MHIC Managing Risk — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of insurance covers medical expenses and lost wages for a contractor's employee who is injured on the job?
- General liability insurance
- Workers' compensation insurance (Correct answer)
- Builder's risk insurance
- Professional liability insurance
Correct answer: Workers' compensation insurance
Workers' compensation insurance covers employees who sustain work-related injuries or illnesses, paying medical expenses and a portion of lost wages. In Maryland, most employers with one or more employees are required by law to carry workers' compensation coverage.
Question 2: A contractor's general liability insurance policy would most likely cover which of the following scenarios?
- An employee who breaks their ankle falling from scaffolding
- A homeowner's car damaged when the contractor's ladder falls on it (Correct answer)
- Theft of the contractor's tools from a locked job-site trailer
- A subcontractor who abandons the project without completing their work
Correct answer: A homeowner's car damaged when the contractor's ladder falls on it
General liability insurance covers third-party bodily injury and property damage caused by the contractor's operations. Damage to the homeowner's car from a falling ladder is a classic third-party property damage claim covered under GL. Employee injuries are covered by workers' comp, not GL.
Question 3: A surety bond in home improvement contracting primarily protects:
- The contractor against losses from employee theft
- The contractor's tools and equipment on job sites
- The homeowner if the contractor fails to complete the work or meet contractual obligations (Correct answer)
- The contractor's vehicles against accidents during the project
Correct answer: The homeowner if the contractor fails to complete the work or meet contractual obligations
A surety bond is a three-party agreement in which a surety company (the guarantor) promises the homeowner (obligee) that the contractor (principal) will fulfill their obligations. If the contractor defaults, the surety compensates the homeowner up to the bond amount.
Question 4: Builder's risk insurance is specifically designed to cover:
- Injuries sustained by workers during construction
- Physical damage to the structure and materials while the project is under construction (Correct answer)
- The contractor's liability for defective workmanship discovered after project completion
- Loss of business income if the contractor is unable to work due to illness
Correct answer: Physical damage to the structure and materials while the project is under construction
Builder's risk (also called 'course of construction') insurance covers physical damage to a building and its materials during the active construction period, including losses from fire, wind, theft, or vandalism before the project is complete and handed over to the owner.
Question 5: As a condition of maintaining an active MHIC license in Maryland, a licensee is required to carry:
- A performance bond of at least $50,000
- General liability insurance, and workers' compensation if they have employees (Correct answer)
- An escrow account equal to 10% of their annual gross revenue
- A fidelity bond covering all employees who handle client funds
Correct answer: General liability insurance, and workers' compensation if they have employees
Maryland requires MHIC licensees to maintain general liability insurance as a condition of licensure. Workers' compensation is separately required by state law for contractors who employ one or more workers. Both protect the public and workers in the event of an on-the-job accident.
Question 6: What is the key difference between a performance bond and a payment bond?
- A performance bond covers material costs; a payment bond covers labor costs
- A performance bond guarantees project completion; a payment bond guarantees subcontractors and suppliers will be paid (Correct answer)
- A performance bond is required by Maryland law; a payment bond is always optional
- A performance bond protects the homeowner; a payment bond protects only the contractor
Correct answer: A performance bond guarantees project completion; a payment bond guarantees subcontractors and suppliers will be paid
A performance bond guarantees the contractor will complete the project per the contract terms. A payment bond guarantees that subcontractors, laborers, and material suppliers will be paid. The two bonds address different risks and are often required together on larger projects.
MHIC Managing Risk
Which type of insurance covers medical expenses and lost wages for a contractor's employee who is injured on the job?