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What Our Plans Cover
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Bodily injury to members of the pu...
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Injury to the public arising from...
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Damage to third-party property
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Legal defence costs and expenses
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Liability arising from the acts of...
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No-fault relief under the statutor...
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Liability at multiple premises
Who Can Consider This Plan?
- A registered business, professional practice or organisation
- Activities within the classes the insurer writes
- Accurate disclosure of turnover, activities and territories
- Disclosure of all known circumstances that could give rise to a claim
- Compliance with any statutory licensing applicable to the activity
What May Not Be Covered?
- Injury to your own employees
- Damage to property in your care, custody or control
- Product liability, which is a separate class
- Professional services and advice
- Pollution, unless specifically covered
Always check the policy wording before you commit.
Why Choose Wealth & Covers?
- Expert advice to choose the right plan
- Plans from leading insurance companies
- Hassle-free process and documentation
- End-to-end support, including claim assistance
- Dedicated relationship manager
Our Insurance Partners
- Star Health Insurance
- Care Health Insurance
- Niva Bupa Health Insurance
- HDFC ERGO
- ICICI Lombard
- Bajaj Allianz
We represent multiple providers to help you find the most suitable option at the best price.
- Expert Guidance Personalised advice from experienced insurance professionals.
- End-to-End Support From choosing the right plan to claim assistance, we are with you always.
- Claims Assistance Hassle-free claim support to ensure you get what you deserve.
- Transparent Process Clear information, easy documentation and a hassle-free experience.
Overview
Public liability covers claims by members of the public for injury or property damage arising from your premises or activities. It is narrower than general liability, focusing on the public-facing exposure rather than products and completed operations.
India also has a statutory version. The Public Liability Insurance Act requires businesses handling hazardous substances above prescribed quantities to hold a specific policy providing no-fault relief to victims. That is a compliance obligation, not a commercial choice, and it sits alongside rather than instead of ordinary public liability.
For most businesses the ordinary version is what matters: the customer who slips, the passer-by struck by something falling, the neighbouring property damaged by your operations.
Who should consider it
Any business the public enters — shops, restaurants, clinics, gyms, hotels, event venues. Contractors working in public places. Any unit handling hazardous substances, which must hold the statutory version.
Benefits
- Covers the most common third-party exposure for public-facing businesses
- Legal defence costs included
- Statutory version available for hazardous-substance compliance
- Extendable to cover premises at multiple locations
- Commonly required by landlords and event venues
- Relatively inexpensive for most non-hazardous businesses
What is covered, and what is not
Read the right-hand column first. It is the one that decides whether a claim is paid.
Typically covered
- Bodily injury to members of the public on your premises
- Injury to the public arising from your operations elsewhere
- Damage to third-party property
- Legal defence costs and expenses
- Liability arising from the acts of your employees
- No-fault relief under the statutory policy, where applicable
- Liability at multiple premises, where declared
Typically not covered
- Injury to your own employees
- Damage to property in your care, custody or control
- Product liability, which is a separate class
- Professional services and advice
- Pollution, unless specifically covered
- Deliberate acts and known circumstances
- Fines, penalties and punitive damages
Inclusions and exclusions vary between providers and between plans from the same provider. The wording in your own policy document is what governs — we will walk you through it before you buy.
How it works with us
- 1 We map the exposure before choosing a policy What you do, who it touches, and where a claim would come from. Liability cover follows the exposure, not the industry label.
- 2 Trigger and retroactive date agreed first Occurrence or claims-made, and how far back the cover reaches. These decide more than the limit does.
- 3 Limits tested against a realistic worst case Not the average claim — the one that would matter. Defence costs are part of that calculation.
- 4 Underwriting and, for larger risks, a survey Insurers price liability on process and controls. Good documentation genuinely lowers the premium.
- 5 Policy issued, and notification process explained Late notification is the leading cause of declined liability claims. We make sure your team knows when to call.
Important considerations
The things a brochure tends to leave out. Read these before you decide.
- If you handle hazardous substances above the notified quantities, the statutory policy is a legal obligation. It provides no-fault relief and is separate from ordinary public liability, which you will still want.
- Landlords and event venues frequently specify a minimum limit. Check the lease or venue agreement before setting yours, but do not treat that figure as an assessment of your actual risk.
- Employees are excluded. Injury to your own staff is an employer's liability and workmen's compensation matter.
- If you operate from several locations, declare them all. Cover follows declared premises, not the business generally.
- Report incidents even where no claim has been made. A slip today can become a claim in two years, and early notification protects the cover.
Documents required
- Business registration and constitution documents
- Description of activities, products or services
- Annual turnover and, where relevant, export turnover
- Number of employees and details of contractors engaged
- Claims and incident history, usually for five years
- Existing policy schedules, where cover is being replaced
- Contracts specifying required indemnity limits, where applicable
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between public liability and general liability?
Public liability focuses on injury and damage to members of the public from your premises and activities. General liability is broader, adding products and completed operations. Businesses that manufacture or sell goods usually need the wider cover.
Is public liability insurance mandatory?
The statutory Public Liability Insurance Act policy is mandatory for units handling notified hazardous substances above prescribed quantities. Ordinary public liability is not legally required but is frequently a contractual requirement of landlords, venues and clients.
A customer slipped in my restaurant. Is that covered?
That is precisely what the policy responds to, along with the legal costs of defending it. Report it promptly even if the customer says nothing at the time — claims often arrive well after the incident.
Does it cover injury to my staff?
No. Employee injury is covered by workmen's compensation or employer's liability, which are separate and, for most employers, statutory.
What limit do I need?
Enough for a serious injury claim including defence costs, which is usually more than businesses assume. Contract minimums set a floor rather than an answer, and it is worth testing your limit against a realistic worst case.
Want a shortlist instead of a catalogue?
Tell us the situation and an advisor comes back with two or three options that actually fit — and names what each one gives up.