General liability insurance commonly addresses certain claims alleging bodily injury, property damage, or other specified harms to third parties. It is not a policy for every problem a business can cause. The activities described in the application and the policy exclusions matter.
Review the coverage using examples from your own operations. Ask what happens if a visitor is injured, a worker damages a client's property, or a claim arises after completed work. Those questions reveal more than the headline limit.
Compare occurrence and aggregate limits
A per-occurrence limit and an aggregate limit answer different questions. The aggregate can restrict payments across multiple covered claims during the relevant period. Record both, along with separate limits for other coverage parts. Ask how defense expenses are treated and whether they reduce any available limit.
Describe the real operations
Confirm the business classification, services, premises, and subcontractor activities used in the proposal. A policy priced for an office operation may not describe work at heights or hazardous installations. Disclose changes before assuming an old classification automatically includes a new service.
Check completed-operations protection
A claim can arise after work has been finished, such as an allegation that an installation later caused damage. Ask how products and completed operations are covered, what limits apply, and whether ongoing coverage is important after the project ends. Do not assume finishing the invoice ends the exposure.
Read exclusions for property in your care
Property you rent, borrow, work on, or hold for a customer can involve exclusions or special provisions. Explain the situation to the provider rather than asking only whether property damage is covered. A broad coverage heading does not resolve every custody or workmanship issue.
Verify additional-insured requests
A client may require additional-insured status for specified operations. Ask which endorsement is provided, what the status covers, and whether completed operations are included when required. A certificate listing a name should be checked against the endorsement rather than used as the sole evidence of coverage.
Questions readers ask
Does general liability cover every professional mistake?
No. Advice or service errors can require a professional-liability discussion.
Is a $1 million headline limit the entire comparison?
No. Aggregates, sublimits, exclusions, defense treatment, and endorsements can materially change the protection.
Sources and further reading
General educational information. Policy wording, state requirements, and provider decisions control actual coverage. These guides are research-assisted and have not been reviewed by a licensed insurance professional. Examples use hypothetical figures. Report a correction.
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