For a decade, a business-minded individual has been deeply involved in the construction industry. Eventually, he decides to venture out independently, launching his own general contracting firm in the ever-active environment of New York City. He lands a contract to build a three-story apartment complex with six units in Brooklyn. Everything is proceeding as planned: bricklayers are at work, electricians are managing the electrical system, and plumbers are fitting the plumbing and heating systems. Payments from the property owner come through on time, and all appears to be going smoothly.
However, an oversight occurs one evening when the construction team mistakenly leaves the site fencing unlocked. Tempted by the open gate, three neighborhood kids playing nearby decide to explore the site. Owing to the dim lighting, one of the kids trips over some construction equipment, fracturing his leg. An ambulance takes the injured child for medical care, and the property owner is notified. Two months later, the boy’s parents initiate legal proceedings against the general contractor. The looming legal fees and a potential settlement threaten to financially destabilize the entrepreneur. Thankfully, he had the foresight to secure a general liability insurance policy for situations like this.
The insurance company intervenes, representing the general contractor in court and eventually negotiating a settlement with the boy’s family. Construction resumes and is completed without any more hiccups. Pleased with how the situation was managed and the coverage received, the property owner chooses to continue with the same general liability insurance for a new project the subsequent year.
General Liability Insurance is an essential financial safety net for businesses across various sectors—whether you operate an office, run a restaurant, manage a warehouse, or provide any range of services. It acts as the foundational layer of liability coverage suitable for businesses in diverse industries. Its main function is to safeguard third parties who engage with your products or services. Essentially, General Liability Insurance is the opening move in a holistic risk management plan that shields your business, its assets, and its stakeholders. It caters to businesses of all scales, from a one-person marketing agency to a global Fortune 500 company.
In its most expansive form, General Liability Insurance aims to be all-encompassing, covering any imaginable risk that could affect a business. However, with an infinite variety of possible situations—from an apartment flooding that destroys your raw materials to a truck collapsing into a sinkhole, or even a fight erupting at your eatery causing significant damage—comprehensive coverage can quickly become financially burdensome.
Consequently, it’s generally neither practical nor economically viable for businesses to insure against “every conceivable risk.” The broad spectrum of potential incidents makes it impractical to provide blanket coverage, which is why businesses commonly customize their general liability policies according to their specific needs and financial limitations.
Insurance providers often adapt their packages by omitting certain risks and types of coverage to make their policies more budget-friendly. For example, a coffee shop that doesn’t serve alcoholic beverages doesn’t require liquor liability coverage. Likewise, a construction company might not need assault-and-battery insurance, which is typically more relevant for venues like bars and nightclubs.
The structure of a general liability insurance policy can vary widely depending on the business type. A restaurant, for instance, might prioritize the property coverage aspect of a General Liability Insurance policy, considering its extensive inventory of furniture and appliances. Conversely, a contractor might focus on ensuring their tools and machinery are covered. Although all businesses benefit from a well-rounded General Liability Insurance policy, the specific details can differ enormously from one industry to another, and even among businesses within the same sector.
Insurance is a complicated matter, necessitating consultation with a seasoned, dedicated insurance agent to fine-tune your coverage. The pricing and extent of your policy will hinge on numerous factors particular to your business. It’s vital to collaborate with an agent who is not just well-versed in insurance but also understands the nuances of your specific industry.
One crucial aspect that distinguishes insurance companies and policies is the list of exclusions. Generally, the more exclusions a policy incorporates, the less expensive it will be. However, focusing purely on cost can result in acquiring a policy that lacks essential coverages, thereby putting your business at risk.
Every insurance provider and policy brings its own set of pros and cons, often targeting a specialized market within an industry. Our underwriters have access to an extensive range of markets and insurance providers. After comprehending what makes your business unique, we can present you with the most appropriate and cost-effective solutions to comprehensively safeguard your enterprise.
While price is certainly a factor to consider, it’s equally crucial to evaluate the specific operational risks your business encounters. The initial step in properly insuring your business involves identifying the most probable incidents that might occur and ensuring those risks are adequately covered in your policy.
While there are various factors to take into account, general liability insurance commonly spans several key areas of protection.
Per-Occurrence Limit: Generally set at $1 million, this represents the maximum payout from the insurer for a single event during the policy’s term.
Aggregate Cap: Typically set at $2 million, this is the cumulative amount the insurance provider will disburse for all incidents within the policy year. For instance, two $1 million claims would reach this limit, but you could also have four claims of $500,000 each within a single year.
Coverage for Products and Completed Work: This is often capped at $1 million and is designed to protect against liabilities arising from the products you sell or services you complete. For example, if a product causes injury to a customer, or if you operate a service-based business like contracting or home remodeling, this coverage comes into play.
