Water And Freezing Damage, Burglary Lead The Hartford’s Top Five Small-Business Claims

Key Terms

general-liability financial

General liability is a company’s insurance coverage and legal exposure for everyday third‑party claims like bodily injury, property damage or advertising mistakes — think of it as a business version of car insurance that handles common accidents and slip‑and‑fall incidents. It matters to investors because gaps or large payouts can cut profits, require extra reserves or signal higher risk, while adequate coverage protects cash flow and the company’s valuation.

business-income insurance financial

Business-income insurance is a policy that pays a company for lost revenue and ongoing expenses when normal operations are interrupted by a covered event, such as physical damage to facilities or certain disasters. For investors it matters because it helps protect a firm’s cash flow and solvency during downtime—like a temporary paycheck that keeps bills paid—reducing the risk that a short-term disruption becomes a long-term financial hit.

commercial auto financial

Commercial auto refers to vehicles owned, leased, or used primarily for business purposes and the insurance products that cover them. Think of it as the business version of car insurance — it protects against accidents, damage, and liability when vehicles are driven for work, deliveries, or transporting people. Investors watch this line because it drives premium revenue and claim exposure for insurers and signals fleet-related risks and costs for companies that operate many vehicles.

professional liability financial

Professional liability is the legal responsibility that service providers (such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, consultants) have if their advice, treatment or work causes a client harm or financial loss. For investors it matters because claims, settlements or higher insurance premiums can reduce profits, drain cash and damage reputation—similar to a repair shop being forced to pay for a botched repair—so potential or recurring liability can affect a company’s value and risk profile.

data breach insurance financial

Data breach insurance is a type of policy that helps cover the costs a company faces after customer or corporate data is exposed, stolen, or held hostage — like legal fees, customer notifications, credit-monitoring, forensic investigations and sometimes ransom payments. Think of it as homeowner’s insurance for a company’s digital assets: it doesn’t prevent a break-in but cushions the financial and reputational hit. Investors care because the policy can limit unexpected losses, stabilize cash flow after an incident, and signal how a company manages cyber risk.

Leading small-business insurer shares tips for preventing and minimizing common property and general-liability claims

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Damage from water leaks and frozen pipes are among the most common insurance claims for small-business owners, while claims involving fire are the most expensive, according to an analysis of The Hartford’s small-business claims from 2020 to 2024.

“At The Hartford, we help customers stay ahead of risk, and if they do have a claim, we pride ourselves in helping them recover quickly through excellent service,” said The Hartford’s Head of Small Business Chris Jones. “Our investments in digital, data analytics and AI have enabled us to create industry-leading tools that help small businesses take steps to proactively avoid substantial damage and prevent claims. Water sensors that detect leaks and video cameras that monitor for slips-and-falls are just a few of the smart tools now available to help small businesses mitigate risk.”

According to The Hartford’s analysis of more than 1 million small-business property and liability policies, water and freezing damage has represented approximately 22% of small-business claims over the past five years.¹ Water and freezing damage claims are also the fourth most costly, averaging $34,600.

The Hartford’s 2025 analysis builds on its 2015 claims report, allowing for a 10-year comparison that includes some notable shifts². For example, the volume of claims from water and freezing damage rose from 15% to 20%. Wind and hail claims remained consistent (15%) over the decade. The average cost of fire damage claims rose from $35,000 in 2015 (approximately $47,600 adjusted for inflation) to $80,000 in 2025, making it the top-ranked costliest claim.

The number of slip, fall and customer-injury claims also increased and became more expensive from 2015 to 2025. The trend is due in part to a growing influence of litigation and legal system abuse, resulting in higher settlements and costlier verdicts.

