As a business owner, it can be hard to understand why you have to have liability insurance. It's money that you have to pay for something that has a very small chance of happening. However, if something does happen, it can put you out of business. Here are some examples of things that might make you need liability insurance.

Someone Spills Coffee

You might think a spilled coffee is something you'd never even notice, but slip and fall lawsuits are one of the most common types of liability claims. If someone spills their drink on the floor, they might not clean it up or the floor might be slippery after someone mops.

As the business owner, you are responsible if someone slips and falls on your property. It doesn't matter who made the spill or who was supposed to clean it up.

Your Office Chair Breaks

You might have an office chair break when someone is sitting it. That person could hit their head or break an arm. This might happen if the chair couldn't support their weight, they were sitting in it wrong, or the chair was previously damaged.

You might think that the chair's manufacturer would be responsible for this type of injury. There are some cases where you could sue them, but your customer could still sue you first. Your liability insurance also covers your legal defense and the cost of getting reimbursed from the manufacturer.

There are also claims that you could be directly responsible. For example, you might not have assembled the chair correctly or missed damage because you never inspected it.

Your Contractor Doesn't Show Up

You might have a contractor that's responsible for things like mopping, clearing snow, or trimming your trees. Anything that can affect the safety of people who visit your business is ultimately your responsibility. If your contractor doesn't show up, doesn't fix or prevent a problem, and someone gets hurt, you are responsible the same as if you would be if you normally did that maintenance yourself.

You Damage Someone's Property

Liability insurance also covers you if you damage someone's property. This might be at a customer's location such as if you mow lawns and knock a rock into their window. It also might be on your own property if you accidentally damage their computer, car, or other belongings while they're visiting.

To learn more about liability insurance, contact a local liability insurance company today.