Public liability insurance
Cover for what you legally owe when your premises or your operations injure someone or damage their property, including the cost of defending the claim.
What it covers
Cover varies between insurers and plans. The policy wording is what decides whether a claim is payable, so read it before you buy.
- Third-party bodily injury arising from your premises or operations
- Third-party property damage arising from your premises or operations
- Legal defence costs and expenses incurred with the insurer's consent
- Claims by visitors, customers, neighbours and passers-by
- Liability arising at sites or events you operate away from your own premises
- Statutory cover for handlers of hazardous substances, where the Public Liability Insurance Act applies to your operations
Key features
- Limits set as any one accident and any one policy period, chosen by you
- Defence costs are covered, and are often the larger part of a smaller claim
- Written on an occurrence or claims-made basis depending on the wording, so check which yours is
- Industrial and non-industrial rating, based on your activity
- A compulsory excess applies to each claim: [DEDUCTIBLE]
- Product-related claims need product liability cover, which is a separate policy
How to buy it
Four steps, with an advisor you can reach at any of them.
Tell us about the risk
Tell us what your business does, your premises, your footfall, and the limit your contracts or landlord require.
Underwriting details
An advisor collects the information insurers need to price the risk, and flags anything missing.
Compare quotes
We ask our partner insurers to quote, and put the cover, conditions and premium side by side.
Proposal & policy
Pick a quote, complete the proposal form and KYC, and the insurer issues the policy.
Public liability insurance: FAQs
Does public liability cover my employees?
No. Injury to your own employees is covered by an employee compensation policy, and by group personal accident cover where that is taken.
A customer slipped in my shop. Is that covered?
That is the typical claim: third-party injury on your premises. The policy responds to your legal liability and to the cost of defending it, within the limits you chose.
What limit should I choose?
It depends on your footfall, the nature of your operations, and any limit your contracts or lease require. Your advisor can put the options side by side.
Is this the same as product liability?
No. Public liability covers injury or damage from your premises and operations; product liability covers harm caused by a product after it has left you. Many businesses need both.