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General Liability Insurance

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We offer flexible payment plans to fit any budget needs.

We offer flexible payment plans to fit any budget needs.

We've helped over 60,000 employers buy more affordable insurance coverage.

We've helped over 60,000 employers buy more affordable insurance coverage.

We shop your coverage with up to 35 national carriers.

We shop your coverage with up to 35 national carriers.

We shop your commercial insurance to save you time and money.

What is General Liability Insurance?

General liability (GL) insurance in the most important coverage a business can obtain. It is required by law in most states as well as by landlords, banks and third-parties. GL insurance offers protection against lawsuits, bodily injury, property damage, personal injury and completed work. There are two components to general liability insurance, public liability and product liability. Basically, public liability protects you against any third-party, such as customers, filing suit against your business, whether they slipped and fell in your store or trespassed and damaged your property.Product liability protects your products or completed work, such as cabinets your business installs in a customer’s home. If those cabinets are installed incorrectly, or fall and cause bodily injury or property damage for another reason, your business can be held liable. The average premises liability settlement awarded in 2015 was nearly $700,000.1 A premises liability claim can be as simple as a slip and fall or more complicated as in elevator or escalator accidents. In most cases, claims can be avoided by taking simple precautions, such as using signage that says “wet floor” or “out of order.”

General liability insurance, in its most basic form, will cover the cost of investigating claims and defending against third-party lawsuits. It pays lawyer fees, court costs, witness fees, settlements and court-ordered judgments. Some medical expenses may be covered as well as repair or replacement of damaged property.


1As reported by the Insurance Information Institute.




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Find your lowest
general liability rates

We take the time to make sure your business and employees are classified correctly and then we get to work finding the lowest rates available for your insurance coverage.

  • National general liability specialists.
  • Licensed throughout the United States.
  • Targeted programs for small and large businesses.
Compare quotes from over 35 carriers.

Compare quotes
from over 35 carriers

Once we've got your best quotes back from our carriers, we take the time to help you understand your options and take the next steps to get you covered quickly.

  • Easy billing and installment plans.
  • Packaged policies, such as BOPs and CPPs, save you money.
  • We continue to follow up after binding; our service to you never ends.

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General Liability Insurance
We shop your commercial insurance to save you time and money.

Why Do I Need General Liability Insurance?

Without general liability insurance, your business is at great risk. You are responsible for defending and/or settling all claims brought against your business, as well as for any damages awarded, which could cost a lot more than you think—more than an annual premium at least.

No one can predict when an accident may occur, and GL addresses just that—accidents. Even with safety procedures and policies in place, no one can predict when a customer may trip and fall in their store—or even pretend to trip and fall. Unfortunately, business owners have to be prepared for everything, someone still has to pay to defend an unsubstantiated lawsuit.

Call 1-800-800-4864 to speak to a business insurance specialist today!

What Does General Liability Insurance Cost?

The cost of purchasing general liability insurance is based on a number of factors including:

  • Industry.
  • Years in business.
  • Graphical location.
  • Claim history.
  • Number of employees.
  • Total annual revenue.
  • Replacement cost of building, contents, and equipment.

To get the best deal on GL insurance, consider purchasing it in a package like a business owners policy or commercial package policy. These types of packages are tailored for specific industries and business sizes and have optional lines of coverage, such as business interruption coverage, that can be added at discounted costs. By bundling policies, insurance companies save money and so do policyholders.

What are Common General Liability Claims?

The first step to take when you think you have a claim is to call your agent. Your agent will help you organize your information and guide you through calling the insurance carrier who will process your claim. The following are the top five property and liability claims for small businesses as reported by The Hartford1 (2015):

  1. Burglary and theft
    1. 20% of claims.
    2. Average cost to business owner: $8,000.
  2. Water and freezing damage
    1. 15% of claims.
    2. Average cost to business owner: $17,000.
  3. Wind and hail damage
    1. 15% of claims.
    2. Average cost to business owner: $26,000.
  4. Fire
    1. 10% of claims.
    2. Average cost to business owner: $35,000.
  5. Customer slip and fall
    1. 10% of claims.
    2. Average cost to business owner: $20,000.

According to The Hartford study, more than 40 percent of small businesses will submit a claim within the next 10 years. Will your business be covered? The Insurance Shop specializes in designing small businesses insurance solutions with the right coverage for the right price. Let us guide you through identifying your risks, and the coverages you need to mitigate those risks, so your business can have its best chance at success.


1The Hartford Newsroom

How Can I Reduce my Risk?

Avoiding general liability risks in your business starts from the ground-up, literally. If your business is open to any third-party, that is anyone who is not an employee, then you need to assure that it is a safe and accessible space. Start with the floor, is it level? Are there tears, ripples or holes in the carpet? These are all examples of risks that could cause a person to trip and fall on your premises. With some basic common sense and a safety-first mindset, you can mitigate a lot of liability risk. Here are some tips to get started.

  • Create safety checklists, then follow them!
  • Perform regular inspections, do daily, weekly and/or monthly inspections of property to assure it is in top condition.
  • Provide appropriate supervision, assure employees are following safety procedures, and provide safety training.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Are there other names for general liability insurance?
  2. Yes, some insurance companies refer to GL as commercial liability insurance or, simply, CGL, for commercial general liability.

  3. If I have professional liability insurance do I need general liability as well?
  4. Yes. While both coverages apply to third-party claims, there are big differences between professional and general liability insurances. While all businesses should have general liability insurance, not everyone will need professional liability. Professional liability, also known as errors and omissions, is meant to cover services, such as design or medical services.

  5. Does my GL insurance cover my products and completed work?
  6. Most GL policies include some degree of coverage for products and completed work. It is best to discuss your needs thoroughly with your agent to determine which kind and how much liability coverage your business needs.

  7. Does general liability coverage include personal and advertising injury coverage?
  8. Many GL policies cover lawsuits over advertising injuries such as copyright infringement, unlawful eviction or privacy violations. This coverage is one of the few exceptions in GL where the coverage isn’t for physical injury.

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Our Special Products and Services Make Us Better

Whether you are looking for the best coverage or to save more money over your current policy, our fast and friendly service staff is always here to help. As we work with numerous carriers across the United States we can offer more products at the best competitive rates. We at The Insurance Shop don't stop there, we also have a highly trained and experienced customer service team who guide and support you both before and after you've obtained your coverage.

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