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1801 E 3rd St
Farmville, VA 23901

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Three things you shouldn’t assume about workers compensation insurance

If you own a business with employees, workers’ compensation is an important issue for you. Business owners in Farmville, VA can rely on us at Gantt Agency to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage.

The following are three things you shouldn’t assume about workers’ compensation insurance:

You don’t need workers’ compensation coverage if all your employees are part-time

It’s true that you might not be required by law to have workers’ compensation insurance if your employees are part-time.

However, your employees will inevitably appreciate the fact that you carry this coverage whether they’re part-time or full-time. It’s also important to realize that you’ll find it easier to hire talented employees if you carry workers’ compensation and offer other benefits. 

Workers’ compensation insurance isn’t necessary if you have a very small number of employees

You need to pay attention to the regulations in place in your state before assuming that you don’t need workers’ compensation coverage.

Even if you don’t have a huge staff, it’s still financially beneficial to carry coverage. If you forego coverage, you might have to pay the full cost of a workers’ compensation claim out of pocket. 

Workers’ compensation insurance is not legally required

Never assume that workers’ compensation insurance is not legally required in your situation without doing the research. You could face severe penalties if you don’t carry workers’ compensation in a situation in which it is required by law. 

Contact Us Today

Being properly informed about workers’ compensation is essential to prolong the lifespan and maximize the profitability of your company over the long term. At Gantt Agency, we’re happy to provide a quote for workers’ compensation insurance for your company in Farmville, VA. 

Does my home business need commercial insurance?

Home-based businesses are increasingly popular choices for those who have a small business. Not having to pay for rent is a great saving. At Gantt Agency in Farmville, VA, we have 8 offices and one of them is likely to be convenient for you to visit or call. We have been growing since 1988 and our team has the knowledge and experience that you look for in an independent insurance agent. 

Simply stated, yes, your home business does need commercial insurance. The fact is, your home insurance is not designed to protect a business, and it can either not cover or have very limited coverage for your business. 

Why Commercial Insurance?

Property insurance

If your property insurance covers any business property, it will be very limited. You could lose all your tools, inventory, office equipment and other things that you use to conduct your business. Having commercial property insurance will protect your business assets when you have them in your home or in your vehicle. 

Liability insurance

Getting sued as a small business is almost a certainty and if you are counting on your home insurance liability to protect your business you will be disappointed. Home insurance will not cover you. If you have customers or clients visiting your home and they are injured, you will be on your own. If a client sues you, you are out of luck. 

Auto insurance

If you are using your personal vehicle for business, you are taking a very big risk. Your personal auto insurance does not cover business use. If you have an accident you could find yourself with a lot of uncovered damage. You could be sued for injuries and damage and that could be very expensive. 

Give Us A Call

Contact Gantt Agency in Farmville, VA when you are in need of commercial insurance information. 

Reasons Why a Judge May Order You to Carry SR-22 Insurance

Here at Gantt Agency, serving the greater Farmville, VA area, we offer our customers SR-22 and FR-44 insurance. These types of insurance products are typically court-ordered products that have higher insurance coverage amounts and are higher priced. If you have a family member who has been ordered to carry one of these types of insurance products, you may find yourself wondering why.

Here are a few of the common reasons why a judge may order someone to carry SR-22 insurance:

You Were Driving Without Insurance

One of the reasons a judge may require someone to carry SR-22 insurance is because they were driving without insurance and were caught multiple times, or they caused an accident and did not have insurance. This makes them a higher risk, and as such, the courts may require them to carry this insurance in order to get their license back. 

You Were Convicted of a DUI or DWI

Another common reason why courts order someone to obtain SR-22 insurance is that they were convicted of a DUI or DWI. In order to get a driver’s license back after one of these infractions, most courts require SR-22 or FR-44 insurance. 

You Have a Poor Driving Record

Lastly, someone with a poor driving record, including reckless driving or street racing infractions, or someone with multiple accidents, may be required to carry this type of insurance. 

Contact Us Today

If a judge orders you to obtain SR-22 insurance, you will not be able to operate a vehicle until you obtain this type of insurance policy and submit it to either the courts or the local department of motor vehicles. If you or a loved one have been ordered to obtain SR-22 insurance or FR-44 insurance, Gantt Agency, serving the greater Farmville, VA region, can help. Get started by contacting us today. 

What VA trucking company owners need to know about insurance

If you own a trucking business in the greater Farmville, VA area, you can turn to the team at the Gantt Agency for all of your insurance needs. Protecting your trucking firm often requires specialized insurance, and we are here to help you find the right coverage for your company. Call us today!

Insurance for VA trucking company owners

Trucking companies have certain aspects of their business that oftentimes require specialized insurance coverage. When it comes to protecting your hard work, you will want to ensure that you have an appropriate policy in place. If you already have a commercial policy in place, it makes sense to review it for any gaps in necessary coverage.

