Commercial umbrella insurance for claims that outgrow primary limits
A single serious claim can exhaust a $1 million primary policy quickly. An umbrella adds limits above your general liability, auto and employer's liability, and we structure it so the layers fit together without gaps.
$1M to $50M+ limits · Same-day certificates and endorsements
How a single claim exceeds the primary policy
Three illustrative examples of judgments and settlements that run past standard limits, and how an umbrella responds.
A delivery truck crosses the median
A company truck collides head-on with a family minivan. Three children and two adults suffer serious injuries requiring long-term medical care, surgeries and disability support. The family's attorneys file suit for $4.8 million; medical costs alone exceed $2.3 million, and the $1 million commercial auto policy is exhausted immediately.
Illustrative example. Real outcomes depend on the facts and your policy terms.
What a commercial umbrella extends
Excess liability protection that reaches across your insurance portfolio. Terms vary by carrier.
Excess Liability Limits
Coverage from $1M to $50M+ above your primary policies when a claim exceeds underlying general liability, auto and employer's liability limits.
Defense Cost Coverage
Defense expenses covered in addition to policy limits. When primary defense coverage is exhausted, the umbrella continues paying attorney fees, expert witnesses and court costs.
Drop-Down Coverage
Responds when underlying aggregate limits are exhausted, certain exclusions apply, or gaps exist between primary coverages.
Worldwide Coverage
Claims arising anywhere in the world, with coverage triggered by suits brought in the US, its territories or Canada.
Auto Liability Extension
Excess above commercial auto for serious vehicle accidents, including multi-million-dollar injury and wrongful-death judgments.
Employer's Liability Extension
Protection beyond workers' compensation employer's liability limits: third-party-over actions, dual-capacity claims and consequential bodily injury suits.
Hired & Non-Owned Auto
Excess for liability when employees use rental vehicles or their own cars for business — a gap often overlooked in primary policies.
Products & Completed Operations
Excess for products you make, sell or distribute and work you've completed, including latent-defect claims that surface years later.
Broader Coverage Extension
Many umbrellas cover claims excluded or limited under primary policies, including certain personal injury, advertising injury and contractual liability situations.
Personal Injury
Non-physical injury claims: defamation, libel, slander, false arrest, wrongful detention, malicious prosecution and invasion of privacy.
Advertising Injury
Claims of copyright infringement, misappropriation of advertising ideas and other intellectual-property issues arising from your marketing.
Contractual Liability
Excess for liability assumed under written contracts, including indemnification agreements, leases and construction contracts requiring additional insured status.
Structuring the right umbrella
Analyze limits
We look at your operations, contracts and asset exposure to recommend umbrella limits that are neither short nor more than you need.
Coordinate the underlying
General liability, auto and employer's liability are scheduled correctly under the umbrella, so there are no missed underlying requirements or disputes at claim time.
Go to the market
We compare umbrella programs from 15+ A-rated carriers, and use excess and surplus lines markets for $10M, $25M or $50M+ towers on larger accounts.
Certificates, claims and reviews
Same-day certificates and endorsements for contract compliance, coordination between primary and umbrella carriers on claims, and annual reviews as revenue and exposure grow.
Experience with layered liability programs
Industry focus
Construction, manufacturing, transportation and professional services — industries where contracts often set umbrella requirements.
Contract compliance
Limits matched to what general contractors, property managers and major clients require, with same-day certificates.
Total cost of risk
The umbrella is one layer. We help optimize primary limits and loss control so the whole program costs less over time.
Claims support
Around-the-clock claim reporting, with coordination between primary and umbrella carriers from first notice.
Annual reviews
As the business grows, we revisit limits so coverage keeps pace with revenue and exposure.
From $1M to complex towers
Since 1992 we've placed single-layer umbrellas and multi-layer excess programs for Pacific Northwest businesses.
Get a commercial umbrella quote
Send us your current schedule of underlying policies and contract requirements, and we'll compare umbrella options across the market.
Coverage descriptions are general summaries for education. They are not legal, tax or coverage advice, a statement of coverage, an offer or a binder. Scenarios and dollar figures are illustrative examples, not representations about any business. Coverage, limits and eligibility are governed by the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies issued and are subject to underwriting.