5 General Liability Risks Every Business Should Know

Nearly every organization faces some level of commercial liability risk. A commercial liability loss exposure is any situation that could make your organization legally and financially responsible for injury, property damage, or harm to someone else.

These risks depend largely on what your organization does, where work is performed, and the everyday activities tied to running a business. Understanding the most common liability exposures—and how insurance can help—can go a long way toward protecting your organization.

The Most Common Types of Commercial Liability Exposure

While liability risks vary by industry, most organizations encounter some combination of the following five exposures:

1. ‍Premises liability: Premises liability involves injuries or damage that occur on your property. For example, if a customer trips and falls in your store, your organization could be held responsible. Businesses that welcome clients or customers onsite—such as retailers, offices, and landlords—face higher exposure.
2. Operations liability: Operations liability refers to injuries or property damage that occur while your work is actively being performed. For instance, if a contractor accidentally drops a tool that injures a passerby or damages a client’s home during a project, that would be an operations-related liability loss.
3. Products liability: Products liability applies to organizations that manufacture, distribute, or sell products. If a product is defective or unsafe and causes injury or damage, the organization may be held liable—regardless of where in the world the injury occurs.
4. Completed operations liability: Completed operations liability involves injuries or damage that happen after work has been finished and put to its intended use. A common example is a fire caused by faulty wiring after a construction project is complete. These claims can arise long after the business relationship has ended.
5. Contractual liability: Contractual liability occurs when an organization enters into an agreement and is accused of failing to meet its contractual obligations. By signing a contract, an organization assumes certain risks tied to those terms.

Potential Consequences of Liability Claims

When a commercial liability loss occurs, the impact can be significant. Common consequences include:

• ‍Damages: Court-ordered payments to cover injuries or losses
• ‍Defense costs: Legal fees and claim-related expenses
• ‍Reputational harm: Loss of customers, reduced employee retention, and diminished trust from investors or the public

While liability exposures are unavoidable, the severity of these consequences can often be reduced with the right insurance coverage.

Commercial General Liability Insurance

No organization is risk-free, which is why commercial general liability (CGL) insurance is a foundational coverage for most businesses. CGL policies are designed to protect organizations from claims involving bodily injury and property damage to third parties.

Standard CGL coverage typically includes:

• Bodily injury and property damage: Covers legal liability for injuries or damage arising from your premises or operations.
• Personal and advertising injury: Protects against claims such as libel, slander, false arrest, copyright infringement, invasion of privacy, and similar offenses.
• Medical payments: Pays for minor medical expenses resulting from accidents on your premises or related to your operations—often without the need for a lawsuit.

Final Thoughts

Commercial liability risks are part of doing business, but they don’t have to derail your organization. Working with a trusted insurance professional can help ensure you have the right coverage in place to protect your people, reputation, and bottom line.