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The job of a structural engineer is closely similar to that of civil engineers. While you can get insured through a civil engineer insurance package, the best protection is a specialty structural engineer insurance plan.
This article covers the risks unique to your profession. In Addition will guide you to know what this is, how much premiums cost, and where to get the best coverage.
You need liability insurance. Liability insurance pertains to policies that grant protection against lawsuits. The most common types of structural engineer liability insurance are general liability, public liability, and professional indemnity policies.
Structural engineer insurance programs offer a general liability policy as a primary coverage. This is also the case with related commercial protection packages such as gas engineer insurance and electrical engineer insurance.
Use the table above to compare the general liability insurance of companies we recommend for structural engineers.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Hiscox | |
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 |
| Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Can be included |
| Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included? | Yes | No | Can be included |
| Equipment breakdown floater included? | No | Yes | Can be included |
| Can you get a certificate of insurance online? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $0 | $0 | $0 |
The main function of commercial property insurance is to compensate the replacement cost or actual cash value of the commercial space if it gets damaged or destroyed by:
Note that commercial property insurance doesn’t cover any of the construction projects you’re working on. There’s another type of structural engineer insurance for this purpose.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Hiscox | |
| Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $210,000 | $25,000 |
| Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Outdoor signs | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded |
| Accounts receivable | Excluded | Excluded | Included |
| Money and securities | Excluded | $2,500 | Included |
| Lock and keys | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded |
| Business interruption floater | Excluded | Included | Included |
| Equipment breakdown floater | Excluded | Included | Excluded |
| Inland marine insurance floater | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded |
| Employee dishonesty floater | Excluded | $5,000 | Included |
A business owner’s policy is a combination of general liability insurance and commercial property insurance. That said, you can use this when business property gets damaged by fire or other perils and when third parties file a claim for bodily injuries or property damage.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Hiscox | |
| General liability aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 |
| Commercial property coverage limit | $50,000 | $210,000 | $25,000 |
| Optional policies can be added? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds for free? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BOP discount? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Tools and equipment, whether owned, borrowed, or rented, is always a part of every construction project you’re overseeing as a structural engineer.
Tools and equipment policy will cover the cost of repairing or replacing compact tractors, scrapers, welding machines, mixers, drills, and any other equipment that gets destroyed, lost, or damaged because of:
Tools and equipment insurance is available as a stand-alone policy that provides up to more than $100,000 coverage.
| NEXT (Best) | Hiscox | |
| Aggregate limit | $5,000/$10,000 | $5,000/$25,000 |
| Covers hired and borrowed equipment? | $5,000/$10,000 | No |
| Miscellaneous equipment also covered? | $5,000/$10,000 | No |
| Offered as an endorsement to general liability insurance? | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $500 | $0 |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
Builders Risk Insurance For Structural Engineers
Builders risk insurance enables you to insure a construction project against the unexpected. This insurance will compensate for financial losses based on the estimated value of the construction project, its structures, or materials.
This insurance will protect the construction project during its completion. The coverage of builders risk insurance applies when the structures, materials, or the entire construction project gets damaged or destroyed because of:
Workers Compensation Insurance For Structural Engineers
Workers compensation insurance provides help when an employee sustains an injury or illness such as cuts, burns, musculoskeletal disorders, etc. This policy commonly covers these costs:
Workers compensation doesn’t provide automatic coverage to independent contractors, volunteers, and interns. You need to name them as additional insureds for coverage to take effect.
It takes care of expenses if clients have qualms about your services and decide to file a claim.
Here are some situations where structural engineer PI insurance is useful:
| CoverWallet | NEXT | Hiscox | |
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $250,000/$1,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Can be included |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $50/$10,000 |
Commercial auto insurance shields you if something happens while construction vehicles are running. Here’s a quick summary of this policy’s functions:
The average structural engineer insurance cost is $45 per month or $540 annually for a $1 million general liability policy. A carrier considers numerous factors that affect the cost of your premiums. These factors include:
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
| General liability insurance | $45 | $540 | $0-$500 |
| Professional liability insurance | $56 | $672 | $500-$1,000 |
| Commercial property insurance | $47 | $564 | $1,000-$2,500 |
| Business owner’s policy | $80 | $960 | $500-$1,000 |
| Commercial auto insurance | $99 | $1,188 | $1,000-$1,500 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $110 | $1,320 | $2,000-$5,000 |
| Inland marine insurance | $59 | $708 | $1,500 |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
NEXT
NEXT is the best option if you’re particular about certificates of insurance. Upon getting insured, you can get a live certificate of insurance via the NEXT website or app and send it as a text message, email, or social media post.
Average cost: $25 per month
Rating: 10/10
Coverwallet is an excellent option for structural engineering businesses looking to manage their insurance policies. It offers the best quote comparison and comprehensive insurance solutions at affordable and competitive prices. In addition, Instead, it sells specialized insurance available for all kinds of engineers.
Average cost: $30 per month
Tivly doesn’t have a structural engineer insurance program. However, you might get covered through this company’s contractor’s insurance package that offers general liability, commercial property, builders risk, and other insurance policies.
Average cost: $35 per month
Just like NEXT,Hiscox grants coverage through its engineer insurance plan. which offers general liability, professional liability, cyber liability, and business owner’s policies.
Average cost: $41.56 per month
Rating: 9/10
10 / 10
For me this company has proven to be the best to do business with and worth my hard earned money. Contractors this is your company look no further.
7.7 / 10
Decent experience with Hiscox business insurance
10 / 10
Good company. Good and knowledgable customer service. If they don't know something they will pass you on to a more experienced rep that is more knowledgable. So far so good.
10 / 10
Best insurance ever
10 / 10
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
9.4 / 10
Fastest ever online insurance quote and purchase! Also, great rates and professional customer reps that helps with whatever you need, if you need. Nice company!
