As you were searching for the best insurance policies for your restaurant, assault & battery insurance may not have crossed your mind. However, it is more important than you may think. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), sit-down restaurants experienced 0.8 assaults per 10,000 employees, while fast-food joints had 1.8. Fast-food establishments like McDonalds and Wendy’s also see more crime than full-service restaurants like Olive Garden and Ruby Tuesday’s. While you cannot always prevent these types of incidents from occurring, you can protect your business by having the right insurance coverage.
What Is Assault & Battery Insurance?
Assault & battery insurance is a type of specialized coverage designed to cover threats to a person’s safety, as well as physical conflicts between two or more people. While most restaurants offer relaxed dining in a comfortable atmosphere, arguments or confrontations can quickly escalate resulting in possible injury to those involved or in the general vicinity. If a patron becomes injured while in your establishment or on your property, you could be held responsible for any injuries or associated financial losses stemming from the conflict. Assault & battery insurance can help protect your restaurant from such risks.
What Does Assault & Battery Insurance Cover?
Compared to general liability insurance, assault & battery insurance for restaurants provide owners with somewhat narrow coverage. However, it can be quite useful in certain circumstances. If your restaurant serves alcohol or also functions as a bar, having assault & battery insurance is a must. Say a bar fight breaks out and several intoxicated patrons cause injuries to one another. An assault & battery policy may cover any medical bills resulting from these injuries. In addition to covering the patrons involved in the altercation, your insurance policy may also cover injuries sustained by bystanders.
Robbery
Assault & battery insurance can also come in handy if someone is mugged while leaving your restaurant. These types of confrontations that occur in or near your building put you at risk for serious lawsuits. Assault & battery coverage is not just limited to alterations that occur within your restaurant but can typically cover any type of injury that occurs on your premises. Coverage may extend to muggings that happen to your patrons or employees depending on the details of the incident. Not all policies offer the same coverage options so be sure to read your policy carefully.
Physical & Emotional Injuries
With assault & battery insurance, policies may cover both physical and emotional injuries. In some severe assault and battery cases, emotional harm sustained by witnesses to a crime can be just as serious as any physical injuries sustained. If one or more witnesses to a fight file a lawsuit due to being affected by violence, you could find yourself paying for damages. Even if the witness is not successful in his or her claim, you could still end up paying a multitude of court and lawyer fees. These legal expenses can be significant but the right insurance policy can ensure the money does not come out of your own pocket.
Sexual Assault
Some assault & battery insurance policies also extend to sexual assault. If one of your employees or patrons receives unwanted or forced sexual attention, the victim has the right to file a lawsuit against both the perpetrator and your establishment. It is also important to remember that anyone off the street can walk into your restaurant and cause a problem. For example, an intoxicated individual walks into your eatery, does not sit down to order food or drink, but picks a fight with a patron. If the argument becomes physical, any injuries sustained may be covered under your insurance policy.
What are the Benefits of Assault & Battery Insurance For Restaurants?
You never know when an incident may occur that is not covered under your general liability insurance. Acts of assault and battery can range from mild confrontations to more serious violent attacks.
“Assault” can include any intentional and unlawful threat to cause bodily injury by force, even if the perpetrator does not carry through on their threat. “Battery” is the intentional and willful touching of another person against their will. Any type of offensive touching can be considered battery, even if it does not result in injury. While assault and battery incidents can occur anywhere, they are more common in places where people gather, drink, and socialize, such as bars and restaurants.
Learn More About Additional Restaurant Insurance Policies
While assault & battery insurance coverage is not a required policy in all states, it is an important one to have. Without it, your business could suffer significant financial strain due to costly lawsuits and associated legal expenses. To learn more about assault & battery insurance or to learn how you can acquire a restaurant insurance policy for your establishment, contact the restaurant insurance brokers at MFE Insurance today.