All business owners and tradespeople have responsibility for those they work for and to the general public at large. If things go wrong and an accident occurs, you may be alleged to have been at fault.
If this happens, public liability insurance will initially protect you by paying your legal defence costs. I If you are found to be at fault, a public liability policy will pay compensation for damages, up to the limit of indemnity under your policy, which arise from accidents and injuries to third parties or accidental damage caused caused by you when they are visiting your business premises, or when you are working in their home, office or business property. A common exclusion is damage to property being worked upon.
What does public liability insurance cover?
Our public liability cover protects you and your business should a member of the public hold you responsible for accidental bodily injury to damage to a third party, or damage to their property or bodily injury, due to your negligence.
Compensation claims - if a person is injured, or their property is damaged, because of your business, they may decide to sue. If their claim is upheld, you could be asked to compensate them financially for their suffering and financial losses. If the accident was caused by your business activities, you'll be accountable regardless of whether it took place on your premises, theirs or at a third-party location. Cover provided up to the selected limit.
Legal defence costs - this helps cover the cost of any fees you might have to pay during a legal hearing. This includes the cost of getting a lawyer.
Cost of repairs - if something has been damaged as a result of your business (for example, if you're a decorator who spills paint somewhere on a customer's property), public liability insurance covers the fee for repairing the damage.
Medical fees - in the event of injury, reasonable medical expenses for rehabilitation and recovery would be considered.
Extra trades - If you offer a range of trade skills, you can add your multiple business activities or services to a single public liability policy. If your different trades are under the same business name, you can tailor your policy to cover all the work you do for your customers, or if it not already included on your policy, give us a call and we’ll see if we can add it.
Business liability - Most businesses require some other cover including employers' liability(if they have any employees), products liability or property insurance for loss or damage to tools, property and goods. We offer a range of business insurance covers so can tailor your policy to suit your business' requirements.
Who do we cover?
We provide insurance for a range of business types. Simply tell us about your business and we’ll do our best to find you suitable cover.
Tradespeople/Professionals - If you are a plumber, carpenter, painter, electrician, gardener or any of the other hundreds of different trades we cover then we have bespoke and flexible tradesman insurance for you and your tools. Build your own policy by choosing from a range of liability options and specialist tradesman covers.
Offices - We can provide tailored cover to suit all sizes of office business including office contents, fixtures/ fittings, computer and electronic equipment and loss of income, and offer public/employers liability insurance as well as professional indemnity and cyber liability insurance if required.
Shops/Retailers -We can cover all types a large range of retailers from small independent shops to larger retailers with more than one branch. Whatever you are selling – from fashion speciality gifts and flowers, to bike repairers and coffee shops and everything in between, we can get you covered.
Warehouses/Wholesalers/Manufacturers - Our flexible policies can suit a variety of businesses including but not limited to manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers. You can combine a number of covers including property damage and business interruption in your unique single policy package with one renewal date.
How much does public liability insurance cost?
Your public liability insurance cost will depend on a number of factors related to your business and risks involved in the running of it as well as the level of cover you need:
Your trade or profession and the hazards associated with your activities – e.g. work at height, depth, use of heat (blow lamps, welding equipment).
Whether you are you working on new or existing properties, domestic or commercial.
The type of locations worked at, any hazardous locations such as ports, airports, tunnels, gas/oil works etc
Where in the world you work and the activities carried out - e.g UK-only and/or Europe, or worldwide – including or excluding USA/Canada.
Number of employees, clerical or manual, and if you have any sub-contractors.
The limit of indemnity you require - £1 million, £2 million, £3 million, £5 million, £10 million or higher.
What is included in your public liability insurance quote (standard level or extra covers)
Your past claims history
For larger businesses, estimated annual payments to direct employees - clerical/manual, labour-only and/or bona-fide sub-contractors
The size of your business e.g. turnover (the more work you do, the greater the risk exposure and the higher the premium)
Your risk management and health and safety record