What is General Liability Insurance?

In business, as well as in life, accidents happen. The problem is, when you’re running a business, accidents can open you up to liability, and if you’re not adequately covered, it can really cost you.

This means that general liability insurance is an essential part of running a business because it protects you in many important situations. If you don’t have general liability insurance, you open yourself up to being sued by members of the public in the case of an accident and you will be responsible for the costs.

So, what exactly does general liability insurance protect you against?

Damages Towards Third Parties

General liability insurance for small business is there to protect you from the basic risks your business faces. It covers you against damages to third parties, but not damages incurred by yourself, your employees, or to your equipment or tools.

Say you’re working on a ladder and you drop a tool which hits a passer-by on the head and injures them. The injured person is entitled to sue you for their medical costs. If you weren’t covered, then you would have to pay them out of your own pocket, but if you’ve got general liability insurance, the insurance company will take care of it.

A Legal Obligation

In some states, it is a legal obligation to have general liability insurance. Authorities want to see that members of the public are protected when they interact with your business, and insurance is one way of guaranteeing that.

If a business is not insured and gets sued, there’s no guarantee they have enough money to pay, this is why many authorities make general liability insurance a requirement for getting a business permit. It means they know that members of the public will get the money they are owed because your company is covered.

Required for Some Contracts

Even if general liability insurance isn’t required by law, many companies will only do business with you if you have the right insurance. Many contracts will stipulate your need for basic insurance, and you won’t be able to win those contracts unless you’re properly covered.

For other companies, employing the services of another company that isn’t insured opens them up to greater risk, and naturally, they want to avoid this. Your insurance might be a small detail, but it can make all the difference when you’re competing for certain jobs.

Allows You to Focus on the Things You’re Good At

You want your business to focus on doing the things it’s good at without having to worry about what happens if something goes wrong. Having the right general liability insurance means you can get on with the job, knowing you’re protected if something should happen.

With the right provider, arranging your general liability insurance is quick and simple, and you can get a quote that’s tailored to your business needs. Finding the right insurance isn’t difficult, but the benefits are clear to see.

Focus on growing your business, without having to worry about whether you’re properly protected by your insurance.