Filing a Business Disruption Claim in Tampa
Was Your Business Shut Down Due to Coronavirus?
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many “non-essential” business throughout Florida have been ordered to cease operations, while “essential” businesses, including restaurants and grocery stores, have been instructed to limit themselves to partial operation. For many business owners, this raises serious concerns about how they will be able to stay afloat long enough to reopen when the coronavirus pandemic begins to subside. Many are turning to their business disruption insurance as a possible form of relief.
But, does business interruption insurance cover COVID-19 related shutdowns? In fact, many insurance providers have already asserted that business owners who have had to stop or limit operations due to the novel coronavirus are not covered. However, every case is different; the exact language of your policy will play a large role in whether or not you are covered. Additionally, there could be a number of potential benefits to filing a claim even if you are not able to immediately collect.
If you have been affected or are concerned about the effect the coronavirus may have on your business, we encourage you to reach out to our Tampa business disruption claims attorneys at Jerry Jaramillo & Associates. Unlike many other law firms, we devote a large portion of our practice to insurance claims issues, including disputed and denied claims. Our legal team understands how these claims work and can help illuminate your legal rights and options during this uncertain and unprecedented time.
To learn more, contact us online or call (813) 305-7697 now and request a free initial consultation.
What Does Business Interruption Insurance Cover?
First and foremost, it’s important that you, as a business owner, understand what your business disruption policy covers. As previously mentioned, while these policies are generally similar, each one has certain specificities. It’s important that you take the time to look over your policy and determine what is covered by business disruption insurance. If you need assistance going over your policy, get in touch with our knowledgeable and experienced insurance claims attorneys.
In most cases, business disruption insurance covers property loss directly caused by “perils,” including but not limited to:
- Fires
- Hurricanes
- Windstorms
- Floods (in some cases)
Additionally, for covered perils, business disruption insurance will typically compensate business owners for things like:
- Income
- Payroll
- Operational costs
- Taxes
- Loan repayment
- Temporary relocation
The thing to note here is that business disruption insurance covers property damage; therefore, if employees are unable to work due to COVID-19, this will not be covered by your policy. Additionally, many business disruption policies have specific exclusions for losses caused by viruses or bacteria. These exclusions were added to many policies after past outbreaks, such as H1N1 (the swine flu) and SARS. Knowing the exact language of your policy—and whether or not it includes these exceptions—will play a big role in whether or not you will be able to file a claim for coronavirus-related closures and losses.
Why Should I File a Claim?
Even if your losses are not covered by your business disruption policy, it may still be a good idea to file a claim. The idea behind doing so is that filing a claim will create a record of your losses should the government ultimately offer payouts as a result of its involvement in mandatory state- and nation-wide business closures.
This is a complex and unprecedented situation. At Jerry Jaramillo & Associates, we understand that, as a business owner, you have immediate, pressing needs. Our Tampa business disruption lawyers are here to help guide you through this difficult time and advocate for your rights every step of the way. If you have any questions about your policy or are concerned about how the coronavirus has affected your business, we encourage you to reach out to our firm right away to speak to one of our attorneys.
Call (813) 305-7697 to get started with a free and confidential consultation.