Crawlspace Waterproofing Contractor’s Liability
So you decided to contract a professional for crawlspace waterproofing. That was a good move. However, someone got hurt on the job. Who should be held liable; you or the contractor?
Crawlspace waterproofing contractors often take precautions to ensure the safety of their teams and anyone on the property while they work on the crawlspace. However, accidents can still happen despite the precautions taken. When they do happen, determining who is responsible as well as who should pay for any attendant costs is important.
Check your homeowner’s insurance policy
It is important to check your insurance policy even before any work begins on your property. Refer to the personal liability section of the policy to find out what is covered by the policy. In most instances, major injuries are not covered by homeowner’s insurance. If they are, there will be fairly low limits. You should therefore not fully depend on your homeowner’s insurance policy to cover injuries that are sustained while work is being carried out on your property.
Check your contractor’s insurance
Before you hire a crawlspace waterproofing contractor, you should check for evidence of insurance coverage. This coverage should include:
- Liability
This includes cover for bodily injury caused to you or your family. It also includes cover for damage to your property by the contractor.
- Workers’ compensation
This includes cover for injuries suffered by the contractor or their employees while working on the property. This cover will compensate the injured party for their medical expenses, lost income and much more.
Minimize your risks
Despite all the safety precautions taken by contractors, accidents can happen in a split second. It is therefore important to minimize your risks as far as it is possible.
- Hire certified, experienced and insured contractors
Don’t hire just any contractor. Check their credentials. They should be certified and experienced in waterproofing crawlspaces. They should also be fully insured. This will help to minimize the chances of an accident and ensure that you are not held liable if an accident does occur.
- Let them use their own equipment
Do not lend the contractor any equipment for the job. They should use their own equipment. If an accident occurs while they are using your equipment, you could be held liable for the accident.
- Keep the site clear throughout the project
Keep children and pets away from the project site. Whenever possible, leave your home and allow the workmen to complete the project without interference. Keep away toys and other obstacles to prevent accidents.
Contact the professionals at Everdry today! (678) 741-2900
John Fahmy, President of Everdry of North Georgia / Atlanta region started at Everdry’s corporate headquarters (Ohio State Waterproofing) in 1991 as a part time customer service rep.
While working part time, John pursued his Bachelors degree in Marketing and Business Management at Cleveland State University. It was John’s mission to become the best in this industry after seeing his grandparents get scammed by a fly by night waterproofing contractor, and lose lots of money, that was not there anymore when they needed service. After only one year, John was promoted to Customer Service Manager.
After a total of 8 years in the Customer Service Department, John branched out, holding his Customer Service Manager position, while taking on new responsibilities as Assistant Marketing Director and becoming an EZ Breathe Sales rep.
In 2003, John was named Director of Shows, a job that gave him the opportunity to work directly with all of the national Everdry franchise locations nationwide, providing each office with support for their marketing efforts at trade shows.
In 2004, after 13 years with the company, John and his wife Connie took on a new challenge and took over the North Georgia / Atlanta Everdry franchise. Our goal is to provide a healthy and safe living environment in homes for the families in the North Georgia / Atlanta region.