There are plenty of aspects of a business has control over to keep the doors from unexpectedly closing. On the other hand, there are some circumstances that are not only unexpected and completely out of the owner’s control but can cause serious damage or unforeseen, prolonged closures. These circumstances could include natural disaster, fire, or theft and your business closes due to:

• Sustaining direct physical damage or loss and must stop daily operations
• Sustaining direct physical damage or loss that prevents access to the property
• A government shutdown prevents both workers and customers from entering the premises

Usually, businesses do not just have business interruption insurance as a stand-alone policy, and it is typically bundled into one policy that will also include:

1. General liability insurance – covering claims against you including bodily injury, property damage, advertising injury, copyright infringement, and reputational harm.
2. Commercial property insurance – protection of physical assets including furniture, computers, supplies, inventory, tools, and business records.

With this coverage, if your business does need to file a business interruption claim you might be entitled to compensation including fixed expenses, new costs incurred while operating offsite, lost revenue, lost rental income, lost income due to closures, small business loan payments, relocation expenses, or ongoing tax burdens.

Getting full compensation will be based on several factors when it comes to business interruption insurance claims. A great first step would be to hire an experienced attorney who can help:

• Complete comprehensive assessments of your business interruption claim
• Review your policy and thoroughly explain your rights and options
• Gather all relevant evidence that will help aid in receiving compensation
• Negotiate with insurance representatives
• Prepare a well-supported business interruption claim