Business Insurance
General Liability
Third-party bodily injury and property damage protection for your business.
Coverage overview
Commercial general liability (CGL) coverage generally responds to third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury arising from your operations, premises, or completed work.
It's a foundational coverage for most businesses and is often required by landlords, clients, or contracts.
Who may need this coverage
- Businesses that interact with customers or the public
- Companies required by a lease or contract to carry liability
- Service providers who work at client locations
- Businesses that want protection for products or completed work
Common coverage considerations
- Per-occurrence and aggregate limits
- Products and completed operations coverage
- Personal and advertising injury coverage
- Additional insured requirements from clients or landlords
- Exclusions specific to your industry
What may not be covered
- Injuries to your own employees (workers' compensation)
- Damage to your own property (commercial property)
- Professional mistakes (professional liability)
- Auto liability (commercial auto)
Factors that may affect price or eligibility
- Your industry and the nature of your operations
- Revenue, payroll, and business size
- Coverage limits and any endorsements
- Claims history and risk-management practices
Information commonly needed for a quote
- A description of your operations and industry
- Annual revenue and payroll
- Any additional insured or contract requirements
- Prior coverage, limits, and claims history
A practical example
A customer slips on a wet floor in a shop and is injured. General liability may help with resulting third-party bodily injury claims and related defense costs, subject to the policy's limits and terms.
Questions to ask a licensed professional
- What limits do my contracts or landlord require?
- Do I need products and completed operations coverage?
- Can I add clients as additional insureds?
- Are there exclusions I should know about for my industry?
Frequently asked questions
This page is a general educational summary and does not change, replace, or create insurance coverage. Coverage terms, conditions, limits, exclusions, eligibility, and availability vary by policy, carrier, state, and underwriting requirements. Coverage is not effective unless confirmed in writing by an authorized insurance carrier or properly licensed insurance professional.
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