As autumn rolls in, are your public entity clients ready for what this season brings? With changing weather patterns, increased public events, and ongoing infrastructure projects, there’s a lot that can easily go wrong. As insurance agents, you are key in helping public entities prepare for these risks. Understanding the nuances of public entity insurance and public officials liability insurance can help you better protect your clients against potential issues.

Public Entity Insurance Definition

Public entity insurance aims to protect municipal governmental entities, such as cities, towns, boroughs, and special districts, from a wide range of risks.

It provides liability protection for various operations and individuals, including public officials, employees, and volunteers. This type of insurance ensures that public entities can manage the day-to-day risks that come with overseeing and serving a community.

Importance of Public Officials Liability Insurance

Public officials often make difficult decisions on behalf of their communities. Sometimes, their actions can lead to claims of wrongdoing, negligence, or misconduct. 

In turn, local officials often face threats and harassment that may keep them from performing their official duties, according to a 2022 joint data collection effort.

Without adequate coverage, these officers — and the entities they represent — could face significant financial and legal risks.

For this reason, public officials liability insurance is a critical component of public entity insurance, as it protects individuals who have been lawfully appointed to serve on behalf of a public entity.

Making sure your clients have this type of comprehensive coverage is essential so that they can focus on serving their communities.

Autumn-Specific Risks for Public Entities

Here are some of the challenges public entities face during the fall.

Weather-Related Hazards

As the weather changes, public entities face new risks. Heavy rains, early snowfalls, and windstorms can all damage public infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and utilities. 

These weather-related hazards not only threaten physical assets but also increase liability risks for public entities. It’s vital for insurance agents to ensure their clients’ policies are up to date and include coverage for weather-related liabilities.

Increased Public Gatherings and Events

The fall season is also a busy time for community gatherings, which public entities often oversee.

But with larger crowds comes a higher chance of accidents that can result in liability claims, including injuries and property damage.

Insurance agents should work closely with their public entity clients to ensure their coverage adequately addresses the potential risks arising from these large-scale gatherings.

Maintenance and Infrastructure Projects

Additionally, autumn is often the last opportunity for many public entities to complete essential maintenance and infrastructure projects before winter sets in. Unfortunately, these projects also come with their own set of risks.

Thus, it’s important to emphasize the need for coverage that protects public entities from claims related to construction, repairs, and other public works activities. Keeping insurance policies up to date can shield their clients from these heightened liabilities.

How Insurance Agents Can Help Public Entities This Fall

One of the best ways to support your public entity clients is by conducting a thorough risk assessment at the start of the autumn season. By reviewing their existing policies and identifying gaps that could leave them exposed, you can help your clients stay ahead of potential liabilities.

Insurance agents should also focus on tailoring coverage to specific fall-related risks for their clients. It might involve adjusting policies to include coverage for weather-related damages or expanding liability coverage for public gatherings and infrastructure projects.

Tailored policies offer targeted protection that addresses the unique challenges public entities face during autumn.

In the Public Eye

Ensuring public entities are well-prepared and adequately insured for the unique challenges of autumn is essential. With public officials liability insurance and public entity insurance, local governments can serve their communities without fear of devastating lawsuits or liabilities. 

As an insurance agent, your role is to help your clients review and update their policies so they can confidently face the autumn season.

Contact PGUI today to learn more about how we can help you and your public entity clients navigate the complexities of public entity insurance.

About PGUI

Professional Governmental Underwriters, LLC., is a full-service risk management company dedicated to assisting public, educational, and non-profit entities in the management of their professional liability exposures, including educators liability insurance. We are dedicated to providing state-of-the-art professional underwriting management and loss control advisory services on behalf of our designated carriers. For more information, call us toll-free at (800) 586-6502.