Commercial general liability, the foundation of your program
One slip-and-fall, damaged client property or advertising claim can put your business on the line. CGL pays third-party injury, property damage and defense costs, so a single lawsuit doesn't threaten the business.
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See the CGL program your operation needs
Tell us how you operate. A $1M per-occurrence / $2M aggregate limit is a solid foundation for most businesses; larger operations, product makers, contractors and firms using subcontractors should add a commercial umbrella. Illustrative only; your broker confirms the specifics.
Your operation
Select everything that applies.
Coverage that typically applies
3 coverages — a starting point for a conversation, not a quote.
- Premises & Operations LiabilityThird-party bodily injury and property damage from day-to-day operations.
- Legal Defense CostsAttorney fees and court costs, paid even when a claim is groundless.
- Medical PaymentsPays smaller third-party medical bills quickly, no-fault, often heading off a lawsuit.
One incident, six or seven figures
Everyday claims a general liability policy is built for, with illustrative figures.
Customer slip-and-fall injury
A customer slips on a freshly mopped floor despite the warning sign, fractures a hip, needs surgery and develops chronic pain requiring ongoing care.
- Medical expenses$385,000
- Pain and suffering$600,000
- Lost income claim$255,000
Illustrative example. Real outcomes depend on the facts and your policy terms.
The building blocks of a general liability policy
CGL is several protections in one, each with a gap owners often miss.
Premises & operations
The heart of CGL: it pays when your day-to-day operations cause third-party bodily injury or property damage, such as a customer hurt in your shop or your crew damaging something on a job.
- Often missed: limits that felt fine years ago may be thin today. A serious injury can exceed a $1M occurrence limit, which is why an umbrella often sits on top.
Products & completed operations
Injury or damage caused by products you make, sell or serve, and by work you've finished, after it leaves your control.
- Often missed: these claims can appear years later. If coverage lapses between the work and the claim, you can be exposed even though you were insured when the job was done.
Personal & advertising injury
Non-physical claims from your operations and advertising: libel, slander, wrongful eviction, false arrest, copyright infringement and trademark violation.
- Often missed: a single reused image or tagline in a social campaign can lead to a six-figure suit.
Medical payments
Reasonable third-party medical bills for minor injuries on your premises regardless of fault, often keeping a small incident from becoming a lawsuit.
- Often missed: limits are modest (often $5,000–$10,000). It's a first line, not a substitute for bodily-injury coverage.
Legal defense
Attorney fees, court costs and expert-witness fees to defend a covered claim, typically outside your limit so defense doesn't erode your coverage.
- Often missed: defense usually stops once the limit is paid out in settlements, so thin limits can leave you funding your own defense.
Damage to rented premises
Fire and certain other damage to a space you rent or occupy, commonly required in leases.
- Often missed: default limits (often $100,000–$300,000) may fall short of a full build-out. Match the limit to what it would cost to make the landlord whole.
CGL is one part of your program
Commercial general liability does not cover professional errors, employee injuries, owned autos or your own property. Those need professional liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto and commercial property. We check that CGL, property, auto, umbrella and workers' comp work together so there are no gaps between them.
A liability program designed around your operation
As a broker, we compare options across the market and shape coverage around how you work.
Industry-specific design
Retail, construction, manufacturing and professional services each get limits and endorsements tailored to their real exposures.
Market comparison
We look for the right combination of coverage, price and carrier strength, then keep your program coordinated as you grow.
Same-day certificates
Certificates for contracts and landlords the same day, often within hours.
Claims support
When a claim happens, we work directly with the carrier toward a fair, prompt resolution of covered losses.
Contract review
We read the insurance requirements in your contracts and leases and make sure your policy meets them: additional insured, waivers and more.
Gap and program reviews
We check that CGL, property, auto, umbrella and workers' comp work together, closing gaps before a claim finds them.
Protect your business today
Get a general liability quote from a commercial broker who understands your industry.
Coverage descriptions are general summaries for education. They are not legal, tax or coverage advice, a statement of coverage, an offer or a binder; the liability profiler is a starting point for discussion, not a quote. Scenarios, dollar figures, recommended limits and endorsements are illustrative and vary by carrier, business, contracts and state. Coverage, limits and eligibility are governed by the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies issued and are subject to underwriting.