Virginia General Liability Insurance

As a business owner in Virginia, you should consider multiple types of business insurance to protect against a variety of accidents, such as property damage, professional errors, and employee injury. These accidents can result in prohibitively high legal expenses and collection charges, which can be challenging to overcome on your own.

According to the Small Business Administration, there are about 766,800 small businesses in Virginia, which account for 99.5% of all firms in the state. The state of Virginia requires these small firms, which employ a total of 1.6 million people, to carry workers’ compensation insurance along with general liability.

What General Liability Insurance In Virginia Covers 

General liability insurance in Virginia provides the fundamental protection your business needs in the event of accidents, errors, or lawsuits. It comes in a variety of forms that can be modified based on your business’s requirements and how you engage with the public. Here is some coverage you may require:

Bodily Injury & Property Damage Liability

A general liability policy could provide coverage if someone is injured on your property, even in the case of a lawsuit. Suppose an employee of a guttering firm lowers a gutter over the roof edge and strikes a pedestrian strolling below. Coverage for bodily injuries protects the pedestrian.

Personal & Advertising Injury

General liability protects you from libel, defamation, and copyright infringement claims in the event of a lawsuit. For example, if you were to face a class action lawsuit alleging that your advertising contained deceptive material, this coverage would assist you in defending yourself in court and paying damages.

Medical Expenses

Medical Expense coverage differs from other liability insurance in that it pays regardless of negligence. In other words, you are not required to admit your fault, but you are still obligated to pay for any injuries caused by your firm. Let’s imagine a customer loses their equilibrium and sprains their ankle after falling inside a retail store. As a show of goodwill, this coverage will pay for the injured person’s medical expenses.

Fire Legal Liability

With a general liability policy, this coverage safeguards your firm from fire liability for leased space. A fire that begins in a hair salon because a curling iron was left on in a strip mall would be an example. Fire Legal will handle the maintenance of your leased space.

Quick Small Business Statistics In Virginia 

The economy of the Commonwealth of Virginia is solid. At $476.4 billion, the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) ranks thirteenth in the nation. Agriculture, high-tech sectors, and the military provide for the majority of the country’s revenue.

The Department of Defense has a significant impact on Virginia’s economy. Numerous defense departments, including the Pentagon, have their headquarters in the state. The majority of the funds allocated to these organizations trickle down to the state economy.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) also have a significant presence in the state, thanks to a business-friendly atmosphere and local government incentives that give them a greater chance of competing with Fortune 500 companies like General Dynamics, Dollar Tree, and Amazon.

There are obscure tax provisions in the state that may inhibit efforts to assist SMBs flourish.

Here is some intriguing data on small businesses in Virginia:

• The average median salary for self-employed Virginia citizens who manage incorporated companies is $54,830. The median salary of unincorporated business owners is $24,748.
• In Virginia, there are 766,826 SMBs, which is 99.5% of all businesses.
• Approximately 1.6 million employees receive their paychecks from SMBs. That is 47.1% of all state employees.
• In 2019, small enterprises generated 39,397 new jobs. There were 29,300 new jobs created by businesses with fewer than 20 employees.
• In 2019, 6,385 small businesses ceased operations — this resulted in the loss of 21,560 jobs.
• Virginia’s tax regulations are extremely severe. For instance, restaurants and cafes are subject to a 5% tax, a 4% state tax, and a 1% local tax. Food purchased for in-home consumption (or takeout) is subject to a 2.5% federal tax, a 1.5% state tax, and a 1% local tax.
• Virginia has one of the nation’s lowest unemployment rates, at 2.9%. This results in an extremely competitive labor market, which can be somewhat intimidating for SMBs. Offering excellent compensation packages and incentives, these companies frequently compete aggressively with other larger organizations for top talent.
• With a total of 233,757 employees, small businesses in the scientific, professional, and technical services sectors account for 50% of the total private employment.
• In the utility industry, there are just 299 small businesses. Twenty-four of these businesses have fewer than 20 employees.
• There are 6,143 small export businesses in Virginia. They account for 29% of the state’s total export earnings of $17.3 billion.

Learn about Virginia Commercial Trucking Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are frequently asked questions regarding general liability insurance in Virginia:

How much is general liability insurance in Virginia?

A typical Virginia small business should expect to pay between $300 and $5,000 a year for a general liability policy. Based on the SIC code or the insurance company’s own classification method for GL rating, the final cost of liability coverage for different businesses will vary dramatically.

Is general liability insurance required by law in Virginia?

Although you are not legally compelled to carry additional coverage in Virginia, you should probably do so. A general liