Commercial General Liability Insurance
Protect your business from many of the unexpected liability risks that can arise from everyday operations, customers, employees, products, and business activities.
Get a Commercial Insurance QuoteCoverage for the Risks That Come With Doing Business
Running a business means interacting with customers, vendors, visitors, employees, and the public every day. Even when you take reasonable precautions, an accident, injury, property damage claim, or allegation involving your business can create significant financial exposure.
Commercial general liability insurance, often called CGL or general liability insurance, can help protect your business against certain claims arising from covered bodily injury, property damage, and personal or advertising injury.
What Can Commercial General Liability Insurance Cover?
The coverage available to your business depends on the policy, endorsements, limits, exclusions, and circumstances of a claim. Common areas addressed by a commercial general liability policy may include:
Bodily Injury
Helps address certain covered claims when a third party alleges they were injured in connection with your business operations or premises.
Property Damage
Can provide coverage for certain covered claims involving damage to another person’s property arising from your business operations.
Personal & Advertising Injury
Depending on the policy, coverage may address certain claims involving offenses such as libel, slander, or other covered personal and advertising injury.
Why Businesses Consider General Liability Insurance
Liability claims can arise from ordinary business activities. A customer could slip and fall at your location, an employee could accidentally damage a customer’s property, or a completed job could lead to a dispute involving alleged property damage.
General liability insurance is designed to help businesses address certain covered liability claims and associated defense costs, subject to the terms of the policy.
Examples of Potential Liability Situations
- A customer is injured at your business location.
- Your business accidentally damages a customer’s property.
- A visitor alleges that your business caused property damage.
- A customer alleges a covered personal or advertising injury.
- A completed operation results in a covered third-party claim.
- Your business faces a covered liability lawsuit.
Who May Need Commercial General Liability Insurance?
General liability insurance can be relevant to businesses across many industries. The right coverage depends on what your business does, where it operates, how it interacts with customers and vendors, and the contracts or requirements that apply to your business.
Contractors & Trades
Contractors, construction businesses, electricians, plumbers, HVAC companies, and other trades may face liability exposures while working at customer locations.
Retail & Service Businesses
Retail stores, restaurants, professional services, salons, repair businesses, and other customer-facing companies can face risks involving customers, property, and daily operations.
Growing Texas Businesses
Small and growing businesses may need liability coverage as they establish vendor relationships, sign leases, enter contracts, hire employees, and serve more customers.
Need a Certificate of Insurance?
Many businesses are asked to provide proof of liability insurance before beginning work for a customer, landlord, general contractor, vendor, or other organization.
If a contract requires specific liability limits or additional insured wording, it is important to review those requirements with your insurance professional before agreeing to the contract.
Commercial Insurance With Personal Service
Choosing business insurance is about more than finding a policy with a particular name. Your business has its own operations, customers, contracts, property, employees, and potential exposures.
Lavon Insurance takes the time to understand your business and helps you explore coverage options from insurance carriers that may fit your needs.
Our Approach
- Understand how your business operates.
- Identify important liability exposures.
- Review available coverage options.
- Compare insurance carriers when appropriate.
- Help you understand the coverage you’re purchasing.
Commercial General Liability Insurance Questions
What is commercial general liability insurance?
Commercial general liability insurance is a type of business insurance designed to address certain third-party liability claims, including covered claims involving bodily injury, property damage, and personal or advertising injury.
Is general liability insurance required for a business in Texas?
Texas does not generally require every business to carry a commercial general liability policy. However, specific contracts, leases, customers, lenders, licensing requirements, or other circumstances may require particular insurance coverage or limits.
Does general liability insurance cover employee injuries?
Commercial general liability insurance generally is not a substitute for workers’ compensation coverage for employee injuries. Businesses should evaluate workers’ compensation and other applicable coverages separately.
Does general liability insurance cover professional mistakes?
General liability and professional liability are different types of coverage. Certain professional errors or omissions may require a professional liability or errors and omissions policy.
How much general liability insurance does my business need?
The appropriate limits depend on factors such as your industry, business operations, contracts, customers, location, and potential exposures. Lavon Insurance can help you review your business and explore available options.
Can general liability insurance cover a lawsuit?
A liability policy may provide defense and indemnity for certain covered claims, subject to the policy’s terms, conditions, exclusions, limits, and other provisions. Coverage should not be assumed for a particular claim without reviewing the policy.
Protect Your Business With the Right Liability Coverage
Let’s take a closer look at your business operations and the commercial general liability coverage available to you.
Get a Commercial Insurance QuoteInsurance coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions, underwriting guidelines, and applicable endorsements. Coverage availability and eligibility vary by insurance carrier and business circumstances.