NYC Insurance Blog

Does General Liability Insurance Cover Me Wherever I Go?

No business owner can predict the future therefore it is the responsibility of the owner to protect their business and its employees. It doesn’t matter the size of your business; general liability insurance is a must-have.

What is General Liability Insurance Coverage? 

General liability insurance is a form of business insurance that covers and protects the business against claims of bodily injury and property damage from clients and customers. The claims may be a result of your business operations, products, and/or services. Businesses operating without general liability coverage when faced with such claims end up paying from the business income which can be expensive. 

What Does General Liability Insurance Cover? 

Also known as business liability insurance or commercial general liability cover. This form of business insurance protects your business from claims against property damage, bodily injury, and other claims from third parties.  Having a Broker, to Guide you through what is covered and what is not can be very helpful, call us today!

The following are the common claims that general liability covers: 

1. Bodily Injury

Your business premises may have slip and fall hazards. When a client or customer gets injured at your place of business, you could be liable for injuries and medical expenses incurred by the client.

For example, if a customer slips and falls and injures their leg at your place of business, and they decide to sue you for the injury and the medical expenses they incurred. General liability coverage helps cover any legal fees related to the suit. If you are found liable the insurance may cover the cost of medical bills incurred by the customer.

2. Property Damage

This is another common claim associated with the operations of a business. General liability coverage covers expenses if a customer’s property is damaged by your business or while at your business. 

For instance, if you are working on a client’s window and accidentally break it. The general liability insurance coverage will help pay for the repairs and replacement costs associated with fixing the window. 

3. Reputational Harm

General liability insurance covers claims against your company in the case your business causes reputational harm to another business or client.

For example, if a company says something about another company’s product or service that hurts their business, the general liability coverage will help cover the claims.

4. Product Liability

Most people think that general liability only covers claims that happen on business premises, but this is not always the case. Property damage and customer injury may also occur away from the business premises.

General liability coverage helps insure business owners who manufacture and sell products that could cause harm or damage to their customers.

For example, if a customer purchased an energy bar containing nuts and get a severe allergic reaction. If the allergic reaction caused them to lose wages and incur medical bills. General liability will help cover all costs associated with the lawsuit. 

5. Copyright Infringement

The general liability policy covers claims against the use of someone else’s work in your business operations without their consent. 

What Is Not Covered by General Liability Insurance?

General liability covers a lot in terms of claims against the business, but there are certain aspects of claims that are not covered. Some of the claims may need a separate insurance policy. So, what is not covered by the general liability insurance:

• Automobile accidents.
• Employee accidents and illnesses.
• Theft or damage to your business.
• Professional mistakes.
• Intentional acts.

Who Needs to Acquire General Liability Insurance?

The following would benefit from obtaining general liability insurance:

• A business with temporary employees. 
• A business that uses third-party locations for its business operations.
• An independent contractor.
• A business whose operations are open to the public and vendors.
• Small businesses.
• Marketing businesses. 

How Much Does General Liability Insurance Cost?

The cost of this type of insurance depends on various factors. The following factors affect how much you pay for your insurance policy:

• The type of business and industry you are operating in. if your business is a high-risk business, you will pay more.
• The size, location, and condition of your business or company.
• The amount of coverage your business needs. 

One can manage general liability insurance costs by choosing the limit that fits their business needs. One of the best and most cost-effective ways of reducing the cost of your policy is by combining general liability and business property insurance. Contact us today to get a Free Quote on General Liability Coverage!

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