General Liability Insurance in California

What is General Liability Insurance?

General Liability insurance, sometimes called small business liability insurance or commercial liability insurance, provides insurance coverage for your business against claims made by others including bodily injury, damage to property, or personal injury.

If someone comes to your place of business and is injured, a general liability policy could cover their medical costs. If someone else’s property is damaged and you are found to be responsible, the repair or replacement cost could be covered. And if someone’s reputation is damaged by something you or an employee said or wrote about them, the associated costs could be covered.

Accidentally damaged customer property? General liability insurance makes those uh-oh moments okay by covering a wide range of incidents and basic risks. Contractors and cleaners can add tools and equipment coverage to protect their gear, as well.

A general liability insurance policy can help cover claims that your business caused:

• Third-party bodily injury: If a customer gets hurt after slipping and falling in your store, they can sue your business. Your insurance policy includes bodily injury liability coverage, so it can help pay for their medical bills.
• Third-party property damage: If you or your employees work at a client’s house, your business faces a risk of causing property damage. Property damage liability coverage can help pay for repair or replacement costs if your business damages someone else’s belongings.
• Reputational harm: Someone can sue your business for libel or slander because of something you or your employees said. If this happens, general liability insurance can help cover your legal costs to defend your business.
• Advertising injury: Your business can get sued for copyright infringement. For example, a photographer can sue you if you use their photo in your ads without permission.

Why Do You Need General Liability Insurance?

Liability claims aren’t uncommon and can get expensive. In fact, 4 out of 10 small businesses will likely experience a liability claim in the next 10 years. Slips and falls are the leading cause of emergency room visits.1 The average cost of this kind of claim is $35,000. If a claim leads to a lawsuit, it can increase its average cost to more than $75,000 to defend and settle. Without general liability insurance, your business would have to pay for these costs out of pocket and it can put you out of business.

Even though every business is unique, each one can benefit from having general liability coverage. We can work with you to customize your policy, so you get the coverage amounts that are right for your business.

Get a General Liability quote today and learn how we can help protect your business.