Architects & Engineers

Availability: In all 50 states, D.C. and U.S. territories

Coverage: Admitted with an A rated carrier (non-admitted capacity available)

Limits: Up to $20 million 

Target risks: 

• Architects
• Landscape architects
• Mechanical engineers
• Electrical engineers
• Civil engineers
• Structural engineers
• Surveyors

Policy features:

• One of the broadest professional liability forms in the industry
• International coverage
• Multi-year policies available for eligible firms with annual revenue up to $1M 
• $0 deductible options available for eligible firms with annual revenue up to $500,000 
• Defense costs outside the limits of liability available for eligible firms with annual revenue up to $1M 
• Broad coverage for pollution, asbestos and equity interest
• Extended Reporting Period (ERP) death or disability coverage for no additional charge
• Rectification expenses coverage for a design defect caused by professional services
• No hammer clause
• Punitive damages coverage where allowable by law
• Free risk advisory resources through Victor Risk Advisory, including articles, blogs, benchmarking studies, seminars, live/recorded webinars delivered by experienced risk management professionals
• Access to Victor Contract Sifter, our automated contract review tool
• Free continuing education courses
• Local claims service by dedicated A&E specialists and experienced defense attorneys
• Premium credits up to 5% available for AIA, NSPE and ACEC members.

2020 policy form enhancements (not yet available in SD and VT)

• Expansion of the term insured
• Enhanced rectificaiton applicability
• Availability of aggregated defense outside the limits
• Update to the faulty workmanship exclusion
• Carve-back to the transportation exclusion
• Inclusion of most favorable jurisdiction
• Expansion of the subrogation waiver
• Liberalization of current policy coverages
• Updated rates in select states

Download the Architects & Engineers coverage highlight sheet

Professional Liability policy forms

• The 2020 policy form is subject to state filing procedures. Learn more about our 2020 policy form enhancements
• The 2014 policy form is subject to state filing procedures
• The 2005 policy form is subject to state filing procedures
• Most states and territories (except NY, VT and SD): A Risk Mitigation Credit is offered to eligible policyholders of this new insuring agreement and provides the option of receiving a deductible credit of up to $25,000 if certain best practices are implemented
• New York licensed professionals such as architects, engineers, land surveyors and landscape architects use the 2015 NY free trade zone insuring agreement beginning with policies effective on or after June 1, 2019
• New York non-licensed professionals such as Environmental Consultants and Specialty Construction Consultants will continue to be written using our 1999 NY insuring agreement until further notice
• Vermont: The 1999 insuring agreement is used in these and any other states not yet approving the 2005 agreement (except for NY and SD)
• South Dakota: Insuring agreement

Other policy forms

• Network protection for design professionals endorsement

• Rectification coverage explained
• 2020 policy form enhancements (overview of the enhancements introduced in Victor's 2020 A&E professional liability policy)
• Infographic: An overview of Victor's coverage and risk management solutions for firms with up to $5M in annual revenue

Insights

• 7 compelling reasons to insure your design & construction business
   

To help you and your clients understand and overcome risks, Victor Risk Advisory offers rock-solid industry insights, risk mitigation resources and much more.

• Flooded with fear
• Dusty designs
• Budget buster
• Kick the can
• Due diligence is due
• Hot tub, hot water

• Unlocking the power of Victor Risk Advisory: Empowering your clients with more than just a policy
• AI-driven efficiency: Discover Victor Contract Sifter for design firm policyholders
• Understanding the value of rectification coverage
• Searching for certainty in an uncertain market: Delivering value to your clients through risk management

Access our full library of A&E webinars

Contact the architects & engineers team directly at design.us@victorinsurance.com or connect with your business development contact.

You have the option not only to report a claim, but circumstances, (situations in which you are concerned that a claim may occur) as well.

Here's how to ensure the fastest possible response to your circumstance or claim:

1. When you're notified of a claim or become aware of a circumstance, email your claim information to designclaims.us@victorinsurance.com, or you can write the CNA Insurance Companies in care of Victor Insurance Managers LLC, 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 400, Bethesda, MD 20814.
   
   
2. With respect to claims, all principals and staff members involved in the claim should be prepared to document the circumstances surrounding the allegation. Your written report to CNA should include the following:
   
   - Your firm's name and address
   - Your policy number
   - Date, time and location of the situation
   - Brief narrative description of the allegation against you
   - Name of person or entity making the claim
   - Amount of demand, if known
   - Any lawsuit papers or legal proceedings
   - Client - architect/engineer agreement for the project
   - Any other pertinent documents or correspondence, including newspaper accounts
   
   
3. If the claim or circumstance involves a traumatic situation (collapse of a structure, serious bodily injury, etc.), take photographs of the site if possible. Amateur photos taken promptly are more valuable than professional photos taken at a later date.
   
