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In short, general liability insurance protects businesses from general claims involving property damage and bodily injuries resulting from the company's products, services, or operations. While this definition may sound straightforward, USMC Insurance, a managing general agent, explains that the coverage offered by commercial general liability insurance for contractors is much more nuanced than this. Here, the company outlines exactly what is covered by this commercial insurance policy.

No business owner wakes up imagining that today is the day their company will be held liable for an auto accident that occurred during the performance of their business operations. Unfortunately, these scenarios are more common than many people realize. All too often, small businesses go under because they could not pay for the fees associated with a lawsuit after a car accident in a personal, rented, or leased vehicle.

All too often, small business owners dismiss the need for hired and non-owned auto insurance because they never have their employees drive for business purposes, or they already require their employees to carry high liability limits on their vehicles. Whatever their excuses are for not signing up for an HNOA insurance plan, they clearly do not understand the true benefits of this insurance policy. To clear things up, USMC Insurance explains why businesses need hired and non-owned auto coverage in a variety of situations.

Today, it's not uncommon for small business owners and employees to use their personal vehicles or rented cars to conduct business, whether to travel to business meetings or deliver products to customers. However, what these business owners may not realize is that their commercial auto policy may not cover the use of non-owned or hired vehicles for business operations.

Many small business owners use vehicles they do not own for their company operations. Whether renting, leasing, or borrowing cars, the business owner should get hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) insurance. In addition to providing coverage for property damage the owner or their employees may cause during an accident, this type of insurance also covers bodily injury sustained in the incident. Because not many small businesses know the importance of HNOA insurance and its offerings, USMC Insurance wants to share how essential the bodily injury coverage of this policy is.

Businesses of all sizes can utilize the services of a hired auto company. From transporting goods, attending meetings in a new city, or simply running errands, hired autos can prove a valuable tool for business owners. However, some businesses may only occasionally require the services of a hired auto company and believe they don't need hired auto coverage — that's where they would be mistaken.

No matter how careful employees are, accidents can happen in a split second. One simple accident could result in claims a small janitorial business would not be able to afford. Whether a client slips on a freshly mopped floor or an employee drops chemicals onto a wooden surface while cleaning, general liability insurance could protect the cleaning business from sinking under expensive claims. USMC Insurance shares the importance of janitorial businesses having commercial general liability coverage.

Commercial auto insurance is not just for big corporations. In fact, small businesses are just as at risk of a car accident or incident involving a borrowed or hired vehicle. The only difference is that an independently owned business may not survive the costs associated with the accident. For this reason, business owners should insure their drivers and vehicles, but they must also note that a personal auto insurance plan will not be enough coverage. USMC Insurance shares why small businesses need to have commercial hired and non-owned auto insurance.

Any well-established business owner knows that accidents happen at the most unexpected times (and sometimes in the most unexpected ways). Startups and independent contractors may think if they've planned for every common scenario, they'll be fine. USMC Insurance wants to help small business owners and contractors understand that no matter how many procedures they put into place, they could still face a lawsuit. That's why they've explained the importance of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance.

Regardless of the size of a business — from large corporations to smaller, local companies — carrying commercial general liability insurance (CGL) can help bring value and protection to an organization. Not only can a CGL policy safeguard businesses from property damage and physical injuries, but it can also protect against reputational harm. Now, USMC Insurance is offering insight into the distinct benefits of commercial general liability insurance for their clients.