One great example of the benefits of trucking insurance is loss of income protection. Certain policies can help to protect your business if all or part of your fleet is offline due to a covered event. This type of protection will allow you to continue to cover costs even if your ongoing cash flow takes a hit.

There are a number of different types of trucking policies that offer a range of different coverage options. If you have questions about how to best protect your company, it makes sense to sit down with a local agent. This will allow you to learn more about how a comprehensive trucking policy can help you maintain your trucking company even when some things go wrong in the future.  

We look forward to working with you!

Gantt Agency is here for the trucking company owners located in the greater Farmville, VA area. If you would like to learn more about the options that are currently available in our area, give us a call today to set up a consultation. 

Protect yourself from employee theft with a restaurant insurance policy

If you own a restaurant in the greater Farmville, VA area, the Gantt Agency is here to help you protect your business assets. Owning a restaurant takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and it’s important to protect your business. Give us a call today, and let’s discuss the restaurant insurance policy options that are available in our area. 

Protect your business with a comprehensive restaurant insurance policy

As every restaurant owner knows, there are often unfortunate incidents of employee theft that can occur on a regular basis. This is just one risk that is prevalent for restaurant owners and operators. With the right comprehensive restaurant insurance policy, you can possibly be protected from losses like employee theft.

Inventory at a restaurant includes a lot of expensive appliances and storage systems. And, one of the highest-cost inventory items is perishable foods. What happens if your refrigeration or freezer systems go out, or there is a power outage? These situations can cause thousands of dollars in losses that, in some cases, would have to be absorbed by the business.

Having a comprehensive policy protecting your restaurant is an effective way to protect yourself and your business in situations such as these. If your current policy is light on protection, now may be the perfect time to upgrade to a more robust policy. This can help you protect your hard work.

Give us a call today!

Gantt Agency is proud to work with the Farmville, VA area business community. We understand how much work it takes to establish a business, and we want to help you protect your hard work. Call our office today, and set up an appointment so we can discuss the most effective ways for you to protect your restaurant. 

Protect More Than Just Your Home With Garage Insurance

If you own a home, you probably have a homeowners’ insurance policy. But what about your business? Owners of garages and repair shops in the Farmville, VA area will want to get in touch with us at the Gantt Agency to discuss their garage insurance options. This coverage is designed to protect them from liability, in the event that something goes wrong at their location. If someone is injured or otherwise harmed there, the right liability protection can make a big difference in how the issue is addressed.

Garage Insurance: What You Need To Know

Because automotive dealerships, garages, and vehicle repair shops are places with significant injury risk, having the right type and level of coverage is extremely important. Most businesses have insurance policies, but what kind of policy will depend on the kind of business and the level of liability risk it has. Your dealership or garage needs to protect the workers and the customers from the harm that could come to them in that environment.

Before you get your business up and running, you’ll want to discuss your insurance needs with knowledgeable professionals. Our trusted agents can help you find the support you’re looking for. Then you can get the right policy, with enough coverage to protect you in the right way. You need a garage insurance policy you can rely on, so you can have peace of mind when working.

Contact Us Today

Reach out to us at the Gantt Agency today, if you’re in the Farmville, VA area and looking for a garage liability policy for your auto repair shop, dealership, or other automotive operation. We’re here to help, and to give you the options you need so you can make an informed decision. With the right help and guidance, you can get good coverage and get on with your business.

What Are The Risks Of Not Having Workers Compensation Insurance?

Although operating a business comes with many expenses, getting workers’ compensation is one expense you should never skip. Gantt Agency in Farmville, VA provides this guide in navigating this important coverage.

What is workers’ compensation insurance?

This commercial coverage protects business owners and their staff from the financial liability that could follow after an employee gets injured on the job or becomes ill because of a work-related issue. This coverage covers the medical bills related to the illness or injury and missed income. At Gantt Agency, we urge business owners to get this coverage because it can indemnify them in a lawsuit if the employee sues. As a business owner in Farmville VA, here are the risks that you are exposed to if you don’t have workers’ compensation insurance.

Contractor Liability

Contractors typically aren’t employees, and this means that they usually assume the liability for injuries they sustain working for you themselves. However, you need to state that you are not responsible for your contractor’s injuries or anyone down the line clearly in the contract that you offer them. The contractor needs to know that they are liable for their injuries. If you fail to do contractual risk transfer, you will be liable for the contractor’s injuries, those of the sub-contractor, and others down the line. This can be financially devastating to your and your business.

Lawsuits, Fines, and Jail Time

If you don’t have worker’s compensation, you can expect your employee to sue you for liability of their medical bills and missed income if they get ill or injured because of working for you. The lawsuit will put a massive burden on you and your business’s operations as you will have to direct some of your income towards paying legal fees. Additionally, the lawsuit can result in massive fines for you and your enterprise, which could cripple its operations. Additionally, you can end up in jail for negligence.

