General liability insurance / Coverage questions
10 Common General Liability Exclusions to Review
A practical starting point for Texas contractors, restaurants, shops, and other small businesses. General liability can help with certain claims involving injuries or damage to others, but it does not cover every business risk.
Use these questions when comparing quotes or reviewing a renewal. This is a selected review list, not a ranking of claim frequency or a complete list of exclusions.
1. Deliberate harm
Expected or intentional harm is excluded; reasonable protective force has a bodily-injury exception.
Ask: How does my policy address an altercation at my business?
2. Liability assumed by agreement
Assumed liability is restricted; qualifying insured contracts and independently owed liability have exceptions.
Ask: Can you review the insurance requirements before I sign this customer contract?
3. Alcohol-related claims
Restrictions apply to businesses making, distributing, selling, serving, or furnishing alcohol.
Ask: Does my restaurant, catering operation, or event need separate liquor liability coverage?
4. Employees hurt at work
Work injuries and statutory workers’ compensation obligations are generally excluded; insured-contract exceptions require review.
Ask: How do workers’ compensation and employers liability fit my staffing arrangements?
5. Contamination and cleanup
Pollution restrictions have detailed exceptions; endorsements can broaden the exclusion.
Ask: What happens if chemicals used at a job spill into a customer’s property?
6. Vehicle, boat, and aircraft accidents
Vehicle-related liability is restricted, with specific exceptions.
Ask: Are company trucks, employee errands, rented vehicles, and equipment operations properly insured?
7. Property under your control
Restrictions affect owned, rented, borrowed, controlled property and particular parts being worked on; exceptions matter.
Ask: What protection do I need for customer equipment left in my shop?
8. Damage to products you supply
Damage to your own product arising from that product is excluded.
Ask: How does coverage differ for a defective component versus other damage it causes?
9. Damage to completed work
Completed-work damage is restricted; this base form preserves a subcontractor exception.
Ask: Does any endorsement remove that exception from my policy?
10. Recall expenses
Withdrawal and recall costs for suspected or known defects are restricted.
Ask: If a batch of products must be pulled back, what separate coverage is available?
Which coverage should we review next?
Work-related employee injuries call for a separate workers’ compensation review. Driving exposures belong in a commercial auto review, including hired and non-owned auto. Your buildings, stock, and equipment need a property-coverage review. The Hartford explains these common GL coverage gaps.
Professional services, alcohol exposures, and pollution may call for specialized liability protection. Travelers explains general liability and related coverage options. Tell us what your business actually does so we can evaluate the appropriate coverage.
Bring the whole policy to the review
A certificate or price alone does not answer these questions. Bring the declarations, forms list, coverage forms, endorsements, and any customer insurance requirements. Mark the clause you want to discuss and describe a realistic claim scenario from your business.
For example, a plumber might ask about a pipe being repaired, an HVAC contractor about rented equipment, and a machine shop about a customer’s component. These are review questions, not predictions that a particular claim will be paid or denied.
Ask Greg Williams Insurance for a coverage review or call 903-372-1901.
Need help with a term? Visit our insurance glossary for plain-English definitions of exclusions, endorsements, limits, and more.