For a lot of Northwest Indiana businesses, the sign out front does more marketing than any ad ever could. It’s also one of the most exposed things a business owns, standing in the wind off Lake Michigan all year long. What surprises many owners is that a standard commercial property policy may treat that sign very differently from the building behind it.
Three Kinds of Signs, Three Different Situations
Signs mounted on the storefront are often treated as part of the building or business property, which usually means broader protection.
Pole and monument signs along Route 6 or US 20 are frequently excluded from standard property coverage or only included in a limited way through an outdoor property extension.
When your panel sits on a shopping center’s shared sign, the lease may decide whether the landlord or the tenant is responsible for it.
The Wind Detail That Matters Most
Where limited outdoor property coverage does exist, it’s often written for specific causes such as fire or lightning, and may not include windstorm at all. For a lakefront region where wind is the most likely threat, that distinction can decide whether a toppled sign is covered.
Don’t Forget Liability
If a falling sign damages a customer’s car or injures someone, that’s typically a general liability question rather than a property one. Keeping signs inspected and properly anchored helps on both fronts.
A Quick Sign Checkup
- Note whether your sign is attached, freestanding, or shared
- Check your lease to see who owns and maintains it
- Ask whether your policy lists signs separately and which causes of loss apply
- Photograph the sign and keep details on its size and materials
Angel Auto Insurance has helped Portage and Northwest Indiana business owners since 1985 sort out details like this across a large network of carriers. Explore our commercial insurance options, learn more about our agency, or stop by Angel Auto Insurance on US Highway 6 in Portage, IN.