Do I need general or professional liability?

Asked by: Dr. Candace Ratke PhD  |  Last update: January 29, 2024
Score: 4.2/5 (48 votes)

General liability covers physical risks, such as bodily injuries and property damage. Professional liability insurance covers more abstract risks, such as errors and omissions in the services your business provides.

Do I need professional and general liability?

If you have both types of risks, then yes, you do need both types of insurance. Additionally, in some cases, an employer or client may require you to carry professional liability, general liability or both as a condition of your contract.

What is the best reason to carry a professional liability policy?

Professional liability insurance protects against common claims like negligence, misrepresentation and inaccurate advice. It will also help cover violations of good faith and fair dealing. If a client sues you, this policy may help pay your legal expenses.

What does professional liability not cover?

Professional liability doesn't protect a business against: Bodily injury or property damage that customers or clients suffer while you're doing business; for instance, if they trip and fall in your office or if their personal files are destroyed in a fire. Those are general liability insurance claims.

What is professional liability used for?

Professional liability insurance protects businesses when employees make mistakes in the professional services they've provided to customers or clients. This coverage is also known as errors and omissions insurance (E&O). Even if you're an expert in your business, mistakes happen.

Professional Liability Insurance | E&O - When Do You Need It?

25 related questions found

Is professional liability the same as general liability?

General liability covers physical risks, such as bodily injuries and property damage. Professional liability insurance covers more abstract risks, such as errors and omissions in the services your business provides.

How much professional liability insurance do I need?

Professional liability insurance coverage with $1 million / $1 million limits is the most popular option for small businesses. This includes: $1 million per-occurrence limit. While the policy is active, the insurer will pay up to $1 million to cover any single claim.

What are the two types of professional liabilities?

There are two types of professional liability polices: claims-made and occurrence. Most professional liability insurance policies are “claims-made,” meaning that the policy must be in effect both when the event took place and when a lawsuit is filed for a claim to be paid.

Does professional liability cover lawsuits?

Professional liability insurance will help provide indemnity for legal costs in the event that a client files a lawsuit against you over an accusation that you failed to meet expectations.

Does professional liability include E&O?

Errors and omissions insurance is another name for professional liability insurance. So, you'll still get the same coverage, despite the different names.

Why do you need a general liability policy?

General liability insurance can help cover medical expenses and attorney fees resulting from bodily injuries and property damage for which your company may be legally responsible.

What is the legal definition of professional liability?

“Legal liability for damages due to injuries to other persons, damage to their property, or other damage or loss to such persons (including the expenses of litigation and settlement) resulting from or arising out of any tortuous act, error, or omission of the covered individual (whether common law, statutory, or ...

Which of the following claims would most likely be excluded from a professional liability policy?

Common Exclusions In Professional Liability Policies

Standard exclusions include not covering bodily injury claims including claims arising out of physical injury, disease or death. Property related claims are also excluded in professional liability policies.

Is professional liability always claims made?

You probably know that professional liability insurance is available in two forms - occurrence or claims-made. Both provide coverage - but you should also know that there are major differences between the two. By understanding the differences between the two types of coverage, you'll be a more knowledgeable buyer.

What is the difference between E&O and GL?

General liability lives up to its name – it's generalized liability coverage for lawsuits, property damage, and advertising injuries. E&O only covers lawsuits over the financial losses someone experienced because of your work.

What's the difference between general liability and commercial liability?

What Is General Liability Coverage? Unlike commercial property coverage, general liability only provides coverage for damage and injuries your business causes to a third party. It does not cover damage to your business' own property or injuries to your employees.

What is an example of professional liability claims?

Missed Deadlines: A contractor fails to meet the agreed upon deadline to complete a building project for a large business. As a result, the building is unable to open on time, resulting in significant cost and reputational harm to the business.

Does professional liability cover punitive damages?

Under California law, the policyholder may be entitled to recover damages including consequential damages, punitive damages, interest, costs and attorneys' fees.

What is the difference between professional liability and malpractice insurance?

Medical malpractice is only for medical incidents. Professional liability covers medical malpractice as well as the business premises.

What are the three most common types of liability insurance?

The three main types of liability insurance coverage are:
  • General liability.
  • Professional liability.
  • Employer liability.

What are the names for professional liability insurance?

Professional liability insurance (PLI), also called professional indemnity insurance (PII) but more commonly known as errors & omissions (E&O) in the US, is a form of liability insurance which helps protect professional advice-, consulting, and service-providing individuals and companies from bearing the full cost of ...

How much does professional liability insurance cost in the US?

Regardless of insurance policy limits, the average cost of professional liability insurance for a small business is $61 per month (or about $735 annually). Most policyholders can expect to pay a premium between $50-$100 per month for their professional liability insurance coverage.

Is professional liability insurance monthly or yearly?

Though you can save money by paying for your professional liability coverage in annual installments, many small business owners opt for monthly payments because it is more budget-friendly.

What is professional liability per claim limit?

This aggregate limit of liability is the most the insurance company would pay in any one policy period. The limits of $1M/$3M are the most common limits for medical professional liability insurance because this is what most hospitals require for privileges.

What is excluded in a general liability policy?

Intentional Acts of Property Damage or Bodily Injury

Though CGL insurance is meant to provide protection in the event of third-party lawsuits, it does not support criminal acts. Hence, deliberate acts with an intent to cause harm are always excluded in CGL policies.