West Texas Insurance Agency

3702 Mockingbird Ln
Amarillo, TX 79109

The Role of the Commercial Insurance in Risk Management

Running a business comes with various challenges. You’ll face numerous risks that threaten the existence of your investment. For this reason, you need to safeguard it against expected and unexpected problems that may occur. There’s no way you can avoid these business risks entirely; you’ve to adopt effective business protection measures. 

One of the prudent decisions you can make is purchasing commercial insurance. It will protect your business from common risks that can bring down a company you’ve struggled to build for so many years. 

So, what are the business risks that you can minimize by purchasing commercial insurance? Our experts at West Texas Insurance Agency are here to help Amarillo, TX residents understand this topic. 

Property Damage

A good risk management program must consider how to deal with property damage. Hurricanes, fires, and floods can damage the physical structure of a business. The damage caused will disrupt the daily operations of your business, which will lead to lost profits. 

What should you do? Getting commercial insurance coverage is the first line of defense against property damage— however, not just any coverage. You need to ensure that the policy covers property damage and everything is insured to the right value. 

Human Capital

If you’ve employees, you’re probably facing multiple risks. When carrying out their mandates, employees get involved in all manner of accidents, which leave them injured or ill. When such situations arise, your business will spend a lot of money covering losses arising from the employee’s absence from work. You’ll also need to pay for medical expenses arising from the accident. 

What should you do? Commercial insurance coverage keeps you safe from the risks that come with employing workers. Workers’ compensation is included in most commercial insurance policies, which means you will be mitigating risks that can bring down your business.

Manage Risk with Commercial Insurance

As you can tell, there’s a direct correlation between risk management and business insurance. Risk management is all about managing the perils that may bring your business down, and insurance is right there as the first line of defense.

Do not miss out on these benefits of commercial insurance in risk management. Contact our West Texas Insurance Agency agents in Amarillo, TX, for immediate assistance.

Winter Variables That May Impact Your Commercial Insurance Policy

For over 20 years, West Texas Insurance Agency has served the Amarillo, TX community through offering residents multiple types of insurance policies. We strive to help our clients find the coverage they need to minimize risks, while also providing excellent customer service.

Winter Variables That May Impact Your Commercial Insurance Policy

As an Amarillo, TX business owner, you have to manage multiple responsibilities as you operate your business. Commercial insurance is an important resource that helps you protect the long term future of your business. Generally, the policy will cover your business during potential liability disputes involving your employees and customers. The policy also covers any damage to your business’ inventory and physical property. As the season’s change and the weather starts to get colder, your business must adjust. Here are some winter variables that may impact your business.

If you have a commercial auto policy for your business, you may need to alter it to prepare for winter. Winter driving conditions are especially dangerous. Liability coverage will protect your vehicle if you are involved in a collision. Your vehicle will also be protected if falling ice or tree branches damage it.

Make sure that you shovel the snow regularly around your business and put salt down to avoid potential liability disputes. Liability coverage will protect you if one of your customers suffers an injury on the property. Worker’s compensation will cover your business if one of your employees gets injured in the workplace.

Potential power outages are another potential variable that you’ll have to deal with during winter. Make sure that you have a generator in the event of a power outage so that your business can continue to function properly.

Consult With West Texas Insurance Agency

Visit our website to learn more information about commercial insurance.

Commercial Insurance Options

While business owners in Texas are not required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance or business liability insurance, it sure is a good idea. You’ve worked hard to open your business and invested tons of time and money into it so you want it to be successful and very well protected. The best way to protect your business is through obtaining a commercial insurance policy

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Workers’ compensation insurance will cover your employees if they become injured or ill while working for you on their job. This part of your commercial insurance policy covers their medical expenses and lost wages while they are recovering.

Commercial Business Liability Insurance

Liability insurance for your business will protect you if a person is injured while visiting your business or due to something related to your business. For example, if you own a tree trimming service and a branch falls from a tree and hits someone in the head, this part of your policy will cover the medical bills for that person. It also covers property damage so if one of your workers drops a tree on someone’s house and there’s damage to the house, this part of your policy will pay for that. Commercial liability insurance will also help pay for any damages caused by a personal or advertising injury, such as slander or libel.

Other Coverage Options

Commercial property insurance will cover your business if there is a break-in or a theft that occurs along with your business becoming damaged or destroyed by a fire, vandalism, or natural disasters, such as a tornado or hail storm.

To create the best commercial insurance policy for your business, you need to enlist the assistance of an experienced commercial insurance agent. The agents at the West Texas Insurance Agency in Amarillo, TX will help you create the best policy for you and your situation. Call for an appointment today!

What is included with commercial insurance?

Owning a business can be a great idea for someone that is willing to work hard and has a great idea. If you are looking for a place to start a business, coming to the Amarillo, TX area is a great option. When you do come here, there are many local benefits and amenities that can help you to be successful. To ensure that your business is protected, you should get a commercial insurance policy as it provides a range of different forms of insurance coverage. 

Asset Protection

One of the important forms of coverage that you will receive with your commercial insurance policy is asset protection. Starting any type of business will always come with the need to purchase commercial assets. Due to the investment that goes into this purchase, you need to protect it as well as possible. A great way to do this is by getting a commercial insurance policy as it will provide coverage to repair or replace the asset in a situation that results in a loss.

Liability Protection

One serious risk that all business owners need to take into consideration is their risk of liability. No matter what you sell or provide, there is going to be a chance that you could cause an injury to another party. If this occurs, you could face serious liability risk. Your commercial insurance policy will provide you with protection against this risk. 

When you are a business owner in the Amarillo, TX area, getting into the right insurance policy is very important. The team at West Texas Insurance Agency can help you to do that. When you call the West Texas Insurance Agency you will receive the guidance and support that you need. This can include helping you better understand your needs and options. 

How Commercial Insurance Protects Your Inventory

The state of Texas is a very large area. There are millions of people that call it home. There are also a lot of small business owners that have inventory that they do not want to see destroyed. A major loss of inventory could mean the end of the company. There are some things that you can do in order to protect your company from financial ruin. The best way is to purchase a commercial insurance policy that covers your inventory in Amarillo, TX. 

How a Commercial Insurance Policy Protects Your Inventory

The last thing you want to see happen is for your business to suffer a loss on its inventory. Without an insurance policy to pay for any losses, you would have to pay for it all yourself. Here are some ways that a commercial policy will cover your inventory.

  • This kind of policy will protect your inventory from theft losses. Theft is one of the biggest dangers to small businesses. Your policy would pay to replace anything that was taken.
  • Water is very damaging to property and inventory. It is the one peril that can feed other issues such as mold or rot. On the policy you can endorse certain coverage helps to protect against water damage.
  • A small internal fire can damage your inventory. Fire coverage also takes care of smoke damage and other related issues. 

If you are a small business owner and have questions about protecting your inventory, then please call us at West Texas Insurance Agency today. We can answer all of your questions and provide solutions to your insurance needs. Do not wait for the next loss to happen. By then, it is too late to protect yourself and the business from financial ruin in the Amarillo, TX area.

How commercial insurance can save your Amarillo, TX business

Owning a business in Amarillo, TX comes with all the challenges and stress that owning a business anywhere comes with. One thing that should not be causing you any worry is your commercial insurance. If you own a business you need to have commercial insurance but it is not one size fits all which is why the staff at West Texas Insurance Agency is there to help you to put together a policy that gives you everything you need to save your business while not making you pay for coverage you will never use. 

Commercial insurance needs to be tailored to your particular business. Many different types of coverage available and you probably won’t need them all.  No point in having commercial vehicle insurance if you don’t have a vehicle that you use for business. Texas does not require private employers to have workers compensation but in not doing so you leave yourself open to lawsuits from an employee who is injured on the job. You also may have trouble retaining employees. It is much less stressful to cover your employees and protect yourself. 

Property insurance is important coverage for a business of any size. Whether you own the building or are just renting it, you can have your business devastated by damage to the building which in terms damages your equipment, inventory, and machinery. By carrying property insurance you can repair or replace anything that is damaged by a covered hazard. 

Liability insurance is one of the most important parts of any commercial insurance policy. Let’s face it, the world loves to bring legal action against people and businesses. If someone is injured while visiting your business or by one of your products you could be facing expensive litigation. Liability insurance helps you to get through it with your business intact. 

If you are an Amarillo, TX business owner, stop in or give us a call at West Texas Insurance Agency and discuss your commercial insurance needs with us. 

 

Reasons to Upgrade Your Commercial Insurance Before The Holiday Season

Even in Texas the first hints of the leaves turning and the evenings cooling are here. We want to help you keep your business protected year-round, here at West Texas Insurance Agency. This is why we have a list of considerations for increased commercial insurance this holiday season. We serve Amarillo, TX and the rest of the vast state with quality insurance services. 

Reasons It May Be Prudential to Upgrade or Change Your Commercial Insurance Before The Coming Holiday Season.

  • Many businesses find that their foot traffic increases during the holiday season. This is not just due to holiday shopping, it also has to do with more people being out of school and on vacation to visit family or new places. It may be a good idea to fill any gaps in your insurance before the increase in risk.
  • If you are a business that shuts down and goes out of town during the holiday seasons then it is a good idea to assess your commercial policy to make sure you are fully covered during this time. 
  • If you run a business that relies on a lot of driving in a company vehicle it is important to know that not only is traffic heavier during this time, accident rates increase due to a variety of factors as well. Check your Commercial vehicle insurance going in so you are protected. 

