
General liability insurance is a type of insurance that protects businesses from financial losses due to property damage or other accidents. This type of insurance is often required by clients or customers before they'll do business with you.
The policy typically covers damages to other people's property, such as buildings or vehicles, but it may not cover damages to your own property. For example, if you accidentally damage a client's building while working on a project, your general liability insurance would cover the cost of repairs.
General liability insurance policies usually have a deductible, which is the amount you must pay out of pocket before the insurance kicks in. The deductible can range from $500 to $10,000 or more, depending on the policy and the insurance company.
Readers also liked: General Electric Microwave Ovens
What General Liability Insurance Covers
General liability insurance is designed to protect your business from a wide range of risks and unexpected events. It covers injuries to a person or property damage that occurs on the premises of a business.
There are 5 categories of coverages that the CGL insurance policy provides, including contractual liability coverage, product liability coverage, and property damage claims. These coverages help protect your business from claims related to contract issues, product defects, and property damage.
Commercial general liability insurance covers claims of property damage, personal injury (such as libel or slander), bodily injury, and advertising injury. This means that if a customer trips over your ladder and breaks their arm, your general liability insurance may cover the medical costs associated with their injury.
General liability insurance can help protect you from financial impacts of third-party property damage claims. For example, if a dog trainer's customer's handbag is damaged by a dog, the business may be liable for the cost of replacement.
Here are some examples of what general liability insurance covers:
- Medical bills for a client or customer who sustains an injury due to your operation or on your business property
- Legal costs if you need to defend your business in court
- Copyright infringement claims
- Property damage caused by your business or employees
- Reputational harm if someone sues you for malicious prosecution, libel, slander, wrongful eviction, or privacy violations
It's essential to remember that general liability insurance doesn't include injuries to your employees. You'll need workers' compensation insurance to help cover any work-related injuries or illnesses.
Understanding Exclusions and Limitations
Exclusions are an unavoidable reality of commercial insurance, and it's essential to know what they are to be more aware of your potential exposures.
Every liability policy will come with exclusions, so it's crucial to review them carefully. You should look down the list and find the endorsements that say "Exclusion" or any variation of the word.
If any exclusion is a deal-breaker, you can often find coverage with a separate policy or see if any insurance carrier will provide coverage with the terms you need.
A common exclusion to watch out for is the CG 2294 endorsement, which excludes coverage to any independent contractors or subcontractors. If you're hiring subcontractors, it's critical to remove this exclusion.
You can often remove this exclusion for a $100 charge, making it worth getting if a subcontractor were to leave you responsible for any damages.
Exclusions
Exclusions are a crucial part of any commercial insurance policy, and it's essential to know what's excluded so you can manage your potential exposures.
Every liability policy comes with exclusions, and it's an unavoidable reality of commercial insurance.
You'll usually find exclusions listed on your policy as endorsements, which can be tricky to spot, but look for words like "Exclusion" or variations of it.
The CG 2294 endorsement is a common exclusion that affects subcontractors, so if you're hiring or considering hiring subcontractors, make sure to remove this exclusion.
This exclusion can often be removed for a $100 charge, which is a small price to pay for the added protection.
Most CGL policies don't cover intentional or expected damage by the insured, so if you're involved in activities that could lead to this type of damage, you'll need to purchase additional insurance.
Damage to a business's work is also not covered under a standard CGL policy, so if you're in a business that creates or repairs products, you'll need to consider additional coverage.
If this caught your attention, see: Do Duvets Need Covers
Find operational limits
Find operational limits is crucial when reviewing your insurance policy. Insurance policies often include an endorsement that limits coverage to a specific location or operation.
These limitations can be unavoidable, but it's essential to be aware of them. Both you and your insurance broker should know about these limitations.
Let your broker know about any work that might not fall inside the limitation endorsement. This will help prevent unexpected surprises down the line.
Understanding
Understanding exclusions and limitations in insurance policies can be a complex topic, but it's essential to grasp the basics to make informed decisions.
Commercial general liability policies have different levels of coverage, and one type is premises coverage, which protects the business from claims that occur on the business's physical location during regular business operations.
A policy may also include coverage for bodily injury and property damage that is the result of a finished product or service done at another location. This means that a business can be held liable for damages caused by its products or services, even if they were not used on the business's premises.