Give Us A Call

Contact Gantt Agency today for the best workers’ compensation insurance deals in Farmville, VA.

Must-Have Commercial Insurance Coverages in Virginia

If you are trying your hands in business, you must be open to the fact that you have to contend with various risks present in the business environment. Your business is never short of risks from liability claims, fires, and theft to natural disasters. While there are several risk mitigation strategies you can devise, don’t forget about commercial insurance from Gantt Agency in Farmville, VA. Business insurance restores your financial position when perils strike.

But since commercial insurance has numerous policies, you may be confused about the ones you should consider for your business.

Here are must-have commercial insurance policies:

Worker’s comp insurance

If you have more than two employees in Virginia, the law requires you to purchase workers’ comp insurance. This coverage pays for hospitalization costs, ongoing care, and partial loss of wages for the injured employee.

General liability coverage

Regardless of the nature of your business, it’s exposed to liability claims like bodily injury, property damage, libel, slander, and other liability claims. Liability coverage covers the legal hassles when accused by third parties.

Property insurance

Business assets like buildings, computers, furniture, and inventories are susceptible to losses and damage. Perils such as smoke, fire, natural disasters, and vandalism may damage your assets, resulting in significant financial losses. Invest in property insurance to compensate when faced with damage or loss of your assets.

Professional liability insurance

If you provide services, you had better invest in this coverage. This policy protects you when sued for negligence, missed deadlines, and incomplete work by your consumers.

Cyber liability insurance

The proliferation of cyberattacks means you need to protect your business with cyber liability insurance. This coverage cushions you financially by covering PR, notification, and legal costs after a cyberattack. Ready to invest in commercial insurance in Farmville, VA? Please get in touch with Gantt Agency for an affordable quote.

What is Trucking Insurance?

The type of commercial truck insurance required is dependent on the type of driving you to do or the business that you own. As a driver, you’ll need primary liability insurance which is required as part of acquiring a trucking license and protects third parties and their property from damage that your truck causes. Conversely, if you are the owner-operator of a trucking company, then you’ll also need general liability insurance. The difference between these two types of insurance is that general liability also offers the policyholder additional protection in the event of a lawsuit or a libel/slander claim against your trucking business. Gantt Agency in Farmville, VA offers this guide on choosing your trucking insurance. 

What is Trucking Insurance?

Whether you are a loan operator or own multiple trucks, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation require proof of liability insurance for your Operating Authority/MC Number application. Failure to carry insurance within your truck or not having enough coverage can result in significant penalties including loss of license, jail time, fines, and more. Most trucking insurance policies will include the following coverage:

  • Bobtail Coverage: Protects a truck that is being operated without a trailer.
  • Limited Depreciation Coverage: Helps pay the difference between the market value that the insurance is likely to pay you and what is still owed on the truck.
  • Motor Truck Cargo Insurance: Offers protection for non-hazardous freight and cargo liability.
  • Non-Trucking Liability Coverage: Protects your truck when it is used for non-business purposes.
  • Physical Damage Coverage: Covers physical damage that is incurred to your tractor-trailer.
  • Trailer Interchange Agreement Insurance: Protects non-owned trailers when they incur physical damage.

For more information on trucking insurance, Gantt Agency in Farmville, VA is here to help. We can assist in answering your trucking insurance questions and help customize a policy that best protects you from liability. 

What is SR-22/FR-44 Insurance, and What Does it Cover?

Are you a high-risk driver? Do you have a DUI on your records? It would be best if you thought about SR-22 or FR-44 from Gantt Agency in Farmville, VA. But what’s the difference between the two? What covers what? If you want to know more about these insurance coverages, hang on as we explore.

What is SR-22, and what does it cover?

In its strict definition, SR-22 isn’t a type of car insurance per se. However, it’s not uncommon to hear people refer to it as insurance. SR-22 is proof of financial responsibility. It notifies the state’s motor vehicle department that you carry the required amount of car insurance.

Furthermore, not every driver needs an SR-22. Only high-risk drivers need to invest in SR-22. So, if you have a DUI record, have been caught driving without insurance, or have been at fault for many accidents, you may need SR-22. 

What is an FR-44?

Only Virginia and Florida states use FR-44s, also called “DUI insurance.” And just like SR-22, FR-44 isn’t a type of insurance. FR-44 is similar to SR-22, only that it’s specific to DUI cases only.

If you have been charged with DUI in Florida or Virginia, you may need an FR-44, similar to SR-22, but with a minimum of $100,000 liability coverage on your car insurance. The thinking behind this is that DUIs are repeat offenders and likely cause severe injuries and damage on the road. They need higher liability coverage when they are at fault for accidents.

If you have been charged with DUI in Virginia, you are legally required to produce an FR-44 before your license is reinstated.

SR-22/FR-44 Insurance in Virginia

If you are a high-risk driver or have a DUI on your record, you need to invest in SR-22/FR-44 from Gantt Agency. Contact us today for an affordable quote.