   
4. Consult with your CNA claim specialist before you agree to attend any conferences arranged for the specific purpose of discussing the situation.
   
   
5. Do not sign or accept releases from any parties without first obtaining approval from your CNA claims specialist.
   
   
6. Keep all pertinent letters of agreement for services, correspondence and memoranda.
   
   
7. Accept all letters, memoranda, and suit papers without comment or argument. Do not admit liability, and do not attempt to place blame.

Experienced legal counsel
CNA uses highly experienced and successful legal defense firms that specialize in architects and engineers professional liability claims to help defend you. The attorney assigned to your case will consult with you and keep you informed about all important actions to be taken on your behalf. In addition, your CNA claims professional will help answer your questions and advise you of developments in your case. The legal defense of a lawsuit is often the most critical factor in handling a professional liability claim. Providing you with the experienced legal defense you need is just one more reason why CNA delivers the best claims services available in the industry.

Fast claims service
If you are faced with a claim or potential claim, you can be assured that CNA will provide fast, fair claims service. Applying our experience and expertise, we work with you to protect your firm's assets and reputation by handling your claim quickly and effectively. Specialists give you personal service. Our architect and engineer professional liability claim professionals are available from coast to coast. At Victor and CNA, we continually respond to the evolving needs of your practice. That is our commitment to you - a commitment we've been keeping for over 65 years.

After your insurance company is notified about your claim or incident, we will take the following steps:

1. An analyst will be assigned to review your case
2. The analyst will notify your claims specialist, who will contact you within 24 hours of being notified of your situation to begin the investigation.
3. As the investigation progresses, you and your claims specialist will work together to direct, monitor and assess your case.
4. If the situation requires legal counsel, an attorney specializing in the defense of architects and engineers claims will be retained to protect your interests.

Discover the Victor difference
Victor knows the fine details of insuring firms like yours - we've worked with American Council of Engineering Companies members for many years and we created the world's first professional liability insurance policy for architects and engineers over 65 years ago.

But we offer far more than just a policy. Leveraging over 65 years of data and analysis, our risk advisory, contract review software, and continuing education program are unlike any in the industry. 

Learn more

Victor knows the fine details of insuring firms like yours - we've worked with American Institute of Architects members for more than 65 years.  That's why we're the program of choice for AIA members offered by the AIA Trust.  

We also provide insurance counsel to the AIA Documents Committee and continually work with AIA to evolve our risk and practice management services to help protect your investments.

Our insurance program for design professionals offers a coordinated insurance solution that integrates good business practices and risk advisory resources with a comprehensive insurance program. We're also pleased to offer AIA member firms a 5% premium credit* on professional liability policies.

Get a free quote

Not a member? Find out more about the benefits you can earn by joining the AIA.

*certain restrictions may apply

Victor knows the fine details of insuring engineering firms like yours and created the world's first professional liability insurance policy for architects and engineers over 65 years ago. As NSPE's commended program, we've worked with NSPE members for many years and can protect your firm better than anyone. We're also pleased to offer NSPE members a 5% premium credit on professional liability policies*. 

Get a free quote

*certain restrictions may apply
 

Risk advisory
Our risk advisory and continuing education program is unlike any in the industry. Created for design professionals, by design professionals - as a Victor insured, you will have access to:

• free risk advisory resources including publications, seminars, live and recorded webinars
• free continuing education courses. Explore our engineers curriculum, which includes over 50 courses, including risk management, ethics and anti-harassment courses.

Visit Victor Risk Advisory to find out more.

Victor Contract Sifter
Available exclusively for Victor insureds, Victor Contract Sifter is an automated contract review tool that allows you to upload a professional liability contract and, within minutes, receive a list of missing and found insurability and practice management issues along with actionable guidance from Victor experts.

Access Victor Contract Sifter

Victor and the National Society of Professional Surveyors have partnered for over 30 years to provide professional liability insurance solutions and risk advisory services to NSPS members.

Get a free quote
 

The following selection of key resources are available to NSPS members at no cost. 

Risk advisory resources

• Staking out your future: Victor's guide to managing professional liability exposure: This publication includes case studies, benchmarking statistics, and an in-depth explanation of various contract and risk management issues. Additionally, we provide guidance on contract language and solutions in a format that makes it easy for you to share with your prospective clients.
• Guide to the Victor risk mitigation credit for surveyors: Designed to reduce the frequency/severity of claims and provides a mechanism to reward policyholders for their risk mitigation efforts
• Claims study: Our claims study featuring claims states and scenarios relating to land surveyors and surveying services. 

Visit Victor Risk Advisory to find out more.
 

Free continuing education credits

• Our comprehensive continuing education program, including a curriculum designed specifically for land surveyors.

The world is changing at an unprecedented pace. And complex new risks are emerging every year.

To help you understand and overcome these challenges, Victor Risk Advisory offers rock-solid industry insights, risk mitigation resources and much more.