2.8 / 10
Embroker sells a product that it doesn't honor. We purchased a combination D&O and EPLI policy. However, when it came to renewal, it told us that we only had D&O coverage even through our ACCORD certificate clearly mentions we have both. Basically they refused to honor the EPLI coverage and will leave you hanging with the bag. At time of renewal, they more than doubled our quote to get similar coverage. Basically BAIT & SWITCH. Unacceptable tactics. Easy to buy and pay but you may not be... Read More
2.8 / 10
Great platform. Terrible policy. There is no teeth behind it. No coverage. It's a fake policy that they sell. Sold us an EPLI policy that later we came to find out had no EPLI coverage. Amazing that they can get away with outright fraud. Check the positive reviews. They are all 'Anonymous' posted by Emroker staff. Stay away and find a real policy that will actually provide you coverage. We've been bitten by them and hope to find restitution via a lawsuit.
Paul Burns Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
It has been 70 days since I made a claim on the roof of my building. No one from the company will return calls. We are in hurricane season and located in Louisiana. My building is tarped to secure it.
Felicia Broadus Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
They are the worst, my truck was hit in January 23 and the claim adjuster has not been out to this very day! They have every excuse in the book as to why. They have not been to the collision shop. PLEASE AVOID THESE SCAM ARTIST!
Felicia Broadus Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Avoid these SCAM ARTISTS! They don’t pay claims!!! Save yourself the trouble and money!
Kasey Arey Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
This company gives you a price that was in place for a year and when you have to use it there is fine print were they can go back and charge you more. Would not recommend them to any one. Crooks
John Murphy Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Worst insurance comapny I have ever dealt with. A commercial vehicle represented by GUARD t boned my wife and daughters family vehicle in the middle of the day. Driver was cited and insurance claim insued. Fast forward 4 months and refusal of full amount of claim is still happening. Driver was found guilty, repairs started on my vehicle and when it comes to the final bill and diminished value we cannot get any help. I am out a family car, have an injured and traumatized wife and children,... Read More
Harshadray Patel Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Extremely bad service, when you call , will make you wait on the phone for ever (over an Hour) and still no one to answer , so you end up hanging up. To cancel the policy, bounce you from one department to the other. They are supposed to refund from the date other insurance started and after sending the proof of other insurance policy, still they did not refund based on that actual date instead they use the date i managed to get hold of them. They charged me $7000.00 for a year's insurance on... Read More
Aaron Wensel Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Guard Insurance is terrible. They were so bad I cancelled them because them couldn't figure out why I would never get a paper copy of the bill . Verified my address with them and still intermittent billing. I cancelled them in March through my local broker. Today 6/27 I get a letter in the mail from a collections company saying I owe 87.97. This was the first myself or my broker heard of owing this money. Here is some advice for this failure of a company send me a god damn bill and I will pay.... Read More
Michael Swink Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
My employer had to have workers compensation by law. He obtained a policy through this Berkshire Hathaway GUARD and they failed me. I fell from a ladder and fractured my spine in 7 different places, my clavicle in 4 places, and the base of my skull. Going to my Dr visits I was prescribed medication for pain and the insurance company placed a pre-authorization hold on me picking up the medication from Walgreens. The hold lasted 5 days! My weekly benefits have never been on time, right now... Read More
10 / 10
Liberty Mutual is one of the more simple companies to deal with. I had to file a claim for my business owner policy after I caught one of my employees stealing a large amount of products from my business. Liberty mutual paid the claim fast and with no efforts. I wish the legal process was as easy…
10 / 10
For me this company has proven to be the best to do business with and worth my hard earned money. Contractors this is your company look no further.
7.7 / 10
Decent experience with Hiscox business insurance
9.4 / 10
Very pleased with Hiscox - their small business insurance rates are very good and they specialize in small business which gives me a peace of mind as a small business owner. So far so good!
10 / 10
Their customer service is absolutely fantastic. Very patient, knowledgable and provided excellent explanation of the purchased policy. I would highly recommend this insurance company to anyone that's looking to protect their business from unexpected expense. Thank you Hiscox for doing a great job for my business!
0.6 / 10
STAY AWAY! I wouldn't recommend hiscox small business liability insurance to anyone. Better not waste both your money and your time. Hiscox customer service is extremely unpleasant, not organized and not professional. It is the worst company we have dealt with in almost 25 years in business!
10 / 10
Good company. Good and knowledgable customer service. If they don't know something they will pass you on to a more experienced rep that is more knowledgable. So far so good.
10 / 10
Extremely fast and simple. Wasted a lot of time and money until I found these guys! I feel like my business is in good hands now.
10 / 10
Hiscox's the best! My business is insured with them for over 12 years and am not planning to switch!
10 / 10
Excellent experience with Hiscox BOP for my coffee shop. They provided all it needed.
10 / 10
My HI barbershop is well covered with their great BOP product for 5 years already! not planning to switch!
10 / 10
Best insurance ever
10 / 10
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
10 / 10
Great experience
6 / 10
Didn't relate to the concept much, but it makes sense if you need insurance to go
0 / 10
It doesn't really feel sustainable to me and doesn't offer business interruption, product liability and commercial property insurance. They have no local agents and despite their technology first approach you cannot file claims online. Additionally, product manufacturers are not covered by Thimble and they don't provide enterprise solutions.
10 / 10
As a contractor that works 3 times a week for a few hours, Thimble gets really handy for me and saves me money. I have no use for these massive business insurance coverages offered by traditional insurance companies.
10 / 10
Excellent concept which is useful to many small businesses!
10 / 10
Been waiting for this type of solution for a long time!
10 / 10
Love their business insurance solutions for freelancers! Great app!
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