- What is it?
General liability insurance normally provides liability coverage against a range of common risks. Policies may protect against slip-and-fall accidents, defamation lawsuits and more.
- Who’s it for?
An insurance agent who specializes in general liability coverage can help owners of home businesses assess their need for this and other commercial coverages.
- What is offered?
- Premises Liability Coverage
- Bodily Injury Coverage
- Property Damage Coverage
- Personal and Advertising Injury Coverage
General Liability Insurance in California
What is general liability insurance?
Most businesses in California are exposed to various common risks. For many common risks, there’s general liability insurance.
General liability insurance normally provides liability coverage against a range of common risks. Policies may protect against slip-and-fall accidents, defamation lawsuits and more.
As with most types of liability coverage, these policies usually help with legal fees and settlements related to covered claims. Such costs can be insurmountable without insurance in place.
Which California businesses should consider general liability insurance coverage?
Given the broad range of potential risks covered, general liability insurance coverage is helpful to almost all California businesses. It’s usefulness isn’t limited by industry or business size.
If you run a business, it’s highly likely that your business faces some risks that general liability coverage could manage.
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Do home businesses require general liability insurance coverage?
Although home businesses may have a lower risk profile compared to other types of businesses, they still face a certain level of liability risk. They’re also often in a poor financial position to pay expensive legal costs given their smaller size.
For these reasons, it’s broadly recommended that home businesses consider getting general liability coverage. No one wants to see their business, no matter how large or small, go bankrupt in the face of legal fees.
When insurance is needed for a home business, some homeowners insurance policies may offer help. Select homeowners policies have basic business insurance coverage, either as a standard feature or optional endorsement. The personal liability portion normally doesn’t cover business activities, but a homeowners policy might be all that’s needed if a business coverage endorsement is available.
If business coverage isn’t available through a homeowners policy, then a general liability policy is in order. An insurance agent who specializes in general liability coverage can help owners of home businesses assess their need for this and other commercial coverages.
What protections are typically included in general liability policies?
A general liability policy usually includes several types of coverage, such as:
- Premises Liability Coverage: This may offer protection for incidents that occur at a business’s premises, such as an office, store or storage facility.
- Bodily Injury Coverage: This may offer protection for other incidents that cause injury to third parties, including customers, visitors or vendors.
- Property Damage Coverage: This may offer protection for incidents that cause damage to the property of third parties.
- Personal and Advertising Injury Coverage: This may offer protection in the event of a libel, slander or false advertising claim.
Does general liability cover damages and injuries caused by products?
For businesses that manufacture, distribute or sell products, there’s often a risk that their products could cause injury or damage property. This is primarily a product liability risk — businesses might be liable for their products.
Some general liability policies may include a degree of product liability coverage, but it’s bound to be a minimal amount if available. Many general liability policies exclude product liability risks outright.
Businesses that need extensive product liability coverage would be well-served to consider a separate product liability insurance policy. Businesses that only need a minimal level of product liability might be able to get by with a general liability policy that includes some product liability protection.
This is a detailed matter that requires assessing a business’s risk, and checking the specific terms of a policy. Business owners should speak with a knowledgeable insurance agent when assessing how best to cover their product-related (and other) risks.
How can California businesses get general liability insurance?
While general liability is readily available as a standalone insurance policy, but it’s often packaged with other types of coverage. A business owners policy (BOP) normally combines general liability coverage with other commonly needed coverages, and a commercial package policy (CPP) can be customized to include general liability along with other necessary coverages. Most businesses will opt for either a BOP or a CPP.
To find the best general liability insurance for your California business, reach out to the independent insurance agents at Truck Writer Insurance Services. Our team can help you explore options from multiple insurance companies, and choose whatever policy best meets your business’s general liability needs.