Engineering Insurance Ontario | Engineers Professional Liability (E&O)

Engineers play a crucial role in ensuring the planning, design, and implementation of a project go to plan. Your clients depend on your professional advice, and while you can do everything in your power to ensure a successful project, there’s always risk involved beyond your control. To protect your clients, your business, and yourself, it’s important to put the right professional liability insurance in place.

Engineering insurance is designed to protect engineering professionals in Ontario against the unique risks associated with providing their services, including negligence, errors & omissions, and third-party incidents. At Roughley, our dedicated engineering team includes former engineers who understand your need for great coverage at the right price. Our professional liability insurance plans are specifically tailored to meet the needs of engineering firms throughout Ontario and Canada.

Types of Engineering Insurance Coverage Offered

At Roughley, our brokers offer every type of coverage an engineer could need. Here are the most commonly used insurance plans by engineers in Ontario:

Professional Liability Insurance for Engineers

Professional Liability Insurance, also called Errors and Omissions (E&O), provides coverage for negligence, misconduct, or the failure to provide a service as advertised. Your client could sue if they feel as though your professional advice or services weren’t up to their expectations or they suffered financial losses as a result of your engineering advice.

E&O is particularly important in engineering, with endless scenarios resulting in potential E&O exposures. Some scenarios include a negligent error, act or omission, misrepresentation, intellectual property infringement, breach of confidentiality, delays, loss of documents, or failure to deliver due to a third party.

Professional liability insurance will cover your legal expenses including defense costs regardless of if the allegation is true or false, settlements, and awards up to your policy limit. Many engineering firms in Ontario consider this essential coverage.

Commercial General Liability (CGL)

Commercial general liability is the basic bedrock coverage for engineering businesses of any type, protecting against day-to-day risks such as a slip and fall. CGL not only covers the legal fees and damages but also responds to allegations regardless of the lawsuit outcome. Ontario engineering firms often combine this with their professional liability insurance for comprehensive protection.

Cyber Liability Insurance

Cyber liability insurance has become essential for engineers who store client information or confidential data. Cyber liability protects engineering professionals from the financial consequences of data breaches, cyber-attacks, or other cyber incidents that may compromise sensitive information or disrupt business operations. Our insurance plans include options for this important coverage

Additional Engineering Insurance Coverage Plans

Based on your engineering services in Ontario, you may also want to consider these insurance plans:

This insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing essential equipment and tools used in engineering operations that are damaged or stolen. Surveying equipment, specialized mapping systems, and other tools can be protected with this add-on coverage to your engineering insurance policy.

Pollution liability insurance may be necessary for specific engineering disciplines such as industrial or chemical operations and provides coverage for third-party liability bodily injury, environmental damage, or property damage. Damage can be due to sudden or gradual pollution events which occur on a job site, potentially covering civil penalties, fines, clean-up, or emergency response costs. Many engineering firms in Ontario require this specialized coverage.

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Roughley commercial clients may qualify for special discounts on your home & auto.

Connect in Oshawa

  • 1000 Simcoe Street North Oshawa, Ontario L1G 4W4
  • 905.576.7770
  • insure@roughleyinsurance.com

Contact in Bowmanville

  • 31 King Street West Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 1R2
  • 905.697.4257
  • insurebowmanville@roughleyinsurance.com

Why Engineering Insurance in Ontario Matters

Engineering insurance is not only a prudent risk management tool but is often contractually required by contract and/or law in Ontario and across Canada. Professional engineers are held to a higher standard of care, which is defined by the Courts as “the duty to exercise the degree of learning and skill ordinarily possessed by a reputable design professional practicing in the same or similar locality and under the same circumstances.”

With the average cost of a claim for engineers in Ontario exceeding $110,000, not having adequate engineering insurance coverage to resolve disputes can not only be financially crippling but can hurt business relationships, goodwill, and productivity.

Protection Against Financial Loss

Engineers face inherent risks in their profession, including the potential for costly lawsuits, claims, or damages resulting from errors, omissions, or accidents. Engineers insurance provides financial protection against these risks, covering legal expenses, compensation payments, and other associated costs. Over 60% of claim costs in Ontario are solely attributed to defence costs, making professional liability insurance essential.

Safeguarding Reputation and Credibility

Engineering is a business built on trust and relationships. Maintaining robust insurance coverage demonstrates a commitment to professionalism and accountability, enhancing the reputation and credibility of engineers and their firms in Ontario and Canada. Clients and project stakeholders are more likely to trust and engage with engineers who have adequate protection through comprehensive insurance plans.

