What is Ontario liability insurance?
Liability insurance is your business's lifeline
Liability insurance refers to what is typically known in the insurance industry as General Liability Insurance or Commercial General Liability Insurance, but there are other types of business liability insurance as well. It is arguably the most important type of business insurance you can get. It protects you from a wide range of liabilities and incidents involving situations that may result in lawsuits and legal action.
Businesses are at a higher risk of liability than the average person, which is why the majority of Ontario-based businesses require liability insurance. It can help your business remain in business while you’re navigating the legal process, and save you money along the way.
Ontario liability insurance helps you offset legal costs and defend yourself and your business
Business insurers typically offer the first two legal benefits, and some insurers provide the third as well
Criminal Defense Fees
If the claim goes to court this covers lawyer fees
Settlement Fees
Whether settled out of court or court-ordered, this helps cover settlement costs
Courtroom Daily Allowance
Allows you to continue earning some income while on trial
Types of Ontario Liability Insurance
There are several different types of liability insurance available to Ontario businesses. Depending on the type of business you have, where you operate your business and the clients you work with, you might require:
- General liability insurance: Covers damages and claims stemming from incidents and injuries that occur on your property. This is a standard form of commercial insurance and the most common form of liability insurance
- Product liability insurance: May be covered under general liability, but refers specifically to negligence involving defective products or products that cause bodily harm
- Professional liability insurance: Protects you in the event a professional error has a negative impact on your client and/or results in financial loss
- Cyber liability insurance: Offered by some insurers to cover lawsuits resulting from security breaches and related cyber negligence
- Tenant legal liability: Covers property damages that occur on rented or leased property that you do not own
Liability insurance doesn’t just protect your business, it protects your employees, customers and clients too
Protection from legal action is one of the greatest benefits of Ontario liability insurance. In the event of a lawsuit, it protects:
Your Employees. Ontario liability insurance helps keep businesses operating during the legal process and gives employees peace of mind that their work is protected.
Your Customers. Customers visiting your property, using your products or hiring your expertise want to ensure they're working with a respectable company that stands by their products and services. Liability insurance is expected in certain industries and offers validation that your business takes liability seriously.
Your work. Everybody makes mistakes, but that doesn’t mean it needs to end your career or bankrupt your business. Liability insurance can ensure you’re able to continue working, earning income and operating your business during the legal process.
Your Business. If someone is injured on your property, for example, the legal and medical fees accrued can be enough to put small-to-medium sized businesses out of business entirely. Liability insurance keeps your business safe and helps offset the costs of defense fees in many situations.
What type of professional liability insurance do I need?
Liability insurance can be complicated as there are often overlapping terms for similar types of coverage. Professional liability insurance, errors and omissions (E&O) insurance and malpractice insurance are often used interchangeably, but there are some differences.
Professional liability insurance is a blanket term that covers a wide variety of professionals and businesses working in numerous industries. It is also referred to as errors and omissions insurance and malpractice insurance, which are different versions of the same thing.
Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance protects contractors, consultants and similar professionals who may make errors in paperwork or upon consultation. This is wider than it sounds. If you’re an IT consultant, for example, it can help if you if a strategy you implement leaves your customer exposed. If you’re an independent contractor, it can help you if you’re sued for under-delivering on a service. These types of situations result in lawsuits all the time, which is why errors and omissions insurance is vital for anyone offering professional advice or services.
Malpractice insurance is a variation of E&O insurance for professionals working in legal, medical, financial and related industries. Many insurance companies still classify this as E&O, while others break it down further to medical malpractice insurance, for example. Regardless of its name, malpractice insurance has the same purpose as professional liability insurance: to protect you in the event you are taken to court over a service or consultation you provide.
Types of businesses that require professional liability insurance
All businesses can benefit from professional liability insurance, including independent contractors
Mistakes happen. If you work in a profession where your expertise has the potential to put others at risk, either through financial risk or bodily harm, you need professional liability insurance.
Examples of businesses and individuals requiring professional liability insurance include:
- Accountants
- Doctors
- Contractors
- Consultants
- Lawyers
- Architects
- Carpenters
- Builders
- Hairdressers
- Strategists
- Landscapers
- IT professionals
- Event/wedding planners
- Aestheticians
There is more at stake than meets the eye, but you can protect your business with a liability insurance policy.
Ontario liability insurance frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Answers to some of the most common questions we get about liability insurance in Ontario
How much does liability insurance cost in Ontario?
It depends on a number of factors including the type of business you have. Best to consult with an insurance professional to talk about your specific needs.
What happens if I don’t get liability insurance?
In addition to the financial blow you might suffer in the event of a lawsuit, some clients may choose not do business with you without proof of liability insurance.
Is liability insurance a legal requirement for Ontario businesses?
Not necessarily, but it comes highly recommended by the Canada Business Network, a division of the Government of Canada. Additionally, numerous contracts require proof of liability insurance in order to secure a business deal. Whether you're a lawyer or a landscaper, your clients want to know that the work you're doing is insured in the event something goes wrong.
Where can I learn more about business insurance?
Check out our commercial insurance page to learn more about the other types of business insurance that are available so you can ensure your business is fully protected.
