Broken windows, looting and fires were some of the lasting images from the Ferguson, Missouri riots. And if you looked at those pictures closely, you may have noticed that a substantial number of the damaged businesses were locally-owned, “mom and pop” shops. And if you are a business owner, you couldn’t help but ask yourself how would you pay for the damage if there was a riot in your community. Fortunately, most commercial property and business owner insurance policies include coverage for property damage due to riots. Some policies also include “business interruption” coverage for lost income when damage is so substantial that the business has to shut down until repairs are completed. Again, coverage depends on the specific policy. So, a business owner would be advised, as part of their year-end evaluation of their business, to review their policy with their insurance agent to ensure their business is covered for such an event.