Filing a Claim and Costs
Filing a claim for property damage is a straightforward process.
To submit a property damage claim, you'll need to gather some essential information, including the name of the policyholder, your contact details, and the policy number. This information will help your insurance representative process your claim efficiently.
You should submit the claim as soon as possible, while the incident is still fresh in your mind, to ensure speed and accuracy. Don't claim responsibility for the incident or share information with anyone other than your insurance representative and law enforcement agents.
Submit a Claim

To submit a claim, speed and accuracy are crucial. You should submit the claim as soon as possible while the incident is fresh in your mind.
The information you need to provide is straightforward. Here's what you'll need:
- The name of the policyholder (your name or your business's name)
- Your contact info (name, email, and phone number)
- The policy number
- The claimant's name (the third party who suffered property damage)
- The date and location of the incident
- A description of the incident, including any witnesses
- Where the damaged property is now, if you have that information
It's essential to be honest and not claim responsibility for the incident. Also, don't share information with anyone other than your insurance representative and law enforcement agents.
Example Claim
A general liability claim can arise from various situations, including property damage caused by your business. For instance, if you're a dog trainer and one of your students breaks free and damages another customer's property, you could be held liable.
The cost of a claim can be substantial, as seen in the example of Leon's Best Plumbing Company, Inc., which was involved in a bathroom remodel and caused $75,000 in water damage to the customer's house.
In most cases, the damages in such scenarios would be covered by a general liability policy.
Take a look at this: Dollar General Sell Pillows

Here are some examples of property damage claims:
- Damage to a customer's handbag by one of your dog training students.
- Damage to a piano part by a piano tuner, causing the client's business to be put on hold.
These claims can expose your small business to financial risks if you don't have property damage liability coverage.
Cost
The cost of filing a claim can be a significant factor to consider. This can range from $300 to $1,000 for a million dollars of insurance coverage.
The size of the business being insured is a key factor in determining the cost of a claim. Businesses with more employees or complex operations may require more costly coverage.
Some insurers charge between $300 and $600 for a million dollars of insurance coverage. This can vary depending on the specific needs and risks of the business.
The amount of coverage needed also plays a role in determining the cost of a claim. Businesses with higher revenue or more assets may require more extensive coverage.
Insurers may charge up to $1,000 for a million dollars of insurance coverage. This is typically for businesses with higher-risk operations or more complex needs.
You might enjoy: Swimming Pool Covers Cost
Coverage and Protection
General liability insurance provides protection for your business in case of unexpected events or accidents. It's a must-have for any business owner.
Property damage claims can be categorized into two types: damage to or destruction of tangible property, and rendering property temporarily unusable. This can include damage to a third party's property, or making it unusable without causing physical damage.
You can protect yourself from being sued in a property damage claim by taking preventive measures. This includes training your employees on how to minimize risks and properly handling and storing tools and equipment.
Commercial general liability insurance covers a wide range of risks, including property damage, personal injury, and bodily injury. This type of insurance is a must-have for any business owner.
Here are the 5 categories of coverages that CGL insurance provides:
- Products-completed operations hazard
- Personal and advertising injury
- Medical payments
- Damage to rented or temporary property
- Contractual liability
General liability insurance can help protect your business from claims related to contract issues, product recalls, and property damage. It's a comprehensive type of insurance that provides financial protection in case of unexpected events or accidents.
What's Not Covered
General liability insurance is designed to protect your business from a wide range of risks, but it's essential to understand what it doesn't cover. Each policy comes with its own set of unique exclusions, so it's worth taking the time to review every exclusion on all insurance contracts.
Some exclusions may include damage to your own property, unless it's a third-party's property that's damaged. For example, if you damage your own equipment or building, general liability insurance won't cover it. This is because the policy is designed to protect you from claims made by others, not from your own mistakes.
You should also know that general liability insurance doesn't cover intentional acts, such as vandalism or arson. If you or your employees intentionally damage someone else's property, the insurance company won't pay out.
Here are some examples of what's not covered by general liability insurance:
Contractual liability, for example, is not included in the standard general liability policy, but can be added as an endorsement. This type of coverage helps cover claims related to contract issues, but it's not part of the standard policy.
Featured Images: pexels.com


