Businesses should have public liability insurance to protect themselves from potential lawsuits and damages that could come as a result of their actions. Keep reading to learn more about the different types of claims that public liability insurance covers, as well as some of the reasons why you should consider buying it.
What is public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance is a type of insurance that protects individuals, businesses, and organizations from civil lawsuits filed by others. Liability claimed may arise from negligence, intentional wrongdoing, or even deadly accidents. The policy typically covers costs associated with defending the lawsuit, such as legal fees, witness costs, and court expenses.
The main benefit of public liability business insurance is that it can help protect you and your business from costly legal settlements or judgments. Coverage typically extends to third-party defendants as well as the organization itself. Policies vary in terms of their exclusions (i.e., what isn’t covered), but most policies provide coverage for personal injuries, property damage, and even wrongful deaths.
Rarely should a business opt out of public liability coverage simply because it fears potential litigation – even if the business has a policy specifically Designed For Private Litigation Protection (DLPIP)? The key is to understand the basic provisions of your policy to better estimate possible liabilities and identify any gaps that need to be addressed.
Ultimately, having public liability insurance provides peace of mind when things go wrong – especially if you operate in an industry with a high incidence of litigation (e.g., healthcare, finance). While it’s not inexpensive to maintain comprehensive coverage, the risk of losing an expensive lawsuit is far greater than the cost of premiums.
Types of public liability insurance
Public liability insurance protects against lawsuits that may arise as a result of someone’s actions, including injuries to others. This type of coverage can protect individuals, businesses, and other organizations from financial damages that may be incurred by third parties as a result of actions or omissions taken by them.
Generally, public liability insurance covers liabilities that fall within three general categories: intentional torts (such as assault), negligence (failure to use due care), and product liability (injuries caused by defective products). Each type of policy has its own set of exclusions and coverages. For example, product liability policies typically cover defects in manufacturing processes but not defects in the finished product itself.
Some common types of public liability insurance include:
– Corporate liability insurance protects a business from legal claims made by third parties arising out of activities carried out on behalf of the business (for example, wrongful death claims filed by relatives of employees who died as a result of company negligence).
– commercial general liability insurance protects individual traders or small businesses from civil lawsuits resulting from their actions outside the course of their businesses (for example, sued for libel because they wrote an unflattering review about their business online).
– Workers’ compensation policies provide benefits for employees who are injured on the job, including medical expenses and wage replacement during the time the employee is unable to work.
What does it cover?
If you’re out of pocket for an accident, public liability insurance can help cover the costs.
Public liability insurance policies provide coverage for You and any other persons involved in a covered occurrence – whether you’re at fault or not. Policies usually cover accidents that take place on public property or while you’re acting in your official capacity (like when you’re a police officer).
Policies also typically have deductibles, so You may have to pay some of the costs yourself before the insurance company pays anything out. In most cases, however, the insurer will cover 100% of the costs associated with a covered accident, including medical expenses, lost wages, and damages to property.
What does public liability insurance not cover? The policy won’t protect You from lawsuits brought by third parties who weren’t directly involved in the accident. And it doesn’t protect You from criminal prosecution – even if you were doing your job at the time of the accident.
What are the costs?
Public liability insurance protects individuals and businesses from civil lawsuits that may arise as a result of actions taken in their official capacity. The primary types of coverage offered by public liability insurance policies are general (occurring generally throughout the state), umbrella (coverage for more than one type of lawsuit), and standard liability. Each policy usually has specific coverage limits, and each limit is based on different factors, including the amount of money the policyholder is insured for and the severity of the potential lawsuit.
There are a few important things to keep in mind when it comes to public liability insurance:
- Public Liability Insurance is not meant to cover you for personal injuries or damages that you cause yourself or someone else.
- Public Liability Insurance does not protect you if you blatantly break the law–even if your act was unintentional.
- If you are sued because of something that happened while you were acting in an official capacity, public liability Insurance may help cover legal costs associated with defending the suit.
- It’s important to be aware of what type of coverage your policy offers; some policies only have general coverage, which may not be enough protection for very serious cases.
Recommended public liability insurance for your business
Public liability insurance is an important part of any business’s safety net. It can help protect your business from injuries and financial damage caused by lawsuits.
The type of coverage you need will depend on the size and nature of your business. But, in general, public liability insurance covers:
- Damages to people or property resulting from your negligence or improper operations
- Claims made by third parties alleging that you caused their injuries
- Legal fees associated with defending a lawsuit
