Moving In San Diego California - Make Sure The Moving Company Has Workers' Compensation Insurance

The California Public Utilities Commission regulates household goods moving companies in California.

As a condition to obtaining a license, the Public Utilities Commission requires all California moving companies to have on file a copy of their Workers' Compensation Insurance Certificate.

Properly licensed moving companies with workers' compensation coverage incur significant costs to insure their employees. This insurance coverage protects not only the mover and their employees but also, just as important, the moving customer.

For example, if a mover's employee hurts himself on the job, the workers compensation insurance covers that injury, any related costs and even the legal liability as a result of the injury. The moving customer is protected.

In that same instance, if there is no workers compensation insurance, the customer is now the de facto employer and is at full risk of covering the injury, lost time, legal fees, and any other associated costs as a result of that injury. This is not a position that you want to be in.

Persons moving in California need to make sure their movers have proper workers' compensation insurance," says Steve Weitekamp, President of the California Moving & Storage Association

If you are planning a move in California you should request to see evidence of workers' compensation coverage before hiring a moving company. This will ensure the selection of a reputable moving company that meets the higher standard of protecting their employees and moving customers. You can also check to make sure your mover has workers' compensation insurance on the PUC website http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc/.

Consumers can be liable for any work-related injury occurring on their property to an employee of an uninsured mover. In this situation the customer can unwittingly find themselves with no coverage under their homeowner's or tenant's liability insurance policy. There are many cases of lawsuits where the customer was sued and became liable for injuries and damages as a result of a worker without workers compensation insurance. The article at http://www.limsa.com/workcomp.html documents one example of an injured worker where the courts held that the customer was responsible for the injured worker as the employees company did not have workers' compensation insurance.

Do not let yourself become a victim to any of this. Make sure that your moving company has valid workers' compensation insurance coverage.