General Liability

What is general liability insurance?

General liability insurance, sometimes called commercial liability insurance, protects your business from financial loss if you’re found liable for property damage, personal injury, or advertising injury caused by your services, operations, or employees. It’s often the first policy a business carries, and the foundation most other coverage builds on.

What it covers

• Premises liability, for bodily injury or property damage that happens on your premises or is connected to your operations
• Products liability, if a customer is injured or their property is damaged by something your business made or sold
• Personal and advertising injury, covering things like libel, slander, or copyright infringement in your advertising
• Medical expenses, for injuries that happen during the course of your business operations
• Legal defence costs, for claims brought against your business, regardless of who’s ultimately found at fault
• Additional insured coverage, extending protection to people or groups you work with through written contracts or agreements

Who needs it

Almost every business, whether you operate out of a storefront, a client’s site, or entirely online. If your business interacts with the public, has employees, or could be blamed for a customer’s injury or property damage, general liability is typically the starting point before adding anything more specific.

What it typically doesn’t cover

• Employee injuries (that’s workers’ compensation)
• Professional mistakes or negligent advice (that’s professional liability)
• Damage to your own equipment or property (that’s property insurance)
• Intentional or criminal acts