Business Interruption Claims
COVID-19 has caused a litany of changes for Pennsylvanians. Since Governor Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order, and his order closing non-essential businesses, many PA residents are without income and small businesses have lost revenue. While the Federal Government has been working to offer aid, it is not enough to save many who have poured years into the success of their establishment. For this reason, many business owners are filing insurance claims, citing their business interruption policies. Unfortunately, as is common with insurance claims of all kinds, they are being denied the funds they need to stay afloat.
WHAT IS BUSINESS INTERRUPTION INSURANCE?
Business interruption insurance is a means to compensate business owners for loss of earnings as a result of disaster or situations beyond their control. Premiums for this coverage can be costly, and many business owners have paid these expensive premiums for years to ensure they are protected during unprecedented times such as these, and yet are still being denied.
COVERAGE DETAILS
All insurance policies vary, and the following are examples of exclusions or policy language that could be factors in business interruption claim denials. If your claim has been denied, it is best to consult with the knowledgeable, excellent attorneys at the Pisanchyn Law Firm about your coverage and denial – call 1-800-444-5309 now for a free consultation.
Some policies list specific exclusions to business interruption coverage – and pandemic-related losses may be one of them. In 2003 many insurance companies amended coverage to exclude pandemic-related losses, as a result of the SARS outbreak. Insurance policies that do not specifically list this amendment have a stronger basis for a claim.
Claims could also be brought as a result of civil authority coverage – which is applicable to business owners who have been mandated to close by local authorities because of potential danger as a result of physical damage to another property in close proximity.
Though, as mentioned prior, all insurance policies are different – as is the case with one business owner in Harrisburg. She brought a claim to her insurance company after reading her policy which stated, “physical loss of use of the property or damage.” While her claim was denied, she has filed suit to fight the denial on the basis of the use of the word or.
Claims being brought under this coverage are being, and can be denied, because COVID-19 is not a qualifying covered cause of loss, despite businesses being forced to close as a result of government mandates.
PENNSYLVANIA AMONG STATES WORKING TO AMEND POLICY LANGUAGE
States are working to stop these types of denials by introducing legislation that extends business interruption coverage to include global pandemic closures – Pennsylvania being one. In addition, many business owners are also filing lawsuits against their insurers to obtain the money that is rightfully theirs. The Pisanchyn Law Firm is working to help those impacted by COVID-19 and are currently taking on business interruption claims. If you’re a business owner who has recently had a business interruption claim denied call 1.800.444.5309 now for a free consultation.
Helping small businesses is imperative to the livelihood of the communities in which we live. While many have been fortunate to work remotely, we understand that many, due to the nature of their field, do not have that option. These individuals cannot survive without the insurance money that they have paid for, and we will fight on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve.
THE PISANCHYN LAW FIRM CAN HELP
The Pisanchyn Law Firm’s attorneys are well-versed in insurance jargon and have gone toe-to-toe with many insurance companies denying our clients the compensation they deserve, and we will do the same for you. We will not back down from a fight and will stop at nothing to ensure your interests are served.
Call 1-800-444-5309 now for a free consultation! Should we accept your case, we will review your insurance policy, denial letter, and any other pertinent details to build your case, and lean on changing COVID-19 policies and legislation to recoup your losses.
While we are working remotely during this time, we are still available 24/7 and can serve you via phone, email and video chat.