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What is public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance is a type of insurance that provides cover for claims made by third parties for injuries or damages caused by your business's operations. It is suited to any business that interacts with the public, as it ensures financial protection from legal costs and compensation claims.
This insurance pays for your legal costs and any compensation payments that you might be liable for if a client or a member of the public takes legal action against you. This could be due to an accident that occurs on your business premises or occurs when providing professional services.
| Injuries caused to third-parties during business activities | |
| Damage you cause to third-party property | |
| Medical expenses | |
| Legal protection |
Why do I need public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance helps businesses manage the financial risks associated with causing injury to a third party (such as a member of the public) or damaging a third party’s property. Without this coverage, businesses would have to defend themselves and pay for any damages out of their own finances, which could be extremely costly and damaging.
Public liability insurance offers peace of mind and financial protection, allowing businesses to operate confidently, knowing they are covered in the event of unexpected incidents that could lead to legal claims. It is typically regarded as a vital type of business insurance, especially for those with direct interactions with the public.
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What public liability insurance can cover?
Public liability insurance covers your legal costs and expenses in the event of a third party becoming injured or if their property is damaged as a result of the actions of your business (please check your policy terms and conditions for full conditions), following:
What can be covered:
| Personal injury claims – such as a customer slipping on a wet floor and claiming for compensation | |
| Legal protection – such as someone bringing a claim against you if their property is damaged as a result of your business activities | |
| Medical expenses – such as if a client trips over a wet floor and then claims for medical fees, medicine costs, medical equipment and rehabilitation bills etc |
What’s cannot be covered:
| Accidents which happen to you – such as experiencing an injury during business activities preventing you form continuing to work. To safeguard yourself in the event of an occupational accident, consider occupational personal accident insurance. | |
| Damage to your property – depending on where you operate your business from, you could cover your business with commercial buildings and contents insurance. | |
| Employee injuries and illnesses – such as an employee trying to claim against you after experiencing an injury at work. To protect your business against employee injuries, consider employers’ liability insurance. | |
| Payments of fines or penalties | |
| Environmental claims |
Who needs public liability insurance?
You should consider arranging public liability insurance if:
- You work in a public-facing environment
- You arrange events which members of the public attend
- You visit customers' properties to carry out work
This includes a wide range of occupations such as:
Engineers
Fitness professionals
Therapists
Photographers
Business consultants
IT contractors
Roofers
Scaffolders
Example policy documents
Below you will find an examples of the documents provided.
| Terms of business.pdf |
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Frequently asked questions
These frequently asked questions are designed to help you and include questions relating to policy cover, pricing and ‘technical’ terms.
Browse all FAQsNo, public liability insurance is not required by law. However, some businesses and customers may require you to secure the cover before beginning a professional relationship.
Yes, public liability insurance is tax deductible as it is considered an ‘allowable expense’.
You are not required to have public liability insurance if you are self-employed, however it can be beneficial to your business if you frequently interact with the public.
Public liability insurance is designed to cover your business, therefore if your employee injured a third-party whilst working for your business their actions would be covered.
You do not need public liability insurance if you work from home, however it could prove valuable if a client has an accident whilst visiting your home as you would be responsible for covering this.
If you have any questions, contact one of our insurance experts, here.
Further reading for public liability insurance
Understanding the different types of business insurance
Written by Michael Lawrence