10 February 2021
Business interruption insurance policies are usually taken to protect one’s business from financial losses during periods when one cannot trade due to an unexpected event.
But, after the widespread business disruption due to the COVID-19 lockdown, policyholders faced a tough time as the insurers had a narrow view of whether the policy would cover pandemic-induced financial loss. The insurers rejected the claims debating the meaning of some policy wordings.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) brought a test case before the High Court, intending to provide certainty for policyholders and insurers. But the high court offered a complicated decision, and thus the policyholders appealed to the supreme court.
The Supreme Court has taken a logical, policyholder-friendly approach that would allow policyholders to claim under their insurance policies for their business losses caused by the pandemic. Here are some rulings:
All in all, if your business had a disruption due to the 2020 lockdown and your business interruption policy was in place, it may be possible for you to claim for the losses your business sustained at that time.
However, it should be noted that numerous small businesses can benefit from the current ruling, but only a section of these might get a payout from their insurance company.
So, if you have had an insurance policy during the start of the pandemic or renewed your current policy, the policy will have a change in the policy wording to include the current change. Your policy will clearly mention if the losses due to pandemic are included or not.
Need help with the claim for coronavirus business disruption on your insurance for your
business in Wormley or Walthamstow? Click here, and we
would be happy to help you.