Public liability insurance is a type of insurance that protects your business when you're working with customers on your business premises. In this article, we provide an overview of Public liability insurance and how it can protect your business operations.
What Is Public Liability Insurance?
Public liability insurance protects you against a variety of liabilities that pertain to your customers and the general public, including bodily injury and property damage.
Public liability insurance will cover the costs related to any accidents that your business or its employees might cause to the public or to your business’s customers. Examples of these expenses can be legal fees incurred from claims, court costs of defending your company, emergency services and any expenses related to property damage.
How Does Public Liability Insurance Cover You?
Public liability insurance covers you in the event a person is injured or their property is damaged due to an accident that happened on your business premises. If you are found responsible for the accident and it wasn't due to the negligence of the injured person, your insurance policy will cover the damages.
If a customer or member of the public makes a claim against your business, your public liability insurance will cover the legal fees, court costs and any other expenses related to the claim.
Public liability insurance covers damages from all the following:
Bodily injury, such as personal injury, death, or any other illness, disease, or injury that affects a person's physical health.
A bodily injury that occurs in your business' jurisdiction (e.g., at your store).
A bodily injury that occurs on your business premises.
A bodily injury that occurs off your business' premises, such as when your business is engaged in interstate commerce.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is a type of insurance that covers medical expenses that are incurred as a result of an accident on your or your employees' part.
Public liability insurance could also provide protection if your business were to be sued because of a customer's injuries. Any lawsuits against your business would be required to be filed with the State's Attorney General.
What Doesn't Public Liability Insurance Cover?
Public liability insurance does not cover the costs that are related to bodily injury and property damage caused by the negligent acts of your business. This means that if you or your employee causes the accident because of an act of negligence, the injured person will have the right to make a claim against your business' liability insurance company.
If your business has employees, Public liability insurance will cover any costs that are related to your employees' actions. However, you may also wish to purchase an Employers' Liability insurance policy. Employers' Liability insurance will cover any costs that are related to the employment contract of your employees.
Public liability insurance is a great business insurance to have in the event that something happens to your customers or the general public. Although you may feel that it is unlikely that something will happen, you should always be prepared for the worst.
Conclusion
Public liability insurance protects your business in the event that an accident harms a customer or a member of the public. The insurance will cover legal fees, court costs and any damages that are related to the accident.
To learn more about how your business can protect itself against public liability, speak to a trusted insurance broker. At New Wave Insurance, we deal with business insurance to help you with your financial needs. Get in touch with us today to learn more.