General liability insurance in Spokane
The baseline policy. Covers injuries to other people and damage to their property arising out of your business.
If a customer trips in your shop, if your crew puts a ladder through a window, if a competitor says your advertising copied theirs — general liability is the policy that responds. Most Spokane leases and most commercial contracts require it before you can start work.
Why almost everyone carries it
General liability is the policy landlords, general contractors and municipal permit offices ask for by name. A certificate of insurance showing GL limits is frequently the gate between you and the job. Standard limits run $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate; larger contracts often ask for more, which is where an umbrella policy comes in.
What it will not do
GL covers harm to other people and their property. It does not cover your own building or equipment (that is commercial property), your vehicles (commercial auto), your employees' injuries (workers' comp), or a claim that your professional work was wrong (professional liability). Bundling GL and property into a business owner's policy is usually the cheaper route for small businesses.
Additional insured endorsements
General contractors and commercial landlords will usually require that they be named as an additional insured on your policy, sometimes with a waiver of subrogation and primary/non-contributory wording. Those endorsements are not automatic and not always free. Send us the contract before you sign it — we would rather read the insurance requirements first than fix them afterwards.
What General Liability covers
- Bodily injury to customers, vendors and visitors
- Damage you cause to property you do not own
- Legal defence costs, even for a claim that goes nowhere
- Personal and advertising injury claims
A client slips on a wet entryway at your office in January and breaks a wrist. General liability covers the medical bills and the attorney you will need if it turns into a claim — defence costs that routinely run into five figures before anyone reaches a settlement.
Questions
General Liability FAQs
Most Spokane small businesses start at $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate, because that is what the majority of contracts and leases specify. Higher-risk trades, larger contracts and anyone doing public-sector work often need more, which is usually cheapest to add through an umbrella policy rather than by raising the GL limit.
Not by state law for most businesses. It is required in practice — by leases, by client contracts, by general contractors, and by some professional and contractor licensing requirements. Contractors registering with L&I must carry it.
No. Tools, equipment and inventory are covered by commercial property or an inland marine policy. GL only responds to damage you cause to other people and their property.
Usually written alongside
Coverage that works with this one
Workers' Compensation
Required in Washington for nearly every employer. Covers medical care and lost wages when someone gets hurt on the job.
Read moreBusiness Owner's Policy (BOP)
General liability and commercial property bundled into one policy, usually for less than buying them separately.
Read moreCommercial Auto
Coverage for the vehicles your business owns, leases, rents or asks employees to drive.
Read moreStart with your trade. We will take it from there.
Tell us what the business does and we will pre-select the coverage it normally needs, then compare carriers for you. About two minutes, no obligation.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (509) 944-0847.