Paving Contractor Insurance in Washington State

Paving contractors in Washington face a risk profile shaped by three intersecting hazards: heavy equipment operation, extreme heat from molten asphalt, and constant proximity to vehicular traffic. Every paving job puts your crew alongside moving vehicles, operating multi-ton rollers and pavers, while handling material heated to 300 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The severity potential of each of these exposures individually is high — combined, they create one of the most complex liability environments in the construction trades.

Heavy equipment is the centerpiece of paving operations and the source of some of the most catastrophic claims. Asphalt pavers, tandem rollers, skid steers, and dump trucks operating in tight formation on active roads and parking lots create constant struck-by and crush hazards. A roller operator who backs over a worker, a paver that clips a parked vehicle, or a dump truck that damages underground utilities during base preparation — these are routine claim scenarios in the paving industry. Equipment damage to underground water, sewer, gas, and electrical lines generates immediate emergency repair costs and can trigger third-party business interruption claims from utility customers.

Burn injuries from hot asphalt are an occupational hazard unique to paving. Asphalt mix is applied at temperatures between 275 and 325 degrees Fahrenheit, and splashes, spills, or contact with the hot material causes severe burns that require extensive medical treatment.Beyond worker injuries, hot asphalt that contacts a customer's vehicle, landscaping, or building facade generates property damage claims that can be surprisingly expensive to remediate — asphalt stains and heat damage to painted surfaces often require full replacement rather than repair.

Washington's climate presents additional challenges for paving contractors. The wet season compresses the paving window into roughly May through October, forcing crews to work aggressively during dry weather. This seasonal pressure increases overtime, fatigue-related incidents, and the temptation to pave in marginal conditions. Pavement failures from work performed in too-cold or too-wet conditions generate callback costs and warranty claims. As a specialty contractor, you must register with L&I and carry a $15,000 surety bond, but public works projects — a major revenue source for Washington paving contractors — typically require $2M/$4M liability limits and sometimes performance bonds on top of your standard coverage.