What does general liability vs professional liability cover?

Asked by: Prof. Immanuel Shanahan II  |  Last update: October 24, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (35 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.

What is the difference between e & o and professional liability?

Professional Liability insurance, also known as Errors and Omissions (E&O) coverage, is designed to protect your business against claims that professional advice or services you provided caused a customer financial harm due to actual or alleged mistakes or a failure to perform a service.

Is employment practices liability the same as general liability?

Summary: General liability coverage is the foundation of a sound business insurance plan. It's comprehensive coverage that protects against a wide range of risks. EPLI is a very different type of coverage. It's a more specific kind of insurance with a narrower focus.

What are the two types of professional liability?

There are two basic types of professional liability insurance policies - "occurrence" and "claims-made" coverage. Purchasing insurance is a business decision and it is important to know what type of policy best fits your business needs.

What are the two most common liability coverage?

It's important to note there are two types of liability coverage: bodily injury and property damage.

General liability vs. Professional liability: Key differences explained

20 related questions found

What is an example of a situation that would likely require professional liability insurance coverage?

A work mistake or oversight is a significant reason people get professional liability insurance. If you make a mistake on a job, such as an error in your work, your policy can help cover the cost of any ensuing legal action. Sometimes an oversight can be even more costly than a work mistake.

Do you need general liability if you have professional liability?

Many businesses find that they need both general liability and professional liability insurance to fully protect against the range of risks they face. For example, companies that offer professional advice or services and engage directly with clients typically require both coverages.

What is not covered by employment practices liability insurance?

EPLI policies typically do not cover punitive damages, criminal or civil fines, or statutory liquid damages. The laws in many states do not allow insurance to cover these punitive measures.

Does general liability cover my employees?

General liability insurance basics

This insurance does not cover work-related injury or damage sustained by your employees but can cover injury and damage to your customers or other third parties caused by your employees in performing their work.

Does professional liability insurance cover indemnity?

In such a scenario, protecting your reputation will mean responding to the suit and incurring defense costs. When that happens, Contractors Professional Liability coverage will typically cover legal fees, indemnify the third party, and pay for any necessary rework.

How much does professional liability E&O insurance cost?

The average cost of professional liability insurance nationwide is $61 per month. In California, the average cost is $71 per month. The cost of professional liability coverage depends on several factors, such as: Your type of business, industry, and similar risk factors.

Is contractors errors and omissions the same as professional liability?

Depending on your business, you may hear the term errors and omissions insurance for professional liability. However, there is no difference in these coverages.

What is excluded in a general liability policy?

Comprehensive general liability insurance doesn't cover claims related to catastrophic risks. These scenarios include “acts of god” (e.g., earthquakes, floods, and earth movements like mudslides), as well as hostile acts such as damage from wars and riots.

How much general liability insurance should a small business have?

However, many small businesses opt for the standard $1 million / $2 million general liability policy. This means the policy will pay up to $1 million to cover any one claim, with a $2 million policy limit for the lifetime of the policy, which is typically one year.

Does general liability cover owner injury?

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 does employment related practices liability exclude?

Common Employment Practices Liability Exclusions
  • Bodily Injury. ...
  • Criminal and Fraudulent Acts. ...
  • Punitive or Exemplary Damages. ...
  • Strikes and Lockouts. ...
  • Violation of Employment Laws and Other Regulations. ...
  • Wage and Hour Claims. ...
  • Workers' Compensation Statutes.

Which of the following is not liability coverage?

The type of coverage that is NOT a major type of liability coverage in a standard auto insurance policy is Collision. Liability coverage typically includes bodily injury and property damage, but collision coverage is for your own vehicle's damages when you are at fault.

What happens if you don't have professional liability insurance?

Depending on where you do business, professional liability insurance might be mandatory. You could be cited for not carrying proper insurance, even without a lawsuit. If you face a claim without adequate insurance, courts might require you to use your personal assets to pay the damages and fees.

Are professional liability and employer liability the same?

Professional liability does not cover employees that get work-related injuries or illnesses. For that kind of coverage, your business needs workers' compensation insurance. Workers' comp is a type of employer liability insurance that provides benefits to your employees if they get injured or sick because of their job.

Do I need professional liability insurance as a contractor?

Overall, carrying PL insurance is a vital step for contractors to manage risk, protect their business, and maintain client confidence. The policy provides an essential financial safety net in the ever-present possibility of claims arising from errors or omissions during the complex process of construction projects.

What falls under professional liability insurance?

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.

What are some examples of activities that may be exclusions in a professional liability insurance policy?

Discrimination: Professional liability policies won't cover situations related to discrimination on the basis of race, creed, national origin, disability, religion, sex, age, marital status, or sexual preference. Sexual abuse: Over the the past few years, cases around sexual abuse in the workplace have sharply risen.

What triggers a professional liability policy?

Claims-made coverage is the other type of professional liability policy. For coverage to be triggered, the alleged malpractice or incident must happen while the policy is in force, and, the claim must also be reported or made while the policy is in force.

Which item is not covered by general liability insurance?

Key Exclusions in Commercial General Liability Policies

Injuries or damage that the policyholder intentionally caused will not be covered. Similarly, contractual liability arising from assumed contractual obligations is typically excluded.

What does CGL not cover?

First-party Property Damage: A business will not receive first-party property protection through its CGL policy. This means that any incidents resulting in damage to the organization's commercial building, work materials, equipment and inventory are excluded from coverage.