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Are your sites ready for shut down?

As a responsible construction company owner, you know the importance of insuring your plant and making sure that your other necessary policies are in place with CivilSure. But did you know that the number of instances of – and the size of – liability claims litigation is higher than ever, and climbing? Before we make sure that your business is protected against this kind of litigation with Construction liability cover, let’s first take a look at why it is happening more often.

One of the main reasons that liability claims litigation is gaining traction in South Africa is the fact that individuals who could not previously afford to hire an attorney can now do so under the Contingency Fees Act 66 of 1997.

Any person who wishes to engage the services of an attorney must be able to pay for these services. A contingency fee arrangement means that an attorney may represent a plaintiff and conduct litigation on their behalf. The attorney carries all costs involved on the condition that, if the litigation is successful, they can charge the plaintiff double their original fee or up to 25% of the compensation awarded to the plaintiff. These contingency fee arrangements have influenced the number of and the size of liability claims that end up in mediation or court.

Simply put, contingency fee arrangements mean that any person with a valid, legally reasonable claim can now instigate legal action against you. This means that you have to make sure that you have adequate liability cover in place. Along with other important factors, this type of policy provides cover to the contractor for their legal liability for the physical injury to a member of the public or their property while carrying out the activities of the business as described in the schedule of insurance. It is important to note that personal injuries sustained to your employees during the course of their duties will be covered under the Workman’s Compensation Fund and thus it is critical that you are in good standing with the Compensation Commissioner.

Contact us to make sure that you have the right policies in place to protect your construction company, and that they are up to date.

CivilSure provides niche risk solutions to the construction and civils industry. We pride ourselves on delivering world class customer-centric services and specialist advice. We specialise in Construction Guarantees, Contractors’ All Risk Insurance, Construction Liability, Professional Indemnity and Plant All Risk Insurance.

Trusted. Reliable. Partner. Since 2005.

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by Dan Payton | July 31, 2018 | Contractors All Risk | 0 Comments

Your onsite machinery (plant) is vulnerable to a number of problems such as breakdowns, vandalism and theft. Missing a project deadline can be bad news for your bottom line as well as your reputation. Plant All Risk Insurance covers you for loss of, or damage to, construction plant and equipment whilst in storage, transit, on the contract site or being use as a tool of trade.

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When applying to get a Performance Guarantee, you’ll have to answer basic questions about your professional work experience and your company’s financial history. If your business has more than one owner, the financial credentials of all owners must be submitted.

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The term ‘Letter of Intent’ (LOI) is typically used to describe a letter from an Employer to a Contractor (or from a main Contractor to a Subcontractor) indicating the Employer’s intention to enter into a formal written contract for Works described in the letter, and asking the Contractor to begin those works before the formal Contract is executed. While an Letter of Intent may come in many forms, it’s essentially a communication expressing an intention to enter into a Contract at a future date.

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Does Contractors Liability on the Contractors All Risk policy cover damages to a structure, caused by a disgruntled employee’s pre-meditated sabotage?

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by Dan Payton | November 24, 2020 | Construction Liability, Contractors All Risk | 0 Comments

“PAR” stands for Plant All Risks, and is a section of insurance cover that is intended to cover all types of construction plant i.e. mobile yellow metal plant such as Graders, TLB’s, Excavators and / or non-mobile construction equipment such as scaffolding, generators and small tools. These are typically used on construction and civil engineering projects ranging from residential to commercial to large infrastructure projects. A PAR policy will cover risks that are fortuitous working accidents/ sudden and unforeseen losses or damages…

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This assurance comes in the form of a Performance Guarantee. Basically, what happens is that a surety company (an insurer or bank), for a certain fee, steps in and guarantees your performance. Surety companies don’t work directly with Contractors. Instead, they partner with brokerages like us.