Why do I need general liability insurance coverage?
Hiscox understands the risks your company faces and the importance of knowing your business is properly protected. Having general liability insurance coverage protects your business against third-party claims of bodily injury or damage to someone else's property. However, it does not protect your own personal property. This section explains what our business general liability insuranceoffers.
What is covered?
What is not covered?
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Alleged or actual negligence
Your property
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Damage to third party property
Vehicles and boats
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Personal injury
Personal identifiable information
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Advertising injury
Professional services
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Electronic data liability
Employee injury / workers' compensation
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Medical expenses
Intent to injure
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Worldwide insurance coverage
Coverage outside policy period
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Defense costs
Known claims prior to start of policy
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Actions of your full-time employees and temporary staff
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Supplemental payments
Your small business general liability insurance policy covers claims of:
Bodily injury
If you’re legally liable, Hiscox general liability insurance covers claims by third parties for bodily injury. For example, your client slips and falls in your office (or you cause an accident at a client’s premises). If they sustain an injury, and you’re liable, we’ll cover the subsequent bodily injury claim.
Damage to third party property
Hiscox small business general liability insurance covers the costs of damage to a third-party’s property caused by you or your employee and for which you are legally liable.
Personal injury
Hiscox general liability insurance coverage protects you against claims of libel or slander for which you are legally liable.
Advertising injury
Hiscox protects you against the unintentional use of a third party's advertising idea if it is used as part of your advertising. We’ll also protect you if your advertisement or marketing materials infringe a third party’s copyright or trade slogan.
Electronic data liability
Added for consultants and technology service providers; - if an employee damages a client’s property (e.g., a server) and the client's electronic data is damaged, Hiscox will cover any damages up to your limits of insurance for which you are legally liable.
Medical expenses
If an accident occurs and someone other than your employee is injured, your Hiscox business general liability insurance policy also covers any associated medical expenses for each injured person, up to $5,000.
Worldwide insurance coverage
We cover damage that occurs in the United States, its territories, and Canada. We also offer coverage for short periods of travel outside these areas.
Defense costs
If you are sued, Hiscox will appoint a lawyer, if necessary, even if the lawsuit is groundless. We'll pay these costs on your behalf and they will not reduce your limit of liability.
Actions of your full-time employees and temporary staff
Hiscox provides general liability insurance coverage for business-related actions of your full-time employees and temporary staff.
Supplemental payments
Hiscox covers the following expenses if incurred:
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Legal defense costs.
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Up to $250 a day for loss of earnings and reasonable expenses you may incur as a result of assisting us in the investigation of the claim against you.
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Interest on damage awards.
Begin the general liability quote process
Get a small business general liability insurance quote online today or call one of our licensed advisors at 866-283-7545 (Monday - Friday, 8 am - 10 pm EST). We're here to help you.
What your Hiscox small business general liability insurance policy doesn't cover:
We want our customers to understand our general liability insurance policy. Below is a summary of some of the key exclusions regarding our general liability insurance coverage. For complete details of all the exclusions, please read the policy wording.
Personally identifiable information
Your general liability insurance policy doesn't cover your failure to protect any personally identifiable information that is in your care, custody or control.
Use of vehicles and boats
Your policy doesn't cover any claims arising out of the ownership or use of an automobile, aircraft or watercraft.
Your property
Your policy does not cover claims for damage to property you own or the property of others in your care, custody or control.
Professional services
Your Hiscox general liability insurance policy does not cover any professional services performed by you. For example, claims for improper advice are not covered under general liability. To obtain coverage for your services, please see our information about professional liability insurance.
Employee injury
If one of your employees injures themselves on the job this will not be covered under your general liability insurance. To obtain coverage for on-the-job employee injury, please see our information about workers’ compensation insurance.