In today’s increasingly litigious society, a business can no longer assume that $1 million in Business Insurance liability coverage is sufficient. While it may have been adequate in previous decades, this amount of coverage is often woefully inadequate in the modern business environment. As lawsuits become more frequent and damages soar, the need for higher business insurance coverage is clear.

One of the key reasons why $1 million in coverage is no longer sufficient is the exponential increase in lawsuit costs. In the past, a business could reasonably expect to face lawsuits that might result in damages of several hundred thousand dollars, even in the worst-case scenarios. However, legal costs, settlement amounts, and jury awards have increased substantially. Lawsuits are no longer limited to small claims or contractual disputes. The scope of legal action now includes everything from intellectual property theft to workplace safety violations, and class action lawsuits that target entire industries. In many cases, damages can quickly exceed $1 million, especially when punitive damages or ongoing legal fees are involved.

As businesses become more complex, so too do the risks they face. Advances in technology, changing regulations, and an increasingly global market have all led to new exposures. Cybersecurity breaches, data privacy violations, and intellectual property lawsuits are on the rise, and they can result in millions of dollars in damages. Even a small security breach can lead to legal fees, settlements, and potential reputational damage that far exceed $1 million. In addition, many businesses are faced with the challenge of protecting themselves from claims of discrimination, harassment, or wrongful termination. Employment practices liability insurance is now a crucial part of most business insurance plans, and the claims associated with this type of coverage have increased dramatically.

The rise of social media and the constant news cycle has made public relations a crucial part of any business's strategy. A simple tweet or post can lead to widespread public backlash, lawsuits, or consumer claims. Reputational damage can result in lost revenue, declining stock prices, and mounting legal costs. In the age of "cancel culture," businesses need to be prepared for the fallout from negative publicity. Defamation lawsuits, brand damage, and the cost of managing public relations efforts can drain a company's resources faster than anticipated.

Inflation, coupled with the increasing complexity of legal matters, has driven up the cost of doing business. Legal fees have risen, and expert witnesses or consultants required for litigation can be costly. The average costs of defending a lawsuit have grown exponentially over the past decade, and businesses can no longer afford to assume that their coverage limits will be sufficient. The longer a case drags on, the more expensive it becomes. Legal fees, court costs, and settlement negotiations all add up. As a result, businesses need to account for these rising costs and adjust their coverage limits accordingly.

In the current business landscape, $1 million in insurance coverage probably isn't enough to shield most businesses from the wide range of risks they face. With the increasing frequency of lawsuits, the rising costs of legal defenses, the growing complexity of business risks, and the rising public scrutiny, businesses need to secure adequate insurance coverage to protect their assets and operations. It's time for business owners to reassess their insurance needs and ensure they are properly protected for the challenges ahead. If you have any questions about policy limits or Business Insurance, please feel free to contact me. 

Jason Matison
Commercial Insurance Agent
​Austin, Texas

General Liability Insurance is a type of Business Insurance that's a must for all companies these days. It can provide the extra coverage needed to ensure your business is safe in any unfortunate event. It provides coverage for medical expenses, damages, and attorney fees, that your business is legally responsible for. General liability is often combined with a Business Owners Policy, but it can also be available to purchase as a solo policy also known as a monoline policy. 

​General liability insurance can help protect your business and your livelihood. Just one accident can be enough to result in a lawsuit that could end up costing more than you are able to pay. General liability insurance has many coverage options that can be tailored to fit the needs of any business. All of these coverage options provide coverage for different situations, including:
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• Lawsuits, investigations, and settlements: General liability will cover your business’s investigation and attorney expenses, any judgment settlement, and the medical expenses associated with the case.

 

• Injury damages: These can be associated with bodily injury, as well as any property damages that are the result of an accident on your premises, as well as a result of your products, operations, or advertising for your business. More on this below. 

 

• Miscellaneous: General liability can also cover many different situations that business owners do not typically think of, such as advertising for your business that violates someone’s copyright. It can also provide some protection for your business against some alcohol related incidents, as long as your business is not in the alcohol-related business

General Liability Insurance can cover many exposures. I have made a list to give you a good understanding of how it might help your business against certain exposures.

Premises Exposure: When there is ownership or occupancy of property (the premises). This type of exposure is also known as "slip and fall". If you are signing a lease, and your landlord is requiring insurance, this is probably why. 

Operations Exposure: This is usually associated with manufacturing, processing, or contracting. An example would be a contractor paving a road. If there is injury or property damage as a result of negligent construction activity while the project is underway, this would be operations exposure.

Products Liability Exposure: When someone is injured by the product. An example would be if you were using a hammer and went to hammer in a nail and the hammer head came back and hit you or someone in the head and caused injury. This would be an injury arising from product liability exposure. Products liability exposure comes into play after the product is sold. 

Completed Operations: Relates to items that are installed or constructed at a given location. An example would be a contractor that builds a deck. Maybe a railing isn't screwed in all the way or has faulty hardware. If someone is injured, this would be completed operations exposure. As the name implies, completed operations exposure exists after installation or construction and it's being used for its intended purpose. ​Some contractors might think insurance isn't needed after the job is complete. However, it's probably needed more once they walk away from the completed job. 

Policy limits for General Liability Insurance can vary anywhere from $1,000,000 all the way up to $10,000,000 and higher. Sometimes the carrier won't write over a certain amount. If this is the case an Excess Policy or Umbrella would need to be purchased. Every business, large or small, should consider General Liability Insurance. If you have any questions about General Liability Insurance or any other type of Business Insurance, like Excess or Umbrella, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. 

Jason Matison
Commercial Insurance Agent
Austin, Texas

​As a business owner, it’s possible you make decisions every day that can come back to bite you. You may not think so, but in this day of litigiousness, your business may be at risk.  A type of Business Insurance to manage your risk is management liability insurance.  Depending on your business, in addition to having General Liability Insurance, having Professional Liability Insurance is not just good business, it is as necessary as heat and lighting for your office.  Statutes, federal, and state laws change on a regular basis, so it is important that your company protect its assets with management or professional liability insurance. For example, if you are an Engineer, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or in any type of field giving advice or service, you should consider professional liability insurance for your business.
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Some things to Consider

• General Liability Insurance does not cover the risks of Employment Liability, Professional Liability, or Directors and Officers Liability.  You need a separate insurance policy to cover these risks.

 

• Defense costs are going up at a rapid rate. Management liability insurance can provide needed defense coverage, even if you are not liable (yes, even if you are not held liable). You still have to go to court.

 

• Company owners can be held personally liable for their actions as well as the actions of other managers or executives. It is imperative to put coverage in place for protection.

 

• Twenty five percent of private firms have had some sort of employment issue that could not be resolved without legal counsel involvement.  The average defense costs are $250 per hour. These costs can add up. You also have to consider finding the right law firm, which can take time.

 

• Many businesses fail to purchase Cyber Insurance. According to Adam Hewitt, senior vice president of INSUREtrust, “Cyber risk is the fastest-growing segment in the commercial liability insurance industry -- increasing at an annual rate of 30 percent”. The average cost of each compromised record is around $175.00. Most states have laws requiring notification if you have had an incident. If you are collecting personal data, it is your responsibility. The judge/court probably isn’t going to want to hear, it’s stored in the cloud.

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If you have any questions about management liability insurance or any other type of Business Insurance, please let me know. We are located in Austin, TX and would be happy to meet with you to answer any questions and provide you with a quote. Once you have had a chance to review coverage and pricing, then you can make an informed decision.