[Hidden-tech] certificate of insurance question

[Don Lesser]

There are two policies--the General Liability and the Workman's Comp. Every 
independent contractor is supposed to have Workman's Comp insurance but I 
have yet to meet one who does (it is the equivalent, I think, of paying 
Workman's Comp as part of paycheck). As a company, we have both at a cost 
of around 1000 a year each (I am not at work and can't check the exact 
figures.) Getting a lot of contracts is contingent on our having them--the 
colleges and some large employers in the area needed the General Liability 
(for $1,000,000) before they would sign a contract with us. I believe it 
covers you for things like getting hurt at their locations, etc. It is not 
liability insurance for bad programming or getting sued for some 
professional negligence. That insurance is something a lot of contractors 
talk about needing, but I have never heard of one actually getting it or 
getting sued.

I have worked with Blair, Cutting, Smith in Amherst (now Encharter) for 
years and years and they are always responsive. Definitely talk to an 
insurance person about it. I could be wrong on some of the details, so you 
want to find an expert.