How to Protect Your Business Against False Insurance Claims
When you're in business, people often think you're rich and have money to take in a lawsuit or that you at least have insurance that will pay them. That can lead to fraudsters trying scams like insurance fraud. Here's why it matters to you and what you can do about it.
What Is Business Insurance Fraud?
Business insurance fraud is when someone fakes an accident to try to get paid. A common example is someone pouring water on the ground and then either pretending to or intentionally slipping and falling on it. Their hope is that you or the insurance company pays them a quick settlement.
Why Should You Care About False Business Insurance Claims?
Business insurance claims directly affect how much you pay in insurance premiums. Insurance hikes that come after a real accident are a cost of doing business. If someone wins a false insurance claim, even though the insurance company will be the one paying the claim, you'll still likely see a premium increase. In addition, even claims that you win can still affect your rates. So if you or the insurance company detects the fraud and the scammer loses, you could still see a rate increase just because of the time and money the insurance company spent beating the false claim.
Should You Still Get Business Insurance?
Yes, you should still get business insurance even if you're worried about false claims. First, real accidents can still happen, and you want to be covered for those. Second, if you don't have insurance, a scammer could still try to sue you. There's a chance that they could get away with it and win, and even if they lose, you'd still have to pay for a lawyer. When you have business insurance, the insurance company deals with it for you.
How Do You Stop False Business Insurance Claims?
You can stop false business insurance claims with routine good business practices. Keep customer areas neat and tidy so there are no convenient ways to have an intentional accident. Consider using video recording in public areas so that you can see the truth of what happened. Make sure your employees and managers quickly and thoroughly document any accidents that do happen. Finally, cooperate with your insurance company during the claims process so that they can establish the facts.
To learn more about how to protect your business and keep your rates down, talk to a local business insurance company today.