Hi, I’m Katie, one of the newer faces here at Glidewell, and if you’re anything like me, the world of insurance can sometimes feel like a different language. When I first started, I remember hearing “general liability” tossed around in meetings and thinking… okay, but what does that really mean?
So let’s break it down in plain English.
The Basics: Why It Matters
Think of general liability insurance as your business’s bodyguard. It’s there to protect you from the everyday “oops” moments that could turn into expensive problems. Whether you run a bakery, a construction company, or a tech startup, accidents happen. And when they do, this policy steps in to keep a mishap from becoming a money pit.
Bodily Injury Coverage
Let’s say someone slips on your freshly mopped floor or trips over a cable in your office. If they get hurt, your general liability policy helps cover:
Basically, it’s the coverage that protects your reputation and your checkbook.
Property Damage Coverage
This one’s easy to picture: your employee accidentally breaks a client’s window while delivering equipment. Or maybe you spill coffee on a client’s laptop during a meeting (hey, it happens!). General liability helps pay for the repairs or replacement, saving you from a costly “I’m so sorry” moment.
Personal & Advertising Injury
Now we’re getting into the sneaky stuff. Not all harm is physical—sometimes it’s words, ideas, or advertising gone wrong. This coverage steps in if someone claims you:
It’s the “think before you post” kind of protection every modern business needs.
Legal Defense and Settlements
Even if someone sues you unfairly, general liability has your back. It helps cover:
Think of it as your built-in peace of mind for when things get complicated.
What’s Not Covered
A quick reality check…general liability doesn’t cover everything. It’s designed for third-party claims (people outside your company), not your own assets or employees. Here’s what it doesn’t cover:
Knowing these differences helps you build the right mix of protection for your business.
Why It’s Worth It
I’ll be honest…before working here, I thought insurance was mostly “what if” money. Now I see it’s really “when it happens” money. I’ve watched business owners sleep easier knowing that one accident, one slip, or one bad review won’t undo years of hard work.
So if you’re starting, growing, or even rethinking your business coverage, a general liability policy is step one in protecting what matters most: your people, your reputation, and your peace of mind.
Curious whether your current coverage still fits your business? Let’s review it together! Our team loves helping business owners understand their policies—and we promise to keep it just as straightforward as this blog.