Public Liability Insurance

Public Liability Insurance covers the costs of legal expenses, compensation, and repair and replacement of property if a member of the public makes a claim against you. It isn’t needed by law, but organisations that regularly come into contact with clients or operate in public areas may find that Public Liability Insurance gives them crucial peace of mind. This is because claims and their linked costs can be very expensive. A claim could be made for many reasons. For instance, a hairdresser could damage the hair of a client while dyeing it, or a piece of scaffolding put up by your business could fall and injure a passer-by. For this reason, many businesses opt to put Public Liability Insurance in place.

It is not needed by law. However, your business may benefit from having it in place, depending on the type of work you carry out. If you or your employees regularly come into contact with members of the public or their property as a result of work, you have an increased risk of a claim being made. This means that Public Liability Insurance will provide you with much-needed financial protection if the worst happens. The following are all types of work that could find Public Liability Insurance useful:

• Hairdressers
• Builders
• Retailers
• Event managers
• Gardeners
• Cleaners
• Cafes and restaurants
• Tradespeople

If you belong to a trade association, or intend to join one, you may also need Public Liability Insurance to maintain your membership. Some potential customers will also ask for cover, so you may need it in order to win new business.

Public Liability Insurance is put in place to help you cover costs linked to injuries and damage to the public and their property. Employers’ Liability Insurance, on the other hand, is in place to cover the costs of injuries or illnesses sustained by your employees while carrying out work for you. Public Liability Insurance is therefore not an alternative to Employers’ Liability Insurance. Employers’ Liability Insurance is a legal obligation with very few exceptions. Public Liability Insurance is not needed by law but is useful to have if your business comes into contact with the general public.

The cost of a policy will depend on your business. Some occupations present more risks than others. For instance, trades that use a lot of equipment or equipment that is dangerous present more risks. If you work in areas that are very busy, such as the middle of a shop floor or on a busy street, this will also increase the risk of you or one of your employees hurting someone. The number of employees you have and your business’ turnover will also influence the cost due to their linked risks.

To find out exactly how much Public Liability Insurance will cost your business, you can talk to one of our team.  And don’t forget: Public Liability Insurance is also tax deductible.

If you carry out work that brings you into contact with clients or their property, then you may need a policy. For instance, if you are a window cleaner and you break a customer’s window, Public Liability Insurance will help you to cover the cost.

Some customers, industries and associations will also require you to have a certain level of Public Liability Insurance in place, so you could lose out on work if you do not have it.

You can certainly get Public Liability Insurance if you are self-employed. If your work means you come into contact with members of the public, clients or their property, it may be a good idea to have some insurance in place.

Yes, it can be put in place for events of all sizes, whether you’re holding a fundraising dinner or running a large convention. This will protect you for accidental loss or damage of property and the injury or death of a member of the public at your event. It can also cover you for claims against you by the owners of any venues you use. Indeed, a venue you are intending to hire may refuse your application if you do not have it in place. The cost will depend on the kind of event you are running and the number of people who are likely to attend. You can find out more by talking to the Chris Knott team.

If you are running a one-off event, it may be a good idea to have Public Liability Insurance in place. This is because it offers you protection if one of your attendees is injured at your event or their property, or the venue’s property, is damaged. A policy can therefore be purchased to cover the duration of the event, to give you peace of mind.