General Liability Insurance
General Liability Insurance in Memphis, TN
A customer trips over a cord in your shop. A ladder slips on a job site and cracks a client's granite countertop. General liability insurance in Memphis pays for claims like these, so a single accident doesn't drain your business account. Jones Enterprises Insurance Brokers helps contractors, vendors, cleaning companies, and other small businesses put this coverage in place.
What Does General Liability Insurance Cover?
General liability insurance covers injuries to other people and damage to their property when your business is responsible. It also pays for your legal defense if someone sues over one of those incidents. A common setup is a $1,000,000 limit for each claim and a $2,000,000 limit for the policy year. Many landlords and project owners ask for proof of this coverage before you sign a lease or start work.
The Coverage Types Inside a General Liability Policy
A general liability policy is really several coverages under one name. Each part answers a different kind of claim.
Bodily Injury Liability
If a visitor or customer is hurt at your business, or because of your work, this part pays their medical bills and any settlement. It also covers your attorney if the injured person sues.
Property Damage Liability
Contractors and cleaning crews work inside other people's homes and offices every day. Spill bleach on a client's carpet or drop a tool through a window, and this coverage helps pay to repair or replace what was damaged.
Personal and Advertising Injury
This part covers claims of libel, slander, and certain copyright issues tied to your advertising. A competitor who says your ad copied their slogan is one example.
Products and Completed Operations
Some problems show up after the job is finished. If a shelf you installed falls a month later and hurts someone, completed operations coverage responds. The same goes for a product you sold that causes an injury.
Medical Payments
Medical payments coverage pays small injury bills no matter who was at fault, often up to $5,000 per person. Paying quickly can keep a minor fall from turning into a lawsuit.
What It Doesn't Cover
A general liability policy won't pay for injuries to your own employees; workers' compensation handles those. It also excludes accidents in your work vehicles and damage to your own equipment. Claims that your advice or design work caused someone a financial loss belong under professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions.
Getting the Right Limits With Jones Enterprises
Your premium is set by your location, your crew size, how long you need coverage, and the limit you choose. At Jones Enterprises Insurance Brokers, our agents compare companies and show you how each of those choices changes the price.
Not every business needs a full year of coverage. Our on-demand performer and vendor policies can be purchased by the hour, day, month, or year, and Additional Insureds can be added for free. That fits a craft fair booth, a wedding gig, or a one-time event that asks for a certificate. You'll find these short-term options, plus contractor and janitorial policies, on our contractor and vendor insurance page.
General Liability Insurance Across Memphis
From job sites in Bartlett to vendor booths in Southaven and storefronts in West Memphis, we help local businesses get the certificates they need to work. The agency also serves Nashville and Dallas, and offers insurance for individuals in Tennessee, Texas, and businesses nationwide.
General Liability Questions
What is a certificate of insurance?
A certificate of insurance is a one-page summary showing your insurer, policy number, limits, and policy dates. Clients, landlords, and event organizers usually ask for one before you start work or move in.
What does adding an additional insured do?
It extends your policy's protection to another party, such as a venue or general contractor, for claims that come from your work. Venues and general contractors often require it in writing before you set foot on site.
How much coverage do I need?
Most small businesses start with $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, because that's what leases and contracts commonly ask for. Read your lease or contract first, since some require higher limits.
Can I buy coverage for a single event?
Yes. Our performer and vendor policies can be bought for as little as an hour or a day. A longer policy makes more sense if you work events every month.
Are defense costs part of my limit?
On a standard commercial general liability form, defense costs are paid in addition to your limit. That keeps a $1,000,000 limit available for the settlement itself. Some forms reduce the limit as legal bills are paid, so check how yours is written.
Line Up Coverage Before Your Next Job
The request for a certificate usually shows up with a signed contract or a new lease. Call one of our agents before then, and your policy and paperwork will be ready when the client asks.