The Hartford's explanation of the following is intended to provide a general overview of coverages. Only the insurance policy can give actual terms, coverages, amounts, conditions and exclusions.
The Hartford's liability coverages extend far beyond what some policies provide -- by broadening coverages and increasing limits in over 30 coverage areas. Here are just a few of the ways this broadened liability insurance can protect your business.
The Hartford's General Liability policy extends liability protection to a number of people involved in your business.
A General Liability policy is designed to provide financial protection in case your business is ever sued or held legally responsible for some injury or damage. Typical expenses this policy may cover include:
For selected industry groups, The Hartford's small business insurance plans also offer Professional Liability coverage. This type of insurance protects you in case someone sues you or your employees for professional malpractice -- claiming that either you incorrectly performed, or failed to perform, your professional duties.
Bodily Injury
Of course, no small business owners like to think that something their company does or doesn't do could injure, even kill someone else. But it's comforting to know that if you are ever held legally responsible for such an injury, sickness or disease, The Hartford's General Liability coverage will pay the affected person or organization for:
Unlike some General Liability policies, The Hartford's coverage for bodily injury even extends to mental anguish claims. So if a customer was physically injured in your store and claimed that she also suffered mental anguish as a result of the injury, The Hartford's policy could pay damages both for the physical injury -- and for the mental anguish.
Regardless of how careful you are, you may find yourself in a situation where something your business does or doesn't do damages someone else's property. Even if you don't physically injure that property, you may do something that actually prevents its owner from continuing to use it. If so, you'll rest easier knowing that The Hartford's General Liability coverage will compensate the property's owner for either:
The Hartford's specialized insurance plan for small business automatically includes liability protection for your company's completed products or services. This means that, if an injury ever resulted from something your company made or some service your company provided, your Hartford policy would pay for the resulting damages and any legal expenses (up to your policy's limit). And if you were sued because of these damages, your policy would cover related defense costs regardless of who was at fault -- in addition to your policy's limit.
If your company manufactures any type of product, you will want to consider adding The Hartford's Products Liability coverage to your insurance program. We have extensive experience in assessing these types of risks -- and in tailoring appropriate insurance solutions.
In general, liability coverage is designed to protect you if you unintentionally injure or damage someone or something. But there are times when you may need to use reasonable force to protect yourself or your property from harm. For example, a store owner may need to use reasonable force to keep someone from vandalizing his store. Or he may need to board up his windows to protect his store from an approaching storm -- even though it may damage the building he leases.
If you do ever need to use reasonable force, some General Liability policies will only protect you in case you're sued because your use of force injures someone else -- like the store vandal. But The Hartford's policy covers any property damage that results from a use of reasonable force -- like the store owner who boards up his windows.
Borrowed Equipment (Property Damage)
Some commercial General Liability policies won't cover you if you are ever held legally responsible for physically damaging either: 1) property that is loaned to you; or 2) personal property that is in your care, custody or control (such as your customers' personal belongings).
However, The Hartford's policy will protect you in case you accidentally damage any equipment you've borrowed -- as long as you're not using that equipment to perform operations at your job site. For example, it would cover a booth you rented at a conference site or audio visual equipment you borrowed for a client presentation.
This coverage also extends to any loaned equipment that you may damage while transporting in or out of an elevator -- such as audio visual equipment you may be moving to your conference room. Many standard General Liability policies do not provide additional liability protection for property damaged on elevators.
The Hartford's General Liability coverage extends to liability you may assume by entering into a variety of different types of contracts, including:
As long as you're not in the business of manufacturing, distributing, selling, serving or furnishing alcoholic beverages, The Hartford's General Liability policy will protect you in case someone claims you are legally liable for a liquor-related accident. This means that, as long as you don't charge for the alcohol, you would be covered if you occasionally distribute alcoholic beverages -- such as at any annual company picnic or a holiday office party.
If one of your employees ever sues you for an injury you supposedly caused, your General Liability policy would not cover any damages. Rather, this type of protection would be provided by your Workers' Compensation policy.
Non-Owned Aircraft. Some General Liability policies would not provide any protection if you hire, charter or borrow some type of aircraft with a paid crew -- such as renting a chartered plane to take your sales staff to a client meeting. The Hartford's General Liability coverage would cover any injuries or property damage that result from using this non-owned aircraft.
Non-Owned Watercraft. Some General Liability policies provide some limited liability protection in case you're ever sued for damages that result from an accident involving a boat or yacht you do not own. However, typically this watercraft must be under 26 feet for this liability protection to apply. By contrast, The Hartford's policy broadens its liability coverage to include non-owned watercraft under 51 feet.
Fire, Lightning or Explosion Damage
If you rent your business property, you'll find it reassuring that The Hartford's insurance plan for small businesses includes coverage for any fire, lightning or explosion damage. Better yet, this coverage extends to other parts of the building that may be damaged due to your negligence. For example, if you rent the second floor of a building, and through your negligence cause fire damage to the first floor, your liability policy will also cover the damage you've caused to your neighbor's office space.
Water Damage Liability Protection
The Hartford's insurance plan for small businesses also offers optional protection against water damage. If you elect this option, you will be covered if you're ever held legally liable for water damage to someone else's property -- or to property you lease.
Even if your company is not legally responsible for some claim someone makes against you, it can be quite expensive to defend yourself against such claims. Fortunately, your Hartford liability policy will pay for:
Your liability policy will also pay the premium for any bond the court requires, making sure judgment will be paid if you are found legally liable for some injury or damage.
If someone is accidentally injured either by you or at your business site, The Hartford liability coverage will pay for medical and funeral expenses incurred within three years of the accident (up to your policy's liability insurance limit). Some policies will only reimburse medical expenses incurred within one year of the accident. For example, if a customer slipped and fell on your premises and had to undergo medical treatments for 14 months, your Hartford policy would provide the necessary coverage...while another policy may not.
Something your business either does -- or fails to do -- may not physically harm a person, but it may personally injure them. If so, you'd want to know that your liability coverage would protect you from any lawsuits arising from such an injury. Some General Liability policies provide coverage if you are accused of:
The Hartford's liability coverage further expands personal injury coverage to protect you in case someone other than your employee (i.e., a customer or vendor) sues you for discriminating against them or humiliating them.
If you are ever sued because of something that happened during the course of advertising your company's own goods, products or services, this policy will provide valuable liability protection. Such advertising injuries may result from:
Druggists Professional Liability Coverage
The Hartford's SPECTRUM policy for Drug Stores automatically includes professional liability coverage for any insured doing business as a retail drug store. Better yet, this liability protection extends to all of your employees acting within the scope of their duties.
Professional liability coverage is specifically designed to protect you against claims of professional malpractice, including errors in handling and dispensing drugs.
Printers Professional Liability Coverage
The Hartford's SPECTRUM policy for Printers offers optional professional liability coverage for any insured providing printing services. This coverage helps protect your printing company in case any of your customers sues you for errors or omissions in the work that you perform.
Veterinarians Professional Liability Coverage
The Hartford's SPECTRUM policy for Veterinarians offers optional professional liability coverage for any insured doing business as a veterinarian or a veterinary clinic. Better still, this coverage extends to all of your employees who are acting within the scope of their duties. (Note: Liability for the theft of an animal or for the injury of an animal due to fire is excluded.)