General Liability is one of the core insurance policies carried by contractors and businesses.
It may respond when the insured business becomes legally responsible for covered bodily injury or property damage.
For contractors, important General Liability exposures can include:
- Damage to customer property
- Injuries to third parties
- Jobsite accidents involving non-employees
- Completed operations
- Work performed by subcontractors
- Products or materials
- Contractual liability exposures
Coverage depends on the actual policy terms, exclusions, endorsements, and limits.
Is General Liability Mandatory in Illinois?
Illinois does not impose one universal General Liability insurance requirement on every business.
However, contractors may be required to carry General Liability because of:
- Municipal licensing requirements
- State professional or trade licensing requirements
- General contractor requirements
- Customer contracts
- Property-owner requirements
- Commercial leases
- Government contracts
- Loan requirements
Specific trades may have additional insurance requirements.
For example, Illinois roofing contractors must meet state licensing requirements that include proof of liability/property damage insurance and other required documentation.
Read more:Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation