Custom solutions to manage pollution and other risks.
Environmental insurance for your business.
Environmental concerns continue to be a leading societal and business risk issue, sometimes posing serious unexpected challenges. We’ll work with you to create a custom solution to help protect your business against environmental risks.
Environmental Insurance in South Carolina
Environmental liability coverage is one of the most overlooked but potentially devastating risks a business can face. Whether you’re a contractor, developer, manufacturer, property owner, or small business, pollution liability isn’t just an environmental concern for “hazardous” industries anymore.
From accidental leaks to cleanup costs after a storm, the financial fallout from environmental claims can cripple even the most prepared operation.
At C.T. Lowndes & Co., we help businesses across South Carolina navigate these risks with environmental insurance solutions backed by more than 175 years of experience.
Insure your business with coverage for costly environmental risks with environmental insurance from C.T. Lowndes & Company.
Speak with an agent today and get a quote that fits your operation and budget.
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Click it. Read it. Cover it.
- Click on the hotspots.
- Discover your risks.
- Get the right coverage.
Mold
Risk Factor
Some water leaks are very obvious so they’re able to be repaired timely. Others are more discreet, causing mold to grow unnoticed. Mold is a health hazard that can make tenants very sick.
Solution
Premises pollution policies can include coverage for remediation of mold and damage to the property. It can also provide coverage for defense of claims of bodily injury as well as court-awarded damages.
Lead
Risk Factor
Many old apartment buildings contain lead-based paint, which is now known to be very harmful if absorbed into the body. Small amounts of lead can cause serious health issues and larger amounts can be fatal.
Solution
Premises pollution policies provide coverage for removal of lead-based paints and other lead hazards. It can defend against legal claims of injury caused by the lead as well as medical monitoring for ongoing concerns.
Business Income
Risk Factor
If a building is contaminated by mold, lead, asbestos, or other hazardous materials, it may be deemed uninhabitable. Owners who are unable to collect rent from tenants can suffer from significant income loss as a result.
Solution
A premises pollution policy can also provide coverage for business interruption losses including rental income, relocation, mitigation, net profits, and payroll.
Asbestos
Risk Factor
Asbestos is a heat-resistant material that was commonly found in insulation, drywall, ceilings, and floor tiles up through the mid-1970s and later. Asbestos is known to cause severe lung damage.
Solution
Because asbestos was so prevalent in construction materials and can still be found in buildings today, purchasing premises pollution insurance that includes coverage for asbestos remediation, property damage, legal defense for bodily injury claims, and medical monitoring can protect your financial investment.
On-site Oil Spill
Risk Factor
A broken pipe or the misdelivery of heating oil can result in a hazardous spill and a costly clean up. Other chemical spills can be equally detrimental for building owners. Spills can also go beyond the property line, causing third-party damage.
Solution
It can be very expensive to clean up after a hazardous material spill like oil or gasoline. If the damage extends beyond your property onto your neighbors, those costs go up exponentially. Because this sort of accident can happen quite easily, proper premises pollution insurance is essential to help mitigate the financial risk.
What is Environmental Insurance?
Environmental insurance is a specialized policy designed to cover liabilities arising from pollution conditions, environmental incidents, and contamination events that may not be covered under general liability policies. These policies step in when your business is held responsible for pollution damage, hazardous materials releases, or costly cleanup costs.
Many businesses assume their general liability insurance will provide coverage in these scenarios. It won’t. Most general liability policies contain a pollution exclusion, leaving you exposed to substantial legal expenses, fines, and remediation bills.
Environmental insurance products help close those coverage gaps, protecting your business from losses caused by environmental claims.
Who Needs Environmental Insurance?
If your work even remotely involves pollutants, hazardous waste, or toxic substances, you may need environmental liability insurance. Some examples include:
- Contractors & Builders (especially with underground work or waste disposal)
- Manufacturers & Fabricator
- Healthcare facilities
- Real estate agents & property managers
- Transportation & logistics companies
- Waste management firms
- Agricultural operations
Even professional liability doesn’t protect you from pollution exposures that could stem from design flaws or faulty heating and air conditioning system installations.
Environmental risk isn’t limited to big industry players. Small businesses can face six-figure pollution liability lawsuits for something as common as an out of control fire or an improperly stored chemical.
What Does It Cover?
Environmental insurance policies vary depending on your operation and exposures, but most will provide coverage for:
- Bodily injury and property damage resulting from environmental incidents
- Cleanup costs required by local, state, or federal agencies
- Legal expenses tied to environmental claims
- Pollution liability from sudden or gradual releases
- Crisis management following pollution incidents that damage your reputation
- Losses caused by third-party lawsuits related to environmental contamination
Common types of policies include:
- Contractors Pollution Liability (CPL)
- Pollution Legal Liability (PLL)
- Combined General Liability / Pollution Liability Packages
These policies can be tailored to address unique exposures and help businesses manage risk effectively, ensuring compliance and protection against unexpected events.
Real-World Scenario: Lead Paint Lawsuit at an Apartment Complex
A property management company in South Carolina owns several mid-century apartment buildings. After a tenant’s child is diagnosed with lead poisoning, an investigation reveals the presence of deteriorating lead paint throughout the unit, a clear environmental hazard.
The tenants file a lawsuit against the property owner, claiming bodily injury due to prolonged lead exposure and property damage to their belongings from contaminated dust. The local health department mandates an immediate remediation plan, including extensive cleanup costs and safe housing for displaced tenants.
Because the company had pollution liability insurance through C.T. Lowndes & Co., the policy responds to the environmental claims. Coverage includes:
- Legal defense costs and settlement payouts
- Government-ordered clean up costs
- Third-party bodily injury and property damage compensation
- Temporary relocation expenses for tenants under crisis management coverage
Without environmental liability insurance, the property owner would have faced hundreds of thousands of dollars in uninsured pollution losses all due to a risk not covered under standard general liability policies.
Why Work with C.T. Lowndes & Co?
The environmental insurance industry is complex. You need more than a general liability policy for pollution and other environmental concerns.
C.T. Lowndes brings:
- Over 175 years in the insurance industry
- Experience writing both general liability and environmental policies
- Trusted relationships with top-tier carriers
We don’t just sell you a policy. We help you understand your risks, help to identify coverage gaps during your consultation, and offer insurance options for your business.
Get an Environmental Insurance Quote
For more than 175 years, C.T. Lowndes has helped countless South Carolina businesses get the right coverages, keeping their employees safe and protecting their businesses with insurance that has earned a 4.8 star customer service rating from hundreds of satisfied policyholders.
Let our local expertise and responsive agents guide you through the environmental insurance options available to your business. Request your personalized quote today.
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As an independent agency, we are here to help you find the right Environmental Insurance coverage.
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Environmental Insurance Quote Request
As an independent agency, we are here to help you find the right coverage.
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