{"id":25411,"date":"2024-09-17T11:24:27","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T11:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/?page_id=25411"},"modified":"2026-02-03T12:48:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T12:48:49","slug":"public-liability-vs-general-liability","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/business-insurance\/faq\/public-liability-vs-general-liability\/","title":{"rendered":"Public liability vs general liability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Public liability vs general liability insurance<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Public liability insurance<\/a> is a business insurance available in the UK to cover third party injury or damage claims. You can also cover employee injury claims with employers\u2019 liability insurance<\/a>. General liability insurance is the American name for public liability insurance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the difference between public liability and general liability?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In the UK, you won\u2019t find general liability insurance. Instead, if you want liability insurance for your business, the covers available are public liability insurance, product liability insurance and employers\u2019 liability insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public liability insurance<\/a> covers compensation claims made against your business by a third party for injury or damage. For example if a supplier trips on a trailing cable in your shop, or if you visit a client and spill coffee on their computer. Product liability insurance<\/a> – which is often included in a public liability policy – covers compensation claims for injury or property damage that\u2019s been caused by a product you\u2019ve sold. Employers\u2019 liability insurance<\/a> covers compensation claims from employees for work-related illness or injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re based in the USA, it\u2019s likely to be general liability insurance<\/strong> that you take out to protect your business, although exactly what it covers and how it compares to public liability insurance will depend on the insurer and policy you choose. Always check your documents carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Simply Business we insure all kinds of trades like:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n