Have you ever had someone trip and hurt themselves at your business premises? Have one of your staff ever accidentally damaged someone else’s property while performing their job? Has a piece of your work equipment caused an accident in public?

If any of these incidences have happened or could possibly happen to your business, then the answer is yes, you do need public liability insurance.

Public liability insurance helps businesses protect their legal liability to third parties, including clients, customers and the public for any injury or property damage which is caused by the business.

It is useful for any business that interacts with the public, either directly or indirectly, such as trades, retailers, professional services and restaurateurs.  

And while public liability insurance isn’t mandatory, most government organisation and publicly listed companies will not work with businesses who do not have this level of cover. So it could also impact the clients you are able to attract and work with.

The amount of cover your business requires will generally depend on the size, scope and potential risks posed by your business. An experienced insurance broker can help guide you towards the right level of cover.

Some things that Public Liability Insurance may cover:

• Injury to someone who incurs an injury whilst at your business premises
• Any damage or loss of someone else’s property as a result of your service being performed
• Any compensation payment you may be liable to pay
• Cover for others, such a staff or contractors, which are acting for your business when the incident occurred
• First aid expenses at the time of the incident
• Legal fees for defending or settling a claim

It is important to note that Public Liability Insurance does not cover any employee injuries incurred whilst on the job. This will be covered under your Workers Compensation policy.

Due to the unpredictable nature of accidents, it makes them hard to prevent – and the costs of being sued can be extraordinarily high. Therefore the best way to protect your business is to ensure you have the right level of Public Liability cover.

At Centrewest, we’ve been providing Public Liability Insurance for businesses for more than 35 years. Get in touch with our team of experienced brokers today to find out the best policy for your business.