Practically every roof will need to be replaced at some point. Some roofs last longer than others, but all roofs have a lifespan. Furthermore, if you're embarking on a new construction project, say buying a home or building a commercial property, you'll need to put a roof on it. No matter the situation, when it comes time to hire local roofers, you'll want to make sure you hire someone with proper insurance.

Insurance can ultimately protect you, the contractor, their employees, and other stakeholders. Not every concern with insurance is necessarily the property owner's concern, but there will almost certainly be important issues for every property owner to consider. When you're talking with local roofers and other relevant contractors, make sure you ask about insurance. Here are some key reasons finding local roofers with the right insurance is so important.

Some States Require Insurance

It's always good to remain on the right side of the law. Many states and jurisdictions will require that local roofers be insured. If a roofer lies about their insurance or a property owner simply fails to ask (as they assume everything is on the up and up), the property owner might not be the one to end up in trouble with the authorities, but trouble will still ensue. The roofing company or contractor might be the most exposed to risks with legal authorities in these situations. Even so, it's best to adhere to the letter of the law. Doing so could help you avoid headaches and serious issues later on. Ultimately, legal authorities have a lot of good reasons to require roofing and other construction companies to carry insurance or otherwise offer proof they can financially cover things.

Accidents Are Common

According to Gitnux, three quarters of roofing accidents are deemed avoidable with more training and supervision. Even so, we've seen that accidents can occur more often than you'd think during projects. Whenever someone gets injured, complex legal issues can emerge. This is true even when everyone is properly insured. However, complex lawsuits among properly insured parties will often minimize risks to the individual stakeholders since insurance companies may end up shouldering some or all of the burdens. Costs for injuries may include not just short-term medical bills but also long-term worker's comp and more.

Medical Bills Can Be Extremely Expensive

We've already touched on this point, but it's worth considering separately: medical bills in the United States are very expensive. Furthermore, while insurance companies can often secure better prices through negotiation, if you have to pay for medical costs out-of-pocket, the costs can quickly spiral. There's a chance that medical costs could get more expensive in the future as well.

When local roofers and other contractors are fully and properly insured, the risk of a property owner having to pick up the tab for medical costs is dramatically reduced. This could potentially include medical bills for contractors, guests, your family, your employees, and bystanders. With so much on the line, it's crucial to make sure that the contractors are fully insured.

Your Property Could Be Damaged

Compared to human health, property damage may not seem as big of a concern. Often, the financial risks aren't as high. That being said, costs can quickly pile up. If an uninsured roofing contractor damages your property, you may end up having to pay for their mistakes.

You might try to bring the contractor to court and sue them. However, if the local roofers weren't carrying insurance, it could be because they were tight on cash. As such, you may struggle to recover the funds needed to cover the damage.

Life Is Short, Stress Is Hard

Hiring local roofers who don't carry the proper insurance can create a lot of different headaches. Even if the contractors are offering to do the work for a bit less, do you really want to deal with the risks and headaches? If even a relatively small problem crops up, it could evolve into a massive headache.

Often, it's better to simply reduce your risks and do things by the book. In this case, that means working with roofers who carry proper insurance. Looking for properly insured local roofers you can count on? Get in touch with Coastal Roofing Specialists, Inc today!