Running a small business is not the bed of roses as every day new challenges arise in the business landscape and you make mistakes often. But you can take definite action by purchasing commercial general insurance in order to tackle third-party liability claims against your business. Being a small business owner, you often overlook or underestimate the significance of a commercial insurance policy. So, what are the tips for buying the right Commercial General Liability Insurance?
Commercial general liability insurance can secure your business operations against unexpected accident claims on your premises which cause legal cases against your business. The bodily injury or any property damage of someone on your premises can cause legal liability to your business. It is important for buying the right commercial general liability insurance policy to cover the series of risks and liabilities attached to your business operations.
Here are some tips you can take note of for buying the right commercial general liability insurance for your business:
1. Know the probable risk exposures:
It is very important to know your business’s key risk areas before purchasing a commercial general liability insurance policy. Risk exposures depend upon the size and type of industry of your business. For example, If you are a restaurant owner, you must take CGL policy as you have high foot traffic which ultimately increases the risk of third-party bodily injury. Similarly, if you operate in rented premises, there is a high chance of property damage so you should include damage to the extension of the rented premises in this policy.
Read: A Brief Guide To Commercial General Liability Insurance
2. Ascertain the budget for insurance:
One should always decide on an optimum sum insured. Don’t underinsure your business just to lower the premium amount. Your business turnover, multiple risk location, territory, jurisdiction, etc are the crucial factors that need to consider while buying commercial general liability insurance coverage. One should consult an insurance expert in order to know the optimum sum insured and low premium amount.
3. The Scope of Coverage:
One should always assess the scope of coverage provided by the insurers as per the cost charged. For example, if you have multiple locations, it is important to cover all the locations. A standard comprehensive general liability insurance coverage includes physical injury and property damage to the third party, personal and advertising injury, and medical payments. However, you can get wider coverage by availing of the extension covers by paying the extra premium and ensuring complete protection for your business.
If your work premises contain lifts, you should opt for the lift extension cover. Includes other extensions such as pollution cover, AOG perils.
Read About: What Are Supplementary Expenses Covered By Commercial General Liability Insurance?
4. Don’t forget the list of exclusions:
Always read the list of exclusions in the commercial general liability policy. In order to know the limitation of your insurance policy, you should be aware of the cases, when your policy will not act. Also, can reject claims if it occurred due to any reason stated in the list of exclusions. The main exclusions are known issues, prior acts, fraud, contractual guarantees, matters that fall under the purview of workman compensation or professional indemnity.
5. Know about the deductibles and coverage limit:
A deductible is an amount that the insured has to pay from his pocket if a claim arises. For example, If a claim of Rs. 5 lacs is been reported and the limit of a deductible is 1 lac. Initially, the insured will pay Rs 1 lac from his pocket and the rest amount Rs 4 lacs will be paid by the insurance company. One should opt for a reasonable amount of deductible limit. If your deductible amount is high, then your commercial general liability insurance cost will be below.
6. AOA: AOY Limit:
Anyone accident(AOA): Anyone Year(AOY) limit defines the ratio which determines the limit of indemnity payable to the insured at the time of claim. For example, 1:2 implies that the maximum liability you can claim is half of the sum insured amount for any claim. The selection of the ratio of AOA and AOY are from four options i.e. 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4. The premium charges are on the AOY limit. If you have opted 1:4 ratio, the premium will be low and the 1:1 ratio assumes the highest premium amount. However, it’s important to select the limit of AOA: AOY as per the probability of claim occurrence or risk exposures.
One needs to analyze the above-mentioned factors to buy the right CGL policy at the right price. But it always suggests taking the help of an insurance expert to avail of cost-effective commercial insurance.
SecureNow, as an insurance expert can help you out in knowing the optimum sum insured and coverage. Click here to get quick commercial general liability quotes.
Written By- CGL
Ritesh Garg
MBA Insurance and Risk
Ritesh is a distinguished writer specializing in articles on Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance for SecureNow. Leveraging 7 years of experience in the field, he possesses a thorough understanding of the intricacies and nuances of CGL policies. His articles delve into various aspects of CGL insurance, providing readers with valuable insights into liability coverage for businesses and risk mitigation strategies. Renowned for their expertise and clarity, Ritesh is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging content that empowers businesses to protect themselves against potential liabilities and risks.
