Property and Casualty

Availability: All states and D.C., except AK and HI

Target risks: Design professionals including architects, engineers, land surveyors and landscape architects.

Policy features:

• Comprehensive property and casualty coverage for specific business exposures, including:
  • Computer equipment - $50,000 with option to increase
  • Laptops and cell phones on a worldwide basis with property extension SB 300177B
  • Valuable papers/media - $100,000 with property extension
  • Accounts receivable - $100,000 on premises with property extension, $25,000 off premises
  • Business property off premises (including business property at residence of employees)
  • Back-up of sewers or drains - Optional
  • Blanket additional insured and waiver of subrogation including products and completed operations on BOP 
• Contractual liability coverage for work performed within 50 feet of a railroad if professional liability written includes pollution coverage
• Includes the most frequently requested type of additional insureds and the coverage for them is triggered automatically - so you don't need a separate endorsement each time you're asked to cover an additional person 
• Additional insured coverage for clients and project owners is triggered by the contractual requirements and includes the following when specifically required:
  • Products and completed operations
  • Primary or primary and non-contributing
  • Waiver of subrogation
• The aggregate applies on a per project basis so you have the full benefits of the policy at each project if professional liability written includes pollution coverage
• Eliminates contractual liability exclusions from personal injury and advertising injury coverage 
   

Architects & Engineers P/C-BOP endorsement

Availability: The policy form is currently approved in all states and D.C., except AK and HI. Adding the endorsement costs $75.00 or 5% of the overall BOP premium, whichever is greater. 

Your clients' contracts frequently require you to carry GL coverage that:

• Includes primary and non-contributory wording
• Includes a blanket waiver of subrogation
• Adds an owner, contractor or other entity as an additional insured

The BOP blanket additional insured endorsement with products-completed operations coverage & blanket waiver of subrogation includes all of these things and more.

Blanket convenience
The blanket additional insured endorsement eliminates the hassle of adding additional insureds to the policy manually. With the endorsement, coverage is extended to parties through a contractual agreement. In addition to eliminating hassle, the blanket form also eliminates the charge for each and every additional insured that are required to be included.

Broader coverage
Many endorsements limit additional insured coverage to liabilities resulting from "ongoing operations." However, the Victor endorsement provides broader coverage for "work" performed, extending coverage to claims made after the work is completed. 

• BOP endorsement FAQs
  
  

Commercial Auto

Target risks:  Design professionals including architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects and other specialty consultants. Also included (with the exception of small business): project delivery methods such as design-build, joint venture, construction management services, and traditional design-bid-build

Availability: All states and D.C., except AK and HI

Policy features:

• Comprehensive deductible minimum - $500
• Collision deductible minimum - $500
• Single limit - $1,000,000
• Endorsement available to provide coverage extensions

*Policy details vary by state. Extended coverage endorsement is not available in all states.
 

Inland Marine

Availability: All states and D.C., except AK and HI

Target risks: Design professionals including architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects and other specialty consultants. Also included (with the exception of small business): project delivery methods such as design-build, joint venture, construction management services, and traditional design-bid-build.

Policy features:

• Coverage is offered as part of the BOP and TCPP
• Comprehensive property and casualty coverage for specific business exposures, such as:
  • Valuable papers/media up to $100,000
  • Accounts receivable up to $100,000 on premises and $25,000 off premises
  • Surveyors equipment, scientific instruments, replicas, models, sculptures and drawings, including fine arts
  • Business property off premises up to $25,000
  • Computer equipment
  • Laptops and cell phones on a worldwide basis
     

Commercial Package Policy (TCPP)

For design/build, large and complex firms

Target risks: Large design/build firms. Design professionals including architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects and other specialty consultants. Also included (with the exception of small business): project delivery methods such as design-build, joint venture, construction management services, and traditional design-bid-build. 

Availability: All states and D.C., except AK and HI

Policy features:

• Comprehensive property and casualty coverage for specific business exposures, such as:
  • Computer equipment - included; subject to applicable business personal property limit; covered causes of loss apply
  • Laptops and cell phones
  • Business property off premises - $25,000
  • Valuable papers and records - $100,000
  • Accounts receivable - $100,000 on premises; $25,000 - newly acquired locations; temporary locations or in transit
  • Back-up of sewers or drains - $25,000 
• Property Extensions Package is available to increase coverage; must be purchased by endorsement for an additional cost
• Additional limits available for purchase
  
  
• TCPP Frequently Asked Questions
   

Umbrella coverage

Umbrella coverage is supplemental insurance coverage that is designed to give the insured an extra level of protection. So when the primary limits of a policy are exhausted, the umbrella policy takes over to cover the extra cost.

