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Public Liability Insurance Claims: Steps to Take When a Customer Is Injured
Accidents involving members of the public can happen unexpectedly, even in the safest business environments. Whether a customer trips in a retail…
Public LiabilityInsurance
Public Liability Insurance
Cover if your business injures someone or damages their property, from £1 million to £10 million, for sole traders, tradespeople and companies of every size.
Cover if your business injures someone or damages their property, from £1 million to £10 million, for sole traders, tradespeople and companies of every size.
Third-party injuryProperty damageLegal costs
Compare from 20+ Trusted Insurers
Speak to a specialist 0330 027 0996
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What is public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance covers the cost of claims if your business injures a member of the public or damages their property. It pays legal costs and compensation if you’re found responsible, whether that’s a customer tripping in your shop, a passer-by hit by falling scaffolding, or a client’s carpet ruined by your tools.
It doesn’t cover injuries to your own employees, that’s employers’ liability, a separate and often legally required policy.
Public liability insurance can include:
Third-party injury claimsThird-party property damageLegal defence costsClaims at your premisesClaims while working off-siteProduct-related claims (add-on)
Who needs public liability insurance?
It isn’t legally required for most businesses, but very few can afford to trade without it.
You should seriously consider it if you:
Deal face-to-face with the publicVisit customer or client premisesWork in shared or public spacesAre self-employed or a sole traderAre required to show it by a contractEmploy staff who face the publicIs public liability insurance a legal requirement?
No, not for most businesses. Unlike employers’ liability, there’s no law requiring public liability insurance. But in practice, many businesses can’t trade without it: commercial landlords, venues, local councils and client contracts routinely ask to see proof of cover before you start work.
Self-employed and sole trader public liability insurance works the same way, no legal requirement, but often a practical one if you want the work.
You’ll usually be asked to prove cover when you:
Sign a commercial leaseTake on a client contractJoin a trade body or associationWork on a construction siteAttend a trade show or market
How much public liability cover do you need?
How much public liability cover do you need?
There’s no legal minimum, but most contracts and venues set their own requirement. £5 million is the most commonly held level in the UK.
There’s no legal minimum, but most contracts and venues set their own requirement. £5 million is the most commonly held level in the UK.
| Level of cover | Typical for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
£1 million | Sole traders and micro businesses | May be too low for many client contracts |
£2 million | Small businesses and most tradespeople | Often the level councils and venues expect |
£5 million | Retailers, contractors and most client contracts | The most widely held level in the UK |
£10 million | Large contracts, higher-risk trades and public sector work | Usually only needed if a contract specifies it |
Top Tip
Check your contracts, leases and any industry body membership before you buy, many specify a minimum indemnity limit, and being underinsured is treated the same as having no cover at all.
What could go wrong without public liability cover?
What could go wrong without public liability cover?
Most public liability claims come from someone being injured on your premises or at a job, or a customer’s property being damaged while you work.
Most public liability claims come from someone being injured on your premises or at a job, or a customer’s property being damaged while you work.
What could a claim actually cost you?
What could a claim actually cost you?
Public liability claims range from a few thousand pounds for a minor injury to well over £1 million for a serious one, and even a claim you successfully defend still costs in legal fees.
Public liability claims range from a few thousand pounds for a minor injury to well over £1 million for a serious one, and even a claim you successfully defend still costs in legal fees.
Slip and fall
A customer trips in your shop and needs physiotherapy plus time off work.
Typical cost
£5,000-£50,000
Property damage
Your work damages flooring, fixtures or a client’s equipment during a job.
Typical cost
£1,000-£25,000
Serious injury
A member of the public suffers a lasting injury linked to your business or premises.
Typical cost
£50,000-£1 million+
Legal defence
Even a claim that’s successfully defended still costs solicitors’ fees and court time.
Typical cost
£10,000+ before any payout
Your public liability insurance certificate
Once you’re covered, we’ll send you a certificate of insurance, a document that proves your cover is in place, including your insurer, your indemnity limit and your renewal date. It’s the document landlords, councils and clients actually ask to see.
Keep a digital copy on your phone. Sites, venues and new clients often ask for it before they’ll let you start work.
Your certificate typically shows:
Your business nameYour insurer’s namePolicy numberPolicy start and renewal datesAny specific conditions
Cover often bought alongside public liability
Cover often bought alongside public liability
Most businesses combine public liability with one or two other covers rather than buying it alone.
Most businesses combine public liability with one or two other covers rather than buying it alone.
RecommendedEmployers’ Liability
A legal requirement once you employ staff, covering claims from employees injured at work.
RecommendedProfessional Indemnity
Covers claims that your advice, design or service was negligent and caused a client financial loss.
OptionalProduct Liability
Covers claims if a product you make, sell or supply causes injury or damage.
OptionalBusiness Contents
Protects your equipment, stock, fixtures and fittings against fire, theft and damage.
OptionalBusiness Interruption
Helps with lost income and ongoing costs if an insured event stops you trading.
PopularCommercial Combined
Bundle public liability with your other covers into one policy and one renewal date.
How much does public liability insurance cost?
There’s no fixed price for public liability insurance. Your premium depends mainly on your trade and risk level, your turnover, the cover limit you choose and your claims history, a low-risk sole trader typically pays far less than a higher-risk trade with staff and premises.
Your trade and risk
A florist and a scaffolder face very different risks, and are priced very differently.
Level of cover
£10 million cover costs more than £1 million, though the jump is often smaller than people expect.
Business size
More staff, more turnover and more footfall all increase your exposure.
Claims history
A clean claims record helps keep premiums down at renewal.
Level of excess
A higher voluntary excess usually lowers your premium.
How you pay
Paying annually is usually cheaper overall than spreading the cost monthly.
How to get public liability insurance
How to get public liability insurance
Getting public liability insurance takes four steps: tell us about your business, choose your cover level, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Getting public liability insurance takes four steps: tell us about your business, choose your cover level, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
1
Tell us about your business
Your trade, size and the covers you need.
2
Choose your indemnity limit
£1 million, £2 million, £5 million or more.
3
We compare specialist insurers
We search our panel of 20+ UK insurers.
4
Get covered and get your certificate
Receive your documents, usually the same day.
UK-based specialist advisersAccess to specialist insurersNo obligation, just expert helpTrusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
Public liability guides
Public liability guides
Practical advice on cover, cost and claims for UK businesses.
Practical advice on cover, cost and claims for UK businesses.
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Public liability insurance FAQs
Public liability insurance FAQs
Straight answers to the questions we’re asked most about public liability cover, cost and claims.
Straight answers to the questions we’re asked most about public liability cover, cost and claims.
Public liability insurance covers the cost of claims if your business injures a member of the public or damages their property. It pays legal defence costs and any compensation awarded, whether the claim comes from a customer, a passer-by or a client whose property you damaged.
Still have questions?
Our advisers are here to help you find the right solution.