Professional Liability Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance coverage is designed to protect traditional professionals (e.g., physicians, accountants, attorneys) and quasi-professionals (e.g., real estate brokers, insurance agents, home inspectors/appraisers) against liability incurred as a result of errors and omissions in performing professional services. Although there are a few exceptions, most professional liability policies cover economic losses suffered by third parties, as opposed to bodily injury and property damage (which is typically covered under commercial general liability policies). The vast majority of professional liability policies are written on a claims-made basis so policies pay only claims presented during the term of the policy or within a specified time frame after the policy expires.

Professionals are expected to have a certain level of technical competence in their particular discipline or field of expertise. It’s also expected that they will professionally and accurately perform their services, according to the common standards of conduct of their profession. For whatever reason, intended or unintended, if a professional person fails on the job, they can be held responsible for any harm they cause to another person or business.

Despite all your best efforts, well-trained employees and a strong best practices ethic, mistakes will occur. Even small mishaps can result in large lawsuits. That's why a professional liability insurance is essential of a comprehensive insurance program for most professionals.

If you are still unsure that professional liability insurance should be an integral part of your business insurance portfolio consider these claim scenarios.