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Running a business is challenging enough without having to worry about lawsuits, customer injuries, or property damage. General liability insurance can help cover the costs of various lawsuits including attorney’s fees, court costs and settlements in situations like the examples shown below. We understand that every business is unique and may need different coverage options tailored to your specific needs or industry. Commercial general liability is a type of insurance policy that provides coverage to a business for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage caused by the business’ operations, products, or injury that occurs on the business premises. It may also cover you if you are held liable for damages to your landlord’s property. Commercial general liability is considered comprehensive business insurance, although it does not cover all risks a business may face. In some instances, your business may not do anything wrong and you may still find your self tangled up in a lawsuit. Having the right coverage can help mitigate the losses you may experience from a liability claim.
A CGL policy can help mitigate your loss when your business is found liable for an injury to a third party either on or off your premises. For example, if a customer is coming up the steps to your retail store and they slip and fall, they can file a lawsuit against your business for any injury that was caused. It’s important to ensure you’re protected from this type of liability. A bodily injury liability assumes that some sort of negligence took place for the injury to happen, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the negligence has to come directly from your business. If someone is responsible for their own injury on your property, they could still file a liability claim against you. For example, if there was nothing wrong with the steps to your store (they weren’t icy, wet, slippery, blocked by a hazard etc.) and a customer still managed to trip, you may still face legal action.
Property damage liability is a serious concern for small business owners. If you’re found legally liable for damages made to a third party’s property, you could face costly legal expenses. It can also have a negative impact on your reputation with your clientele. CGL insurance is designed to help mitigate the costs that may be associated if your business is found liable for property damage to a third party either on or off your premises. For example, if you own an automotive body shop and someone claims that damage was done to their vehicle while it was in your possession, you could face a property liability claim. Another example would be if you’re a caterer, and you’re catering an event offsite. If someone claims you or an employee of yours damaged their property during the event, you could face a property liability lawsuit. Incidents that related to property damage may also be grouped with other types of liability concerns in one claim. Often, property and product liability claims overlap when the damage is the result of a faulty product.
If your home becomes uninhabitable as a result of a covered loss, this coverage helps pay for additional living expenses that are needed like a hotel or food. Claim Scenario – After a fire, you are not allowed to stay in your home until is has been repaired and the smell of smoke is gone. This coverage would provide you with additional money for a temporary place to live.
Types of lawsuits covered by general liability insurance
In each of the following examples, the insurance company would cover the cost of the lawsuit up to the general liability policy limit, paying for a lawyer to represent the company and covering the final judgment or settlement in the case. The judgment is when the judge or jury rules on a dollar amount you owe the party suing your business.
A contractor is installing a new kitchen. Unfortunately, one of his co-workers forgets to shut off the water and floods the kitchen. The water seeps into the floors and the walls of the finished basement. The homeowner sues them for $200,000 in damages.
A restaurant is sued when a produce delivery man slips on the wet floor of the freshly mopped kitchen. The produce is destroyed in the fall, but the real damage is done to the delivery man's shinbone, which he breaks smashing into a table. He sues the restaurant for $100,000 in medical costs, lost wages, and other expenses submitting a claim to the carrier.
A photographer is shooting senior photos for a client. As the family walks into the studio, the mother trips over a cord and falls to the ground, breaking her collarbone. The family sues the photographer for $75,000 in medical damages and submits a claim to the carrier.
A lawn care company sells a bottle of organic pesticide to a client. While applying the pesticide, the client accidentally inhales the vapors and suffers a severe allergic reaction. The client sues the lawn care company for $100,000 in medical costs and other damages and submits a claim to the carrier. However, some cases are resolved before that point. Settlements occur when both parties voluntarily agree on an amount of damages out of court. One of the benefits of having insurance is that the insurance company often helps small businesses settle their lawsuits. The insurance company can pay for a settlement, which will help you avoid spending more time or money in court.
For home policies, there are three common types of deductibles: A flat deductible, A percent deductible and A split deductible.
You can let your CSIA agent know, but to get the claims process rolling fast, you can report a claim online period.
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