General Liability Insurance in New York

Owning a business means facing a variety of liability risks when it comes to lawsuits, client accidents and mistakes. Protecting your business against these possible expenses is crucial, especially for accidents that cannot always be prevented. General liability insurance is one of the most common and necessary forms of liability insurance available for businesses. 

At Bishop Associates, we will help you evaluate your business’ risk factors and insure against possible lawsuits with an affordable and comprehensive policy. 

What Does General Liability Insurance Cover? 

General liability insurance is a liability policy designed to cover common accidents and lawsuits that could face your business. 

Coverage under general liability insurance falls into three main categories: 


Medical Payments and Property Damage 

General liability insurance can cover medical bills someone else may face if they are injured on your business’ property. For example, say someone trips and falls in your restaurant. General liability insurance can pay for expenses such as emergency services, procedures, doctor’s visits and more. 

It can also cover replacement and repair costs in case someone’s property is damaged due to the course of everyday business. If someone’s expensive jewelry is broken at your indoor trampoline park, for example, this insurance can help replace or repair the damages. 

Personal and Advertising Injury 

Personal and advertising injury coverage covers claims against the business concerning libel, slander, malicious persecution, theft of an advertising idea, copyright infringement and other incidents. This can cover legal expenses concerning these types of claims, as well. 

Legal Expenses 

Another part of general liability insurance helps protect the business in case of a general liability accident. If a lawsuit is filed against your business concerning a general liability accident, this insurance can provide compensation for legal expenses such as court fees, defense costs, settlement costs and more. 

Additional Liability Options 

General liability insurance only covers non-professional negligent accidents. To expand your coverage, you may choose to bundle it into a business owners policy (BOP). A BOP combines general liability and commercial property insurance into a policy for small businesses. Other liability insurance you may add include: 

• Professional Liability

• Umbrella Liability

• Products Liability

Common General Liability Insurance Questions 

Who Needs General Liability Insurance? 

Essentially every business needs general liability insurance to protect against accidents. Even individuals should have general liability insurance as part of their home insurance policy. 

How Much General Liability Insurance Do I Need? 

The limits of general liability your business needs may vary depending on other businesses, including those in your same industry. The main factors for determining how much general liability insurance you have are your business’ size, industry and claims history. Speak with an insurance agent about finding the right coverage limits for your general liability insurance policy. 

When is General Liability Insurance Required? 

General liability insurance isn’t typically required by state or federal law. However, you may be required to carry it to work on certain projects or obtain licenses in your industry. If you rent a property, the property owner may also require you to carry a certain limit of general liability insurance. 

Why is General Liability Insurance Important? 

Aside from any requirements, general liability insurance plays a critical role in protecting your business. Accidents occur even in the safest of businesses and one expensive claim can cost your business a substantial amount of money.