Why do I need umbrella coverage?
A lawsuit judgement or a claim may exceed your underlying liability coverage's limits. If this were to happen, you may be at risk for losing your personal assets. An umbrella policy will give you more coverage above the limits of your current policy, giving you more protection. If any large claim arises, your umbrella policy will take care of it by increasing your limits.

Availability: All states and D.C., except AK and HI

Target risks: Design professionals including architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects and other specialty consultants. Also included (with the exception of small business): project delivery methods such as design-build, joint venture, construction management services, and traditional design-bid-build.

Policy features:

• Minimum premium in most states: $500
• Limits: 5,000,000 limit of liability/each occurrence, policy limit $5,000,000
• Additional limits available for purchase
   

Workers' Compensation

Availability: All states and D.C., except AK and HI

Target risks: Design professionals including architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects and other specialty consultants. Also included (with the exception of small business): project delivery methods such as design-build, joint venture, construction management services, and traditional design-bid-build 

Policy features: Limits of employer's liability: $100,000 each accident; $500,000 disease policy limit; $100,000 disease each employee; higher limits are available.

Download the Property & Casualty coverage highlights sheet

You have the option not only to report a claim, but circumstances, (situations in which you are concerned that a claim may occur) as well.

Here's how to ensure the fastest possible response to your circumstance or claim:

1. When you're notified of a claim or become aware of a circumstance, email your claim information to designclaims.us@victorinsurance.com, or you can write the CNA Insurance Companies in care of Victor Insurance Managers LLC, 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 400, Bethesda, MD 20814.
   
   
2. With respect to claims, all principals and staff members involved in the claim should be prepared to document the circumstances surrounding the allegation. Your written report to CNA should include the following:
   
   - Your firm's name and address
   - Your policy number
   - Date, time and location of the situation
   - Brief narrative description of the allegation against you
   - Name of person or entity making the claim
   - Amount of demand, if known
   - Any lawsuit papers or legal proceedings
   - Client - architect/engineer agreement for the project
   - Any other pertinent documents or correspondence, including newspaper accounts
   
   
3. If the claim or circumstance involves a traumatic situation (collapse of a structure, serious bodily injury, etc.), take photographs of the site if possible. Amateur photos taken promptly are more valuable than professional photos taken at a later date.
   
   
4. Consult with your CNA claim specialist before you agree to attend any conferences arranged for the specific purpose of discussing the situation.
   
   
5. Do not sign or accept releases from any parties without first obtaining approval from your CNA claims specialist.
   
   
6. Keep all pertinent letters of agreement for services, correspondence and memoranda.
   
   
7. Accept all letters, memoranda, and suit papers without comment or argument. Do not admit liability, and do not attempt to place blame.

Experienced legal counsel
CNA uses highly experienced and successful legal defense firms that specialize in architects and engineers professional liability claims to help defend you. The attorney assigned to your case will consult with you and keep you informed about all important actions to be taken on your behalf. In addition, your CNA claims professional will help answer your questions and advise you of developments in your case. The legal defense of a lawsuit is often the most critical factor in handling a professional liability claim. Providing you with the experienced legal defense you need is just one more reason why CNA delivers the best claims services available in the industry.

Fast claims service
If you are faced with a claim or potential claim, you can be assured that CNA will provide fast, fair claims service. Applying our experience and expertise, we work with you to protect your firm's assets and reputation by handling your claim quickly and effectively. Specialists give you personal service. Our architect and engineer professional liability claim professionals are available from coast to coast. At Victor and CNA, we continually respond to the evolving needs of your practice. That is our commitment to you - a commitment we've been keeping for over 65 years.

After your insurance company is notified about your claim or incident, we will take the following steps:

1. An analyst will be assigned to review your case
2. The analyst will notify your claims specialist, who will contact you within 24 hours of being notified of your situation to begin the investigation.
3. As the investigation progresses, you and your claims specialist will work together to direct, monitor and assess your case.
4. If the situation requires legal counsel, an attorney specializing in the defense of architects and engineers claims will be retained to protect your interests.