What Does General Liability Insurance Cover?
General liability insurance covers the following:
General liability insurance provides the protection you need as a business owner. Paying for claims out of pocket can set you back thousands of dollars and seriously impact your finances and future plans, which is one of the reasons why having the right type of general liability coverage is so important.
At C&S Insurance, our specialized insurance agents spend time not only getting to know your business, but also your industry and specific needs. Read on to learn more about general liability insurance and why C&S Insurance is well-positioned to provide you with the information, knowledge, and resources you need to protect your business.
General liability insurance protects a business against third-party claims involving accidents, bodily injury, or property damage. It’s also known as small business liability insurance or commercial liability insurance.
This type of insurance is different from professional liability insurance — also known as errors & omissions (E&O) — which protects your company from lawsuits claiming negligence, misrepresentation, violation of good faith and fair dealing, or inaccurate advice.
General liability insurance covers the following:
There are some exceptions when it comes to general liability insurance, including:
Many general liability policies also carry a professional services exclusion, which shifts the responsibility of repair/replacement expenses to you.
If you are a contractor and/or small business owner, you need to protect your business with some type of liability insurance. You should consider general liability insurance if you or your employees interact with customers in person, have access to clients’ property, use advertising in any way for marketing purposes, or use third-party locations for your business.
Businesses typically pay anywhere from several hundred to more than $1,000 per year for general liability coverage,
but the cost depends on a number of factors, including:
The cost for out-of-pocket defense fees, settlements, or judgments can add up quickly and seriously jeopardize the finances of your business. General liability insurance is important since it protects against a variety of risks.
General liability insurance is required by law for most business owners in Massachusetts and is often bundled with a business owner policy (BOP).
A BOP is an insurance package designed for small to mid-size businesses. Typically, a BOP bundles together key coverages like general liability, business income, commercial property, and equipment coverage. Companies can also purchase add-on coverages to supplement a basic BOP.
Notably, a BOP does not include workers’ compensation insurance or commercial auto coverage, but if a company will provide you with one, they may write these coverages as well and help you leverage policy bundling discounts.
You can buy general liability insurance from national “direct writers” (such as GEICO and Progressive), but the best option is to opt for an independent agency like C&S Insurance. We specialize in serving Massachusetts businesses, and we act as advisors, advocates, and risk managers, serving on your behalf. We can help you find the best rates and advise you on the best coverage for your business.
Here’s what sets us apart from other insurance agencies:
Industry Knowledge
Our agents have decades of experience in business and general liability insurance. Beyond securing optimal coverage at the industry’s most competitive rate, we’ll provide insights and resources to ensure that your insurance program is playing a clear role in your company’s success.
Specialized Team Members
When you run a specialty business in Massachusetts, experience and education are two critical attributes you should require from your commercial insurance agent. Our experienced team members are niche-driven and spend time not only getting to know your business, but also your industry. We understand the ins and outs of general liability insurance and how to design and bundle those policies with the coverage you need.
Total Quote Diligence & Review
We understand that your business — and therefore your insurance needs — may change. That’s why we believe it’s very beneficial for you to meet with us, at least twice a year, to ensure that your risks match with the coverage your insurance program provides you. We spend the time to review your exposures and rates to make sure you understand your insurance costs in order to help you be profitable.
Ability to Look for Coverage Gaps
Our staff is well versed in all types of coverage gaps, limitations of coverage, and policy language ambiguity. We’ve seen a lot, which means we know what to look for to ensure that you are receiving the best coverage.
Wide Variety of Services & Programs
When working with C&S Insurance, we provide you with the ability to issue certificates of insurance from our own website, so there’s no more waiting after you make a phone call or send an certificate request by email. If you have the certificate holder’s information, you can instantly email it.
Switching Made Seamless
We don’t hide the fact that switching insurance companies involves some work. Open and timely communication, along with cooperation, are key in a smooth agent transition. Providing us with your prior agent information, accurate rating information, and loss reports makes the process easy. And when we have this information, we’re more than happy to notify your previous agent of the switch. It’s one less thing for you to worry about.
Top-Tier Carrier Relationships
We’re well-versed on today’s general liability products and options, and we pride ourselves on our market strength. Plus, we have longstanding relationships with almost every insurance company that can offer premium, comprehensive general liability insurance.
The majority of policies we provide have the most competitive rates available. And because of our longstanding relationships with many of the industry’s leading carriers, we’re uniquely positioned to negotiate on your behalf to ensure that you have the best coverage and price.
Responsive, Efficient Service
We’re accessible and easy to work with. If you have questions about bills or certificates or serious claims that require speed and urgency, our Massachusetts-based services team is always available to help. A lot of service teams like to tell clients how important they are, so don’t take our word for it. We want you to experience first-priority status, starting from day one.
Customer Service that Never Sleeps
Claims and other loss events don’t follow regular business hours. For any time you can’t get us on the phone immediately, our CSR24 client portal provides a host of self-service options. If you need access to your policy information, report a First Notice of Loss, or issue a certificate of insurance on the fly, you can get it done.
Our specialized insurance agents will partner with your team to optimize your risk management efforts, while recommending steps to boost productivity and profitability. Curious to hear what we’d recommend for your business? Give us a call at 508-339-2951, or complete the quote form on this page.
General liability insurance products a business against third-party claims involving accidents, bodily injury, or property damage.
According to the IRS, in most cases you can deduct the cost of insurance as a business expense if it’s for your business or profession.
This refers to a statement or summary of your coverage, which verifies that your business is insured.
