business Property Insurance

If you experience a natural or man-made disaster, a Business Property insurance policy will protect your business from the associated damages, such as from weather, vandalism, or fires.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance policies protect you against the majority of your concerns as a small business owner. This type of insurance is used to cover any possible issues involving a third party, which includes customers, landlords, products, and even medical expenses. If you were to have a customer trip over your merchandise, a Liability Insurance plan will protect you.

Worker’s Compensation Insurance

If one of your employees becomes injured while at work, you will be held responsible for medical treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Worker’s Compensation insurance shows your employees that you care about their safety while working while protecting your reputation and finances from these unforeseen expenses.

Excess Liability Coverage

Although you purchase a variety of insurance policies to protect your business, you may find that your policy limits do not cover the financial cost of certain claims. In these cases, an Excess Liability insurance policy will provide a cushion above and beyond your existing limitations of liability.

 Employment Practices Liability Coverage

This type of insurance for small businesses protects you against allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

Life Insurance

Life insurance covers you, your business partners, your employees, or your spouse in the event of death by accident or other circumstances. It will enable your loved ones or friends to continue the legacy of your business.

Health Insurance

You may choose to offer your employees health coverage or purchase health insurance for yourself. The options for Health insurance vary in amounts respective of deductibles, copayments, and limitations. However, some changes have been implemented since the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, so please check with your insurance agent to select a policy suited to your needs.
It can be difficult to navigate the available insurance policies you need for your small business. However, it’s better to be protected against an unfortunate circumstance rather than lose your business and hard work.

Read more

9 years ago · by · 0 comments

What Happens If My Business Is Uninsured and an Employee Is Injured?

Scurich Insurance Services, CA, Teen ChallengeBeing a business without workers’ compensation insurance in California is a serious matter. If an employee is injured during the course of business duties and the business is not insured, it does not mean that the business is absolved of its responsibilities. The Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund was established to ensure that employees are still compensated for their medical expenses even if the business did not comply with the law. Using the power vested in this entity, it can pursue many avenues to ensure that the injured employee is compensated, including placing a lien on the business, imposing a stop order so that the business can no longer legally and delivering fines, penalties and jail time.

If you should decide that you do not want to carry workers’ compensation insurance on your employees and one of them becomes injured or sick while on the job, you will be responsible for paying 100% of the cost of their bills. Without obtaining adequate workers’ compensation insurance, an injured or sickened employee can sue your company to obtain the funds necessary to cover their medical bills. In addition, there is the potential that your business will be fined, penalized and even more for not meeting its obligations to its employees.

The California state labor board, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, is responsible for ensuring that businesses comply with a range of labor standards, including having an adequate amount of workers’ compensation insurance. If the Division determine that the business was lacking in this regard, in addition to fines and penalties, it is possible that you will serve a jail sentence in the county jail. A stop order is also likely to be issued that prohibits the business from using the labor of those employees who are not covered. It is a misdemeanor to not comply with such an order.

Read more

9 years ago · by · 0 comments

Stay Safe during Your Holiday Travel

HolidayWith the passing of Halloween, the majority of Americans will begin to plan their festivities and travels for the upcoming holiday season. While many look forward to the joyous tune in the winter atmosphere, few realize the need to be extra careful when traveling in terms of insurance coverage. A few days away from the house can translate into fires, burglaries, and even damage from the weather. The awesome trip through the woods to Grandmother’s house can turn into a nightmare without proper auto insurance, and of course, the winter makes you more likely to become ill during your holiday travels. Before you plan out what you’ll be doing for Christmas and Thanksgiving, take the time to evaluate your insurance policies.

Auto Insurance

Although state laws require that all drivers maintain liability insurance for at-fault accidents with other drivers, you need to be aware that uninsured drivers will be on the road with you. If you have an accident, you may be stuck with a repair bill or injury that is not covered. Before taking the care across country for the holidays, consider purchasing underinsured or uninsured motorist protection. Uninsured motorist protections cover you if the other driver’s financial responsibility falter or don’t exist.

Homeowner’s Insurance

What goes together better than cookies and hot cocoa? Burglars and empty homes. When you travel this holiday season, remember that your home could be the next target of a break-in. While it’s beneficial to purchase a home security system or service, you need to have an insurance policy to cover your belongings as well as your home. In addition, the risk for fires increases during the winter, so check to see if your current homeowner’s policy covers house fires.

 Health Insurance

Sledding all day is a fun and exciting thing to do while visiting friends or relatives away from your home, but what happens if you, your children, or your spouse get sick? Check to see if your health insurance policy will cover visits to emergency centers, hospitals, or other clinics in whatever state or city you will be traveling to. Furthermore, make sure you are up-to-date on your immunizations prior to holiday travel.

If you’re planning a trip this holiday season, you need to take some special considerations in regards to your insurance policies. Make sure your home, vehicle, and the health of yourself and your family will be covered if something happens during your holiday travel.

Read more

9 years ago · by · 0 comments

Your Business Needs Employee Practice Liability Insurance

eMPLOYEEIn the past, Americans faced significant amounts of discrimination and problems in the workplace, but the US Congress enacted several laws to prevent these problems in the future. While the protections derive from the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) remains charged with the duty to monitor and enforce employee protections. However, a business does not possess the ability to control the actions of its employees, which leaves a business open to the possibility of legal action for improper treatment or discrimination. In order for a business to properly protect itself from the possible unlawful actions of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on part of persons within the business, it needs to purchase an Employment Practice Liability (EPL) insurance policy.

Discrimination

An EPL insurance policy guarantees businesses will be able to meet any legal problems or restitution required arising from the discrimination of a person within the company towards another employee. Although the issue of race comes to the mind immediately when speaking of discrimination, EPL policies include protections for other types of discrimination, such as discrimination in employee pay rates, age, pregnancy, religion, genetic information, and gender.

Harassment

EPL protections encompass the inappropriate physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual realms of harassment that could occur within the workplace. According to information provided by the EEOC, the monetary benefits awards as a result of harassment charges rose from $86.5 Million in 2010 to $97.3 Million in 2013, and without an EPL policy, your business will be on the proverbial hook for this money.

Retaliation

As part of the EEOC’s duty to enforce the rules against the protected, unlawful behaviors, it ensures that employees do not experience retaliation when charges against a business have been filed. For example, an employee cannot be terminated if she experienced a case of sexual harassment, which she then reported to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In California, the total number of claims per year against businesses for unlawful actions increased from 6.654 in 2009 to 6,892 in 2013, and many of these claims involved multiple allegations for different infractions. With this information in mind, your business cannot risk the financial setbacks of violations in employee protections. Your business needs an EPL insurance policy.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employment_practices_liability

http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/statistics/enforcement/harassment_new.cfm

http://www1.eeoc.gov/eeoc/statistics/enforcement/charges_by_state.cfm#centercol

Read more

Company information

Scurich Insurance Services
Phone: (831) 661-5697
Fax: (831) 661-5741

Physical:
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd., Suite7,
Aptos, Ca 95003-4700

Mailing:
PO Box 1170
Watsonville, CA 95077-1170

Contact details

E-mail address:
[email protected]

(831) 661-5697

Available 8:30am - 5:00pm