Public Liability Insurance

A duty of care

Almost every business will need some form of public liability insurance cover. Accidents can happen – and without adequate insurance, can be extremely costly. Anyone who visits your premises and suffers an injury or loss as a result of your business can claim compensation.

If a customer or member of the public makes a claim against your business for compensation, public liability insurance is designed to cover the legal fees as well as any compensation payment awarded. Even if your deemed not to be at fault, the costs can be significant.

Unlike employers’ liability insurance, it’s not a legal requirement to have public liability insurance. However, as a business owner, you have a duty of care to anyone visiting your premises. And the cost of not being properly insured if an accident occurs could financially ruin your company – and your reputation.

Public Liability Insurance provides cover for:

• Slips and trips in any private or public area of your business premises. If something gets spilt by someone or something in your office and causes an accident, then you could be deemed liable.
• Accidents such as items being dropped, falling or breaking whilst in use by a visitor and causing damage. Even if all precautions are taken, insurance for these unavoidable events should be seen as essential.
• Damage, injuries or accidents caused by disrepair. Think about snagged office carpets, a screw head sticking out of a door or even tree roots that are on your premises.
• Transport. Whether you have work vehicles or machinery such as fork-lifts, warehouse machinery or have goods being moved in transit, these all give rise to a risk to anyone coming to contact with them.