“We Had an Accident on a Job Site, Are We Actually Covered?”
A roofing company owner asked me this after a ladder mishap damaged a client’s gutter system, and honestly, it’s one of the most common questions I get from roofing contractors in Greeley. General liability insurance covers a lot, but it doesn’t cover everything, and knowing the difference matters before you’re standing in a client’s driveway trying to figure out who pays for what.
What General Liability Actually Covers on a Roofing Job Site
General liability insurance is built to address third-party property damage and bodily injury claims that happen during the course of your work. If a piece of equipment falls and damages a client’s siding, or a homeowner trips over materials staged in their yard, general liability is typically the coverage that responds.
Where Roofing Companies Often Assume Too Much
- Damage to your own tools and equipment usually isn’t covered under general liability, that requires separate inland marine or equipment coverage
- Injuries to your own employees fall under workers’ compensation, not general liability
- Faulty workmanship claims, where the roof itself fails due to poor installation, may be excluded or limited depending on your specific policy
- Damage to a structure you’re actively working on can sometimes fall into gray areas depending on the cause
Why This Distinction Matters More During Busy Season
Peak roofing season in Colorado means more crews, more job sites, and more moving parts happening at once. That increased activity naturally raises the odds of an incident, and knowing exactly what your general liability policy responds to, versus what falls under a different coverage entirely, prevents a bad surprise when a claim actually happens.
Let’s Walk Through Your Coverage Together
If you run a roofing company in Greeley and you’re not entirely sure where your general liability coverage ends, that’s worth a conversation before your next busy season, not during a claim. Front Range Insurance & Financial Services, LLC works with roofing contractors throughout Greeley, CO to make sure their coverage actually matches how their crews operate. Check out our roofing insurance page or give us a call at 970-330-7240.
