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

The Hartford’s 2025 analysis builds on its2015 claims report²

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

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?

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

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

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

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 athttps://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 readThe 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 athttps://ir.thehartford.com https://ir.thehartford.com

______________________________

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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)

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.

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.

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.

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.