Protection against third-party bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury claims arising from your construction operations. The foundation of every contractor insurance program.
Get a GL QuoteGeneral liability (GL) insurance is the cornerstone of any contractor's insurance program. It protects your business when a third party -- someone who is not your employee -- suffers a bodily injury or property damage because of your operations. GL also covers personal and advertising injury claims, such as slander or copyright infringement in your marketing materials.
For contractors, GL responds to a wide range of scenarios: a visitor trips over materials at your jobsite, your crew damages a client's existing flooring while installing cabinets, or a completed roofing job fails and causes water intrusion months later. Without GL coverage, your business would be responsible for defense costs, settlements, and judgments out of pocket.
Most GL policies for contractors are written on an occurrence basis, meaning they cover incidents that happen during the policy period regardless of when the claim is actually filed. This is critical in construction, where defect claims can surface years after the work is done. Claims-made policies, by contrast, only cover claims reported during the active policy term and are generally not recommended for construction businesses.
Construction is inherently risky. Every jobsite presents exposure to third-party injury and property damage that can result in significant financial liability.
A homeowner walks through an active jobsite and trips over debris, breaking their wrist. Your GL policy covers their medical expenses and any resulting lawsuit. Without it, defense costs alone could run $50,000 or more before a case even reaches trial.
Your crew is replacing a roof and accidentally damages the homeowner's landscaping, HVAC unit, or interior finishes. GL covers the cost to repair or replace the damaged property. In Florida's high-value residential market, these claims can easily reach five figures.
A plumbing installation you finished six months ago fails, causing water damage to multiple floors of a commercial building. The completed operations portion of your GL policy responds to these claims, covering both your defense and the damages.
Florida's Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) requires proof of general liability insurance for contractor licensing. Whether you hold a Certified or Registered license, you must maintain active GL coverage. Allowing your policy to lapse can result in license suspension and the inability to pull permits on active projects.
Florida's litigation environment is among the most aggressive in the country for construction claims. The state's legal framework has historically been favorable to plaintiffs in construction defect cases, which means contractors face higher exposure and need to carry adequate limits. While recent tort reform legislation, including changes to Assignment of Benefits (AOB) statutes and fee-shifting rules, has shifted some dynamics, Florida remains a state where adequate GL limits and proper endorsements are not optional.
Hurricane season adds another dimension. Surge demand after named storms brings an influx of contractors and a corresponding increase in claims activity. Carriers tighten underwriting during active storm seasons, and contractors who lack solid GL programs may find it difficult to secure coverage when they need it most. Structuring your GL program during a quiet period ensures you are not scrambling when demand spikes.
Don't wait for a claim to find out your coverage has gaps. Let us review your general liability program and make sure it matches how your business actually operates.
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