Manufacturers E&O coverage applies when there is an error, omission, or negligent act that leads to financial loss to a third party without bodily injury or property damage. Manufacturers Errors & Omissions is a claims-made coverage.
A manufacturer is contracted to manufacture a specific part for a customer who assembles washing machines. The manufacturer creates the part and sends it on to their customer, who then realizes the part is not usable as it is defective. The customer will need to have the part remade. This causes a delay in assembling the washing machines; therefore, the customer is unable to ship them out on time. The customer files a suit against the manufacturer for their financial loss.
This claim example is provided for illustrative purposes only. Any actual claim that is presented will be investigated and coverage will be determined based on the specific facts of the claim and application of the language of the policy form. We recommend that our insureds read and review the coverage form and present any questions to their agent or seek the advice of counsel.
Talk to your independent insurance agent for a quote on coverage, and for more details on what Hastings Mutual can do for you.
To err is Human; to Forgive, Divine. – Alexander Pope
We all make mistakes, but some are more serious than others. A mistake can be expensive if you’re a professional contractor and you’re working with poor-quality materials, or if your crew doesn’t do the high-quality work you expect them to.
Errors and omissions insurance, better known as E&O, is what you need if something goes wrong — if there’s an error (a mistake), omission (something accidentally left out of an agreement), or negligent act (something that was missed or not reported).
But what about a general liability policy, another similar type of policy that Hastings Mutual also offers? General liability coverage is just that: general. It applies to most situations a business owner might be in, like a homeowner who’s accidentally hurt by one of your employees. It can also apply to injuries caused by advertising — not from a falling billboard, but libel, slander, or other written or spoken harm. There’s a lot more to it, but putting it simply: general liability has to do with getting injured, damaging property, or causing harm to a company’s reputation. E&O has to do with making a mistake.
E&O is common for professionals in many industries — insurance companies have E&O coverage for themselves — but Hastings Mutual specializes in E&O for contractors and for mechanics. Why? It’s a field with many workers who deal with a lot of risk every day. We’re also familiar with contractors and mechanics and the kind of work they do; we offer coverage for several different types.
We encourage every business customer to talk with their independent insurance agent about errors and omissions coverage. A contractor might not think of it when buying their insurance; a builder will definitely need protection if someone is hurt on the job, but they might assume the costs of repairing a mistake are just part of the cost of doing business. Mistakes are made, but the expense of getting the job done the right way doesn’t have to fall on a contractor or mechanic’s shoulders.
The Mutual Understanding blog and Hastings Mutual videos are made available for educational purposes only. The information referred to is not an official company statement, corporate policy, or offer of coverage. Refer to your insurance policy for specific coverage. There is no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of any information found by following any link on this site. Please contact your local independent insurance agent with further questions and for more details on any insurance policy-related information you read here.
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Hastings Mutual Insurance Company
404 E. Woodlawn Ave.
Hastings, MI 49058
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(800) 442-8277