Top 5 Property and Liability Claims

Most Common Claims
Rank	20253	2015
1	Water and freezing damage (20%)4	Burglary and theft (20%)
2	Burglary and theft (20%)	Water and freezing damage (15%)
3	Slip, fall, customer injury (20%)	Wind and hail (15%)
4	Wind and hail (15%)5	Fire (10%)
5	Fire (10%)	Slip, fall, customer injury (10%)6

Costliest Claims7
Rank	2025	20158
1	Fire ($80,000)	Reputational harm ($50,000)
2	Vehicle accident ($50,000)9	Vehicle accident ($45,000)
3	Slip, fall, customer injury ($45,000)	Fire ($35,000)
4	Water and freezing damage ($35,000)	Product liability ($35,000)10
5	Reputational harm ($35,000)	Slip, fall, customer injury ($20,000)

The Hartford has been supporting small businesses for centuries, including the creation of a dedicated Small Business insurance unit more than 40 years ago. The company insures more than 1 million small businesses, largely through its Spectrum Business Owner’s policy, which includes general liability, business property and business-income insurance. The Hartford also offers small businesses additional coverages such as workers’ compensation, commercial auto, professional liability and data breach insurance.

Based on the claims analysis, The Hartford suggests small-business owners follow these tips to mitigate and prevent damage:

What can a small-business owner do to prevent or mitigate damage from water or freezing?

• Maintain proper indoor temperature during extremely cold weather.
• Clear roofs and overhangs of excessive snow and ice.
• Instruct key personnel on water shut-off valve locations.
• Install water sensors that alert early to unexpected leaks or temperature changes.

How can a small-business owner deter burglary and theft?

• Conduct background checks.
• Install devices, signage and fencing to control unauthorized entry.
• Ensure adequate exterior and interior lighting.
• Install video cameras to alert you to on-site motion events.

What can small-business owners do to mitigate or prevent damage from wind or hail?

• Prune and maintain trees.
• Choose damage-resistant materials in new windows or apply protective film.
• Secure or store items that could become airborne in high winds.
• Conduct roof inspections and maintenance.
• Establish plans for sheltering in place.

How can small-business owners reduce the likelihood of slip, fall and other customer injuries?

• Clean up spills or leaks quickly and ensure proper drainage to prevent water or ice pooling.
• Use weather monitoring systems to prepare for rain, snow or ice.
• Install video cameras in high-risk areas to monitor slip and fall incidents.
• Review contracts for correct liability protections.
• Ensure appropriate product safety management such as warning labels and instructions.

About The Hartford

The Hartford is a leader in property and casualty insurance, employee benefits and mutual funds. With more than 200 years of expertise, The Hartford is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability practices, trust and integrity. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at https://www.thehartford.com.

The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries under the brand name, The Hartford, and is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. For additional details, please read The Hartford’s legal notice.

HIG-S

Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q, and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued.

From time to time, The Hartford may use its website and/or social media channels to disseminate material company information. Financial and other important information regarding The Hartford is routinely accessible through and posted on our website at https://ir.thehartford.com. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about The Hartford when you enroll your email address by visiting the “Email Alerts” section at https://ir.thehartford.com.

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¹ Based on an analysis of five years of claims data (2020 - 2024).
² Information outlined in the 2015 release was based on an analysis of five years of claims data (2010-2014) from more than 1 million of The Hartford Business Owner’s policies.
³ The remaining 15% not in the top five most common claims includes vehicle accident, reputational harm, product liability and other claims.
⁴ Water and freezing damage generally involve damage from wind driven water or burst pipes.
⁵ The wind/hail claims generally involve structural damage, primarily to roofing or signage.
⁶ Slip, fall and customer injury covers damage to the customer’s property and injury to the customer caused by the insured small business owner. These were separated in 2015 and have been combined for this report.
⁷ Property claim averages reflect direct repair or replacement only and do not include additional loss event costs like business interruption.
⁸ 2015 analysis using dollars when claims occurred (i.e., not adjusted for inflation).
⁹ Vehicle accidents include accidents involving employees of the small business owner who use their personal vehicles for business purposes. Average costs can be higher if a lawsuit is involved.
¹⁰ Product liability insurance may apply to injury or damage arising out of the use of a covered product.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209433403/en/

Media Contact:

Saverio Mancini

860-547-4986

saverio.mancini@thehartford.com

Source: The Hartford