Personal and Advertising Injury: Generally also with a $1 million limit, this combines aspects of traditional commercial general liability coverage with personal injury safeguards. This blended coverage addresses a range of situations, including but not limited to defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright breaches, and unauthorized use of advertising material.
This comprehensive protection shields your business from a multitude of risks, tailored to meet your industry-specific needs.
While general liability insurance offers a broad range of coverage, there are specific areas that it typically does not cover. These exclusions are often offered as separate insurance products. Key areas that are generally not covered include:
For instance, Workers Compensation is not part of general liability because the employment landscape varies from business to business. Likewise, Cyber Liability coverage needs differ widely among sectors, such as between a law firm holding confidential client information and a general contractor paid only via check.
Because each business has its own unique set of needs and risks, these typically excluded coverages can sometimes be added back into a policy, if available and applicable for your business.
Different sectors have their own unique insurance needs, and the hospitality industry is no exception. For example, establishments like bars and restaurants may require specialized insurance policies, such as Assault & Battery coverage and Liquor Liability insurance.
Assault & Battery Coverage: This type of insurance protects you from legal claims arising from physical injuries that occur on your property. We often advise our clients who own bars to outsource their security staff to an external agency. Doing so shifts the liability from your business to the security firm. It’s crucial that the bouncers you employ focus on peacefully escorting troublesome customers out of the establishment, rather than using forceful tactics. You wouldn’t want to jeopardize your multi-million dollar venture due to an aggressive bouncer’s actions, would you?
To protect yourself, obtain a certificate of insurance from the security firm and forward it to your Sigma Insurance representative. We’ll assist you in making sure that the certificate is adequate and that it includes a comprehensive General Liability Policy with Assault & Battery coverage. Additionally, we’ll recommend that the security firm lists your business, along with any other entities based on your lease agreement, as additional insureds.
Liquor Liability Insurance: This policy covers most risks associated with serving alcohol, such as patrons fighting due to excessive drinking or someone causing a car accident after leaving your establishment. The policy also emphasizes the importance of accurate record-keeping by bartenders. They are expected to monitor and document the number of drinks served to intoxicated customers, attempt to confiscate keys, or arrange alternative transportation. While bartenders are trained to do this upon licensure, lapses can occur. When that happens, the onus and the risk fall on the business owner, and many have lost their liquor licenses as a result.
Every general liability insurance policy comes with its own set of exceptions and exclusions. Our website showcases a range of insurance solutions designed for various industries and business types. A consultation with our underwriting team can offer valuable insights into the specific risks associated with your business, helping you evaluate the coverage options best suited for your goals.
Imagine a contractor specialized in interior remodeling for both residential and commercial spaces, offering services like carpentry, drywall, painting, and tiling. One day, a valuable customer requests assistance with a minor landscaping task, requiring a small hole to be dug behind their building. Initially hesitant, the new employee agrees to help, considering the importance of the customer. Unfortunately, while digging, the employee accidentally severs a power line, causing a nearby restaurant to lose power, spoiling thousands of dollars worth of food in their refrigerators and freezers.
Typically, this sort of incident might be covered by general liability insurance. However, because the task performed fell outside the scope of the contractor’s stated services and existing contract, the policy doesn’t cover the damages. The contractor is left with no choice but to dip into their own savings to compensate for the loss.
Classification limitations specify the extent of the services covered by your insurance policy. This ensures that professionals stick to their area of expertise—preventing, for example, dentists from offering legal services or accountants from performing medical procedures. These limitations can even be quite niche, such as preventing a plumber who specializes in piping from working on boilers.
The Importance of Specialization:
Even a general contractor, who theoretically could perform a wide array of services, will find that comprehensive coverage is both costly and still subject to restrictions. That’s why subcontractors often focus on a specific area of expertise and secure insurance for those particular services.
Why This Matters:
The point of sharing this example is not to scare you, but to underline the importance of obtaining a well-crafted general liability insurance policy. A professional insurance agency like ours takes the time to understand your business, enabling us to recommend the most suitable types of coverage.
Risk assessment is a complex task that requires expertise. Various questions need to be addressed, including the type of business you run, your target audience, any special services you offer, company structure, ownership details, lease agreements, and more.
While the scenarios we’ve discussed may seem unlikely, they aren’t as rare as you might think. We’ve heard enough real-life stories to know that the improbable can and does happen. We encourage you to consult with our specialized business insurance underwriters to ensure you’re adequately protected.
For more information on general liability insurance, or to get answers to any questions you may have, feel free to contact us or complete this form for an underwriter to reach out to you.
