General Liability Insurance Services in Fresno, Ca
There’s no telling when an accident might happen, and even careful business owners can still wind up facing legal action. That’s why they need general liability insurance in Fresno, CA. General liability insurance covers a wide range of liabilities, from bodily injuries and property damage to false advertising and copyright infringement.
Contact us online or call (559) 206-0494 to learn about our insurance services and products, including general liability policies.
What Is General Liability Insurance?
General liability insurance is one of the most popular types of business insurance, especially for small to mid-sized businesses. This type of policy offers broad coverage and is often required to perform certain types of work. Clients often ask contractors for proof of liability insurance, for example, and in some states, it’s required to even get a business license.
What’s Covered?
One of the first questions business owners usually have about this type of insurance policy is what’s covered under general liability insurance. General liability insurance is designed to cover expenses associated with claims involving the business’s core operations and is often paired with business owners’ policies and business personal properties. Common examples of covered events include:
Slip-and-Fall Injuries
Business owners have a responsibility to keep their properties in a safe condition. If their failure to do so leads to a slip-and-fall accident, the victim can sue the business to recover expenses associated with their injuries. General liability insurance protects the business from out-of-pocket expenses associated with personal injury lawsuits.
Property Damage
Accidents happen. Unfortunately, if an accident made by an employee damages a client or customer’s property, the business may be held liable. General liability insurance covers court fees, out-of-court settlements, and other financial liabilities associated with property damage cases.
Legal Fees
When businesses need attorneys to defend them in court, the legal fees can add up quickly. Thankfully, general liability insurance coverage extends to defense costs.
Medical Payments
When people get injured on commercial property, the business that owns or leases it must pay for their medical expenses. General liability insurance pays for those medical expenses so that the money doesn’t have to come out of the company’s coffers.
Reputational Harm
Reputational harm lawsuits are more commonplace than ever since the invention of social media. Lawsuits arising from companies’ employees bad-mouthing clients or competitors can wind up costing a fortune in legal fees. General liability insurance covers them.
Advertising Injuries
Improper image use in advertising can occur either online or in print. Either way, businesses are liable for the advertisements they publish. They can rely on general liability insurance to pay for legal fees if they are sued for advertising injuries.
What’s Not Covered?
General liability insurance does not cover bodily injuries to a company’s employees. The workers’ compensation insurance program is designed to cover those potential harms. General liability insurance doesn’t usually cover errors and omissions, either. For that, professional liability insurance is generally required. Similarly,
How to Get General Liability Insurance
The first step for businesses that want general liability coverage is to request insurance quotes. This requires answering eligibility questions and going through some underwriting procedures. Working with an independent insurance agency makes it easy for business owners to navigate this otherwise complicated process.
Before signing on the dotted line, business owners usually have the opportunity to customize their policies. This could involve either policy add-ons or bundling insurance to get wider coverage. Discussing these and other options with a third-party insurance company is a good idea since it will help business owners get the best coverage to meet their needs and budgets.
Liability Insurance Bundling and Add-Ons
Common examples of liability insurance bundling include business owners’ policies. These policies are designed to provide not just general liability coverage but also property insurance coverage and other add-ons. Other options include home-based business insurance, product liability insurance, and professional liability insurance.
The best way to figure out what type of insurance coverage will be most cost-effective is to call and speak with a dedicated insurance agent. Third-party agents have access to a full range of products and are best able to help their clients discover which of them will best serve their needs.
Need property insurance in Fresno, CA? Call Academy West Insurance Today!
Academy West Insurance is an independent agency, which means our priority is always to look out for our client’s best interests. We make it easy to report claims and get answers to key questions about policy options.
Call (559) 206-0494 or contact us online to request a free, no-obligation quote today.