Last Updated on January, 2025
Having the right insurance is crucial when it comes to tree surgery. This job involves significant risks, from working at heights to operating heavy machinery.
Insurance coverage protects you from financial loss due to accident or damage and most homeowners check if a service provider has insurance before hiring them.
So, what insurance policies are available for tree surgeons? Dig in to find out!
Quick Summary
- Tree surgeons need multiple insurance policies, including general liability, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, and business owner’s policies (BOP). These cover third-party injuries, employee injuries, vehicle-related accidents, and equipment damage.
- Tree service insurance covers liabilities like client injuries, property damage, theft, equipment loss, and professional mistakes. It ensures financial protection for both the business and employees from unforeseen incidents.
- Tree service insurance costs vary between £300 and £2,500 per year, depending on factors like business size and coverage. Comparing insurers, opting for bundle policies, and evaluating benefits can reduce insurance expenses.
What Type of Insurance Does a Tree Surgeon Need?
A wide range of tree service insurance is available that covers many potential situations that can occur when carrying out tree services. Here is a detailed explanation of each insurance.
General Liability Insurance
This policy, also called Public Liability Insurance, covers third-party accidents. Imagine that your customer gets injured by tripping on your tools or trees falling onto power lines; this is where general liability insurance is needed.
This insurance provides optimal coverage for bodily injury to customers and covers damage to their property during the tree service.
Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)
A Business Owner’s Policy includes general liability coverage and commercial property insurance.
A Business Owner’s Policy is way more cost-effective than other insurance policies, as you can cover many situations with one policy without the extra cost.
This type of policy is best for covering injury to a customer, property damage incurred by a customer, and damages to and theft of equipment or tools belonging to the tree service business.
Commercial Auto Insurance
This business insurance covers accidents involving the company’s vehicle. It covers third-party property damage caused by your company vehicle, serious bodily injury in an accident, and vehicle theft and vandalism.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance (Employers’ Liability Insurance)
If you have employees working in your tree service company, then this is an essential policy for you to have. It covers the costs involved with worker’s compensation claims, if any of your employees are injured while at work.
Sole proprietors get protected from work injury costs that health insurance may not cover.
This tree service business insurance covers employee medical expenses, disability benefits, and costs pertaining to employee injury lawsuits.
Inland Marine Insurance
This is the tree service insurance for contractors’ tools and equipment that may be damaged, stolen, or lost while being moved from the business premises to the job site.
This business insurance can be used to repair or replace equipment such as wood chippers, sprayers, gears, pesticides, pruners, chainsaws, and other tools.
The policy limits include:
- Equipment less than five years old.
- Equipment that travels to the job site.
- Small tools.
Cyber Insurance
This tree service insurance covers cyber-attacks and data breaches, and it works best for tree service companies that handle sensitive information.
This insurance coverage includes customer notification costs, data breach investigations, and fraud monitoring services.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
This policy is perfect for tree surgeons or companies that provide arboricultural advice or reports. If your tree service business also provides these services, it should have this insurance.
This business insurance covers financial losses or physical damages caused by the advice you have given.
Personal Accident Insurance
A tree surgeon’s job role involves various dangerous tasks and activities. This insurance helps protect them against possible expenses incurred due to accidents or personal injury while on the job, as well as providing financial support if they are incapacitated and unable to work following such an injury.
Business Interruption Insurance
It covers the loss of income if the business cannot operate due to any unforeseen circumstances, such as fire or flood, that affect equipment or premises.
Professional Liability Insurance
Professional liability insurance coverage is for professional errors and omissions. It covers claims regarding mistakes or negligence in the professional service provided.
For instance, if improper pruning techniques cause tree damage or death and result in a claim, this insurance would cover the costs.
Read more:
What is Tree Service Insurance?
Tree service insurance is a small business insurance policy with various types of coverage tailored to the unique risks and needs of the tree service industry.
What Does Tree Service Insurance Cover?
Now that you know the different types of tree service business insurance, let’s examine what tree surgeon insurance offers.
- Third-party, non-employee bodily injury and property damage
- If a client gets hurt while the business is providing a service to them, that cost is covered by the tree service insurance. For example, if a tree branch falls during a tree-cutting procedure and damages the client’s home, the tree service insurance helps pay for the repairs and medical expenses, if any.
- Personal and advertising injury
- It covers any claims related to libel, slander, or copyright infringement caused by advertising activities.
- Investigation and legal defence of claims
- When tree service companies deal with unfair clients, they may need to go to court. Tree surgeon insurance covers such legal expenses.
- Business equipment protection
- If company tools and equipment are damaged, lost or stolen while being transported to a job site, the insurance policy will cover any repair or replacement costs incurred by the business.
- Employee Injury
- Tree surgeon insurance will pay for the medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages of employees who are injured at work.
- For example, if employees get hurt during a tree removal, the insurance policy takes care of them.
What is Not Covered By Tree Service Insurance?
Tree service insurance does not cover personal injury or property damage costs caused by:
- War
- Infectious diseases
- Floods
- Earthquakes
- Disability
- Fraudulent and intentional damages
- Wrongful termination
Why Does a Tree Surgeon Need Business Insurance?
Business Insurance is a must for a tree surgeon as they have to deal with risks when providing tree services. They need insurance to cover costs incurred because of various situations that may arise during their work, such as:
- Liability protection
- Employee protection
- Equipment coverage
- Professional indemnity
- Business interruption
- Compliance and contracts
What Types of Businesses Need Tree Service Insurance?
- Tree removal specialists
- Certified arborists
- Pruners and trimmers
- Hardscape and landscape professionals
- Professionals who specialise in pest control
How Much Does Tree Service Insurance Cost?
While some insurance policies are mandatory requirements for a business, there are certain policies which you can choose to have. Tree service insurance costs between £300 – £2,500 per year.
Tree service insurance cost depends on various factors, such as:
- The types of service you provide.
- The number of employees you have.
- The type of business property and equipment you have.
- Your business income.
- The coverage types you buy.
- Policy limits and deductibles.
Ways to Save On Tree Service Insurance
Before you purchase tree service insurance, research the various offerings by insurance companies. Consider factors such as the money they pay and the services they provide, as well as benefits offered, add-ons and the reputation of the insurer.
Compare the rates and services, and choose the best one! Doing a little research can save both your money and time.
At the same time, look for bundle policies as they are cheaper and do not require you to buy each coverage separately.
FAQs
Conclusion
A tree surgeon needs insurance to protect themselves, their business, and their clients. With the right business insurance policies, a tree surgeon can operate with confidence as they know they are protected from various dangers.
