General Liability
Commercial General Liability Insurance
Commercial general liability is the foundation of nearly every business insurance program. It responds when a third party alleges that your operations, your premises, or your completed work caused bodily injury or property damage, and it funds the legal defense that follows even when the allegation is groundless.
Because general liability is written on standardized forms that carriers then modify with endorsements, two policies quoted at the same premium can behave very differently at claim time. We read the endorsement schedule, identify the exclusions that matter for your class of business, and explain the practical consequences before you bind.
Protection against third-party bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury claims arising from your operations.
Coverage detail
What general liability typically responds to
The items below describe how this line generally behaves. Actual coverage is determined solely by the policy as issued, including its endorsements, exclusions, and limits.
Bodily injury to third parties
Claims from customers, delivery drivers, subcontractors, or passersby who are injured on your premises or as a result of your operations.
Third-party property damage
Damage your operations cause to property you do not own, including damage occurring at a customer's job site.
Products and completed operations
Allegations that a product you sold or work you finished caused injury or damage after you left the site.
Personal and advertising injury
Libel, slander, copyright infringement in advertising, and similar offenses arising from how you market your business.
Legal defense costs
Attorney fees, expert witnesses, and court costs, generally paid in addition to your limits of liability.
Medical payments
Limited no-fault medical expense coverage that can resolve minor incidents before they escalate into claims.
Who needs it
Businesses that should be reviewing this coverage
- Contractors and trade subcontractors who must furnish certificates of insurance
- Retail, restaurant, and hospitality operations with public foot traffic
- Professional offices and service firms leasing commercial space
- Manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers with product exposure
- Any business whose contracts require additional insured status for clients or landlords
Before you bind
Details that change how this policy performs
Occurrence versus claims-made
Occurrence forms respond to incidents that happen during the policy period regardless of when the claim is reported. Claims-made forms require the claim itself to be reported during the period, which creates gaps when you change carriers.
Additional insured endorsements
Contracts commonly require you to name a client or landlord as an additional insured, sometimes on a primary and non-contributory basis. The specific endorsement form matters, and blanket endorsements are not all equivalent.
Classification accuracy
Premium is driven by classification codes and exposure basis. Misclassification produces audit surprises and, in the worst case, a denied claim for operations the carrier never intended to cover.
Aggregate limits
The general aggregate caps what the policy will pay in a policy year. Per-project aggregate endorsements can be essential for contractors working multiple simultaneous jobs.
Related coverage
Other lines to review alongside this one
- Workers' CompensationStatutory coverage for employee medical treatment, lost wages, and rehabilitation after a work-related injury or illness.
- Commercial AutoLiability and physical damage coverage for owned, hired, and non-owned vehicles used in your business operations.
- Commercial PropertyCoverage for buildings, business personal property, tenant improvements, and the income you lose while damage is repaired.
- Inland MarineCoverage for mobile equipment, tools, property in transit, installation work, and other property that moves or sits away from your premises.
- Surety BondsThree-party guarantees that you will perform an obligation, including bid, performance, payment, and license and permit bonds.
Get a general liability quote
Tell us about your operations and we will identify the coverage, limits, and endorsements your situation calls for.
Request a Quote