Contact us at West Texas Insurance Agency to learn more or to upgrade your commercial, home, or life insurance today. We serve Amarillo, TX with quality insurance services and can provide you a quote for an upgrade or a whole new policy today. 

Commercial Insurance and Home-Based Businesses

Commercial Insurance and Home-Based Businesses

At West Texas Insurance Agency of Amarillo, TX, we talk to a lot of people who think that their homeowners’ insurance covers their home business. That’s not accurate. Your home-based business still needs commercial insurance.

Homeowners’ insurance covers normal home activity and your liability from it. It does not include business activity or business equipment. You still need to insure it like a conventional company.

You need commercial insurance designed for a home-based business. It provides you with property damage coverage, liability coverage and covers your attorney costs and fees. Other items that this insurance covers for your home-based business include libel or negligence claims and computer hacks or IP theft. While those last two items might not sound like something you need to worry about, hackers actually target small businesses first because they’re least likely to have protected in place.

While your first thought as to why to get it might be covering losses in cases of a fire or a tornado, it’s more common to need the liability coverage. Once you start meeting with people at your home office or have deliveries made to it, you open yourself to liability. If someone falls and hurts themselves, you’re liable for their injuries. Your commercial insurance kicks in to pay for the medical bills of the injured person. If they die due to an injury sustained on your property, it covers the funeral expenses and can cover a court settlement. Trying to pay those types of items out-of-pocket could close your business.

Call or visit West Texas Insurance Agency of Amarillo, TX to learn more about commercial insurance for your home-based business. We can help you find the coverage you need to protect your business and investment.

How Much Commercial Insurance is Enough?

Having the right amount of commercial insurance coverage to protect your Amarillo, TX business is just as important as having the right type of insurance. Too little coverage can leave your business exposed to unforeseen liabilities while having too much coverage can hurt your business’s bottom line. West Texas Insurance Agency understands the importance of having commercial insurance coverage that matches your business’s varied needs. The following shows how you can assess your coverage needs and give your business the protection it deserves.

Factors That Affect Coverage

The amount of commercial insurance coverage you’ll need for your business depends on a variety of factors:

  • Type of business – Certain industries may require more coverage and higher limits than others due to increased liabilities.
  • Customer base – Knowing who your customers are can give you an idea of your coverage needs.
  • Business location – Where your business is located and how it’s housed can also impact your coverage needs.
  • Number of employees – More employees means higher liability limits for your business.
  • Employee experience – Your coverage needs must account for your employees’ skill sets and experience, from seasoned veterans to brand-new hires.
  • Corporate status – Being a sole proprietor or part of a partnership can also affect your coverage needs.

Keep in mind that your commercial insurance needs aren’t set in stone. As your business changes, so will the amount of coverage it’ll need to stay protected. You can also use insurance endorsements to boost your current coverage and gain protection against a variety of unique and uncommon liabilities.

You can’t predict everything that’ll happen to your Amarillo, TX business, but the above can help you assess how much commercial insurance coverage you’ll need. Don’t forget that the agents at West Texas Insurance Agency can help you choose the right coverage amounts that fit your business. Contact us today to learn more.

Types of Commercial Insurance Available

Commercial insurance requirements are not the same in all states, and names for coverage options vary from one insurance company to the other. Depending on your type of business, West Texas Insurance Agency can offer you some additional specialized coverage options. Here is a list of some of the common types of commercial insurance policies that you should consider.

Property Insurance

The policy covers damages to personal or real property in Amarillo, TX. For example, the policy can pay for fire damage to your business premises. You can also access additional coverages under this policy such as debris removal insurance, island marine insurance, fidelity bonds, tenant’s insurance, and crime insurance.

Liability Insurance

The policy pays for any injuries that you cause to other people. In other words, the policy covers the cost of defending and resolving a personal injury claim that has been filed against your business for injuries or/and property damage. There are other more specialized diversities in liability such as:

The Errors and Omissions Insurance

 This covers inadvertent acts of failures that may end up causing an injury to another person. For example, the policy will cover damages arising from a mistake such as when a notary forgets to fill out a notarization accurately.

Malpractice Insurance

It pays for damages arising from a professional’s failure to provide services according to the standards of care in a particular profession. For example, if a dentist has a slip-up that other dentist in his or her field wouldn’t have made, the malpractice insurance will pay for damages arising from the malpractice. The policy is available for doctors, architects, dentists, and other professionals.

Automobile Insurance

The policy covers cars, vans, and trucks used for business purposes. The automobile insurance policy will protect you if one of your commercial vehicles is stolen, or pay for injuries and property damages caused by one of your drivers.

For more information about these commercial insurance policies, contact our local agents in Amarillo, TX. We, at West Texas Insurance Agency, offer a wide range of commercial insurance policies that will help you protect your business.

 

Servicing States

  • Texas
  • Oklahoma
  • New Mexico