What are some common General Liability claims?

What is Commercial General Liability insurance?

Commercial general liability insurance is a type of coverage that protects your business from the potentially serious financial consequences from many types of liability. Business insurance claims under this kind of policy can include:

Having the right amount of coverage for potential general liability claims (and possibly an umbrella insurance policy to extend that coverage) is essential when it comes to protecting your business. Being uninsured or underinsured is really risky, so you don’t ever want to find yourself in that situation.

General Liability claim examples

General liability insurance coverage is helpful in a wide variety of instances. Here are some examples of general liability claims:

Customer slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall incidents
It doesn’t take much moisture for flooring inside your business or the sidewalk or stairs leading into your building to get slick. If a customer slips, falls, hits their head, and, for example, suffers a concussion, it’s possible they’ll sue you. Imagine that the cost of their medical bills and wages lost while they recover is $200,000. You don’t want to have to pay that amount out of your company’s savings or revenues.

Similarly, if a client trips over ripples in a rug that isn’t properly flattened and secured and breaks their back, you may be facing financial consequences that could easily top $1 million. General liability insurance can pay for medical expenses, lawsuit damages, and court costs related to these types of incidents.

Customer property damage
Your employee is doing some work at a customer’s home and has to move their refrigerator to access plumbing or an electrical outlet. They lose control of the refrigerator and it tips and crashes down onto a granite countertop and sink, causing significant damage.

The customer sues you for the cost to repair the damage and to replace the now-inoperable refrigerator—a total of $25,000. Your general liability policy might cover these costs, meaning they don’t become out-of-pocket expenses for your business.

Slander
A competitor has evidence that you’ve made false statements to people about them and, as a result, you’ve harmed their reputation and they’ve lost business. They sue you for $500,000 and the court finds you liable for that amount. Plus you’re ordered to pay court costs and legal fees. Commercial general liability insurance can protect your business by paying some or all of the total costs related to the lawsuit.

Product liability
Your business resells novelty coffee mugs. One of your shipments includes flawed mugs, and a customer is injured when the handle breaks off theirs, spilling hot coffee into their lap and causing them to lose control of their car and hit a street light. They sue you for the cost of their medical care and repairs to their vehicle. The suit also demands payment for the cost of the street light, since the city is requiring them to replace it.

These are just a few of countless general liability insurance examples and claims your business could face. And, unfortunately, without insurance, just one general liability claim can become a financial burden that puts a small business out of business.

Who relies on biBerk for General Liability insurance?

At biBerk, we help business owners, decision-makers, and partner agencies get the coverage they need to shield their companies or clients from the potentially high cost of unexpected incidents.

Small business owners
Business owners know that issues like property damage and customer injuries can occur at any time. They appreciate that our general liability insurance and other policies can protect their companies from the financial fallout of those events. Being insured keeps incidents from creating serious financial setbacks and provides owners with peace of mind.

Managers
At small businesses, supervisors often take an active role in risk management. They ensure their teams follow safety best practices, of course, but they also like knowing that the company has comprehensive insurance coverage. If an incident occurs, prompt assistance from biBerk helps minimize business disruption, enabling managers and their employees to stay focused on their tasks.

Partner agencies
Partner agencies and agents that sell biBerk policies appreciate the flexibility of our general liability policies and the endorsements available for them. They can tailor coverage to meet the needs of their clients and protect them from unforeseen financial burdens.

Getting General Liability insurance and reporting claims should be easy.

At biBerk, we simplify business insurance so owners can focus on growing their businesses. Getting a general liability insurance quote takes just minutes online. All you have to do is provide a little information about your company, and we tell you what your coverage will cost. If you choose to buy a general liability policy from us, you can do that online, too.

Just as importantly, you can report a claim quickly and efficiently on our website. No need to find time to connect with a representative. But, of course, if you have any questions about getting a quote, buying a policy, or reporting a claim, our licensed insurance experts are always happy to help you. 

And, business owners rest easier knowing that their general liability insurance is from biBerk, a company that’s part of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group with millions of satisfied customers, more than 75 years of insurance experience, and $52.2 billion in paid claims in 2023. We also use a direct-to-you sales model, with no broker or middleman. That means you can save up to 20% over other insurance providers.

So, whether you encounter one of the common general liability insurance claims described above or something completely unique, you can face the situation confident that you’ve got solid coverage at an affordable price and backed by an industry leader.