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Who Needs Professional Liability Insurance?

Updated 12:50 PM EST, Mon October 26, 2020

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No matter how perfectly you try to run your business and meet your customers’ needs, mistakes can happen. If they do and lead to a lawsuit, professional liability insurance can help.
 
Many of our customers have asked us, “Who needs professional liability insurance?” The simple answer is: it’s a good idea to have coverage if you deal directly with customers and provide a professional service.
 
Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, can help protect your business if someone sues you for your professional services claiming:
 
  • Negligence
  • Errors
  • Omissions

Why Do I Need Professional Liability Insurance?

Clients can sue your business if you make a mistake in your professional services. Even if you don’t actually make a mistake, you can still get sued if someone thinks your business is the reason for their financial loss. If that happens, E&O insurance can help cover your:
 
  • Defense costs
  • Settlement amounts
  • Judgments
Without errors and omissions insurance, you’d have to pay these costs out of pocket.
 
This insurance even helps protect your business if you have temporary employees who make a mistake.
 
Be aware that professional liability insurance doesn’t cover all types of claims, though. For example, it won’t help if someone sues your company for bodily injury after a slip and fall. It also won’t help with claims that your business caused property damage to someone’s belongings. A general liability insurance policy can help with these kinds of claims.
 

Professional Liability Insurance Requirements

So, when is professional liability insurance needed? And when it comes to your business, do you need professional liability insurance? In most cases, professional liability insurance isn’t required by law. But, you may need this type of business insurance if your:
 
  • Client requires it as part of a contract before work starts
  • State has a law that requires it
  • Industry is required by federal regulations to carry coverage
It’s a good idea to check your state’s laws to see if your business needs professional liability insurance. If you don’t have this insurance when it’s required, you may have to pay a fine or penalty.
 

Professional Liability Insurance Requirements for Consultants

Consultants may have to carry professional liability insurance as a requirement before any work can start. Clients may require this coverage because it helps protect them from lawsuits if you make a mistake in your work.
 
If you make a mistake or error in your services, our professional liability insurance for consultants can help protect you.
 

Get a Quote for Professional Liability Insurance

We’re backed by more than 200 years of experience. Whether you own a small business or a large corporation, we understand every business owners’ needs are unique. Our specialists are here to help answer your questions and get you the right type of coverage for your business. They can help you understand how professional liability insurance works. From what’s considered as covered claims to a retroactive date, we’re here to make sure you know how your policy can help your business.
 
Get a professional liability insurance quote today and learn how we can start protecting your company.

The Hartford shall not be liable for any damages in connection with the use of any information provided on this page. Please consult with your insurance agent/broker or insurance company to determine specific coverage needs as this information is intended to be educational in nature.
 
The information contained on this page should not be construed as specific legal, HR, financial, or insurance advice and is not a guarantee of coverage. In the event of a loss or claim, coverage determinations will be subject to the policy language, and any potential claim payment will be determined following a claim investigation.
 
Certain coverages vary by state and may not be available to all businesses. All Hartford coverages and services described on this page may be offered by one or more of the property and casualty insurance company subsidiaries of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. In TX, this insurance is written by Sentinel Insurance Company, Ltd., Hartford Casualty Insurance Company, Hartford Lloyd’s Insurance Company, Property and Casualty Insurance Company of Hartford, Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company, Twin City Fire Insurance Company, Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company and Hartford Fire Insurance Company. In Arizona, New Hampshire, Washington and California, the insurance is underwritten by Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company, Hartford Casualty Insurance Company, Hartford Fire Insurance Company, Hartford Insurance Company of Illinois, Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest, Hartford Lloyd’s Insurance Company, Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company, Maxum Casualty Insurance Company, Maxum Indemnity Company, Navigators Insurance Company, Navigators Specialty Insurance Company, Pacific Insurance Company, Property and Casualty Insurance Company of Hartford, Sentinel Insurance Company, Ltd., Trumbull Insurance Company and Twin City Fire Insurance Company. The Hartford® is The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Hartford Fire Insurance Company.
 
The Hartford® is The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and its property and casualty subsidiaries, including Hartford Fire Insurance Company. Its headquarters is in Hartford, CT.
 
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