Peace of Mind for Clients and Stakeholders

Clients, partners, and other stakeholders often require assurance that engineers have appropriate coverage to mitigate potential risks and liabilities associated with their projects. The right protection provides peace of mind to clients and stakeholders, instilling confidence in the reliability and integrity of engineering services.

Customizable Engineering Insurance Plans in Ontario

Our dedicated team includes former engineers on staff to ensure your practice is adequately covered for the types of services you provide. We work closely with you to understand your engineering practice's requirements based on the types and sizes of projects you typically undertake in Ontario. Our experienced brokers understand the importance of balancing best-in-class coverage with affordability. Experience the difference of working with a team that deeply understands the engineering industry and your professional liability insurance needs.

Benefits of the Roughley Advantage for Engineers

With a dedicated engineers support group and former engineers on staff, our team of professionals has in-depth knowledge and experience in providing insurance solutions tailored to the needs of engineers and firms across Ontario and Canada.

Personalized Insurance Services

We take the time to understand our client’s specific requirements and tailor professional liability insurance policies to address their unique risks and concerns in the engineering field.

Relationships with Leading Insurers

As an independent broker, we have access to a wide range of markets and can negotiate competitive rates and comprehensive coverage on behalf of our engineering clients in Ontario.

Value-Added Services Not Typical to Most Brokerages

With a breadth of knowledge in the industry, our team offers in-house risk management sessions, advisories, contract review support, claim assistance, and more for engineering professionals seeking quality insurance protection.

Factors Influencing Engineers Insurance Coverage in Ontario

Depending on the firm size and areas of practice, professional liability insurance can be the third largest expenditure for design consultants after rent and salaries. At Roughley, we understand the need for excellent coverage at an affordable rate. Our engineering insurance plans are designed with Ontario engineers’ specific needs in mind.

How to Reach Roughley Advisors for Engineering Insurance Inquiries

Contact us today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced professionals and learn how Roughley Brokers can help protect your engineering business with tailored insurance solutions.

Getting in touch is easy! You can either fill out our quick and easy online application to get started or contact our office at (905) 576-7770 for more information about our engineering insurance services in Ontario.

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Frequently Asked Questions

If you don’t find the answers you’re looking for here about professional liability insurance or other engineering insurance plans, please feel free to contact us any time for more information.

Yes. You’ll generally be covered during all project phases under your engineering insurance policy, but discussing the specifics with your broker is recommended for complete clarity on your coverage.

Yes, engineers-in-training are also covered under your engineering insurance policy in Ontario. Note that the policy limit typically applies to all employees, not each individual professional.

Yes, we offer project policies in addition to practice policies. A project policy covers one specific project that is described/defined in the policy, providing insurance for the design team which can include multiple engineering firms. These policies have dedicated limits and can span multiple years covering construction and maintenance.

Yes, it provides comprehensive coverage for various engineering professionals in Ontario and Canada. Our brokers will work with you to understand your specific risks and ensure you have appropriate coverage tailored to your engineering discipline.

Process of Obtaining Engineer’s Insurance in Ontario

Our products go beyond standard insurance coverage. Superior customer service combined with a series of options allows you to be fully protected against any unforeseen event. Here’s how to start the process of securing your engineer’s insurance:

Initial Consultation and Assessment

The process begins with an initial consultation with one of our experienced brokers on our support team who will assess your needs based on your unique engineering practice in Ontario. Bringing knowledge of best-in-class coverage and procedures, we work closely with you to identify potential risks. Typically the time commitment is 1 hour with a site visit recommended at no cost to you.

Policy Customization and Coverage Selection

Based on our assessments, we provide recommendations for engineering insurance coverages and work with you to select adequate limits for your practice. We tailor policies to account for potential gaps, ensuring adequate limits and coverages are suggested for your professional liability insurance needs.

Marketing on Your Behalf & Payment Options

Our team engages with our expansive network of leading insurers to obtain quotes on your behalf, matching you to the right insurer at the best rate available for engineering insurance in Ontario. Upon acceptance of the quote, we offer flexible payment options to accommodate our clients' budget and cash flow requirements.

Policy Issuance, Documentation and Support

Upon acceptance of the insurance proposal and payment set-up, Roughley Brokers will issue the policy and provide all necessary documentation, including policy terms and conditions, coverage details, and a breakdown of the support team contact information. Your support team is there to help you with all your engineering insurance needs, from issuing certificates to risk mitigation advice, claims support, and more.

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