COMMERCIAL general liability (CGL) insurance is also called general liability insurance or business liability insurance. It’s not mandated by law, but most states require this to get a business license.

This insurance is the basic type of insurance offered by most providers. It covers you against expenses incurred by accidents that may cause damage to property or injuries to others. This insurance will also cover you against claims due to copyright infringement, advertising harm, and reputational damage.

However, liability insurance does not cover everything. You should also be aware of the things that do not fall under it, so you can get the additional policies that are vital for your business. Here are some of them.

Workers’ compensation insurance

Your employees could get hurt or injured at work. CGL will cover the medical expenses and other related expenses for injuries to other people caused by accidents in your workplace. However, it does not cover injuries for your employees. If they get hurt, you will cover the expenses out of your pocket. They include medical expenses, and income loss if the worker cannot get back to work right away. You will need workers’ compensation insurance to get coverage for these. This type of insurance will also help cover the expenses for disability benefits if an employee becomes disabled due to an accident, or funeral expenses if it results in death.

Professional liability insurance

While business liability insurance covers injuries or damage caused by accidents, it does not cover those caused by mistakes or errors on your part or of your employees. For instance, if your employee broke something in the house of a client while performing a service, you need to pay for the repair or replacement. Professional liability insurance will cover you for that.

Commercial auto insurance

Any damage to your vehicle or the other party’s vehicle in case of a collision or an accident is also not covered by a general liability policy. If you or your employees need to do a lot of driving for your business operations, then commercial auto insurance is a must-have. If an accident happens, whether it’s your fault or the other party’s fault, it will cover you for the damage to your vehicle and the other vehicle involved.

Commercial property insurance

CGL only protects the damaged property of clients due to accidents in your workplace. However, it does not cover damage to your property. As a business owner, you don’t want to be burdened with the expense that you may incur should your commercial property be damaged. It includes your office or building, and the tools, equipment, machines, and products you use. You will need commercial property insurance for these. Some of the incidents usually covered by this insurance are fire and theft. It may not cover damage due to other reasons like flooding or employee error. Check the policy thoroughly for what it covers.

General liability insurance is basic coverage that you should have for your company if you want to be protected from the most common issues that businesses face. However, also consider getting the other types of insurance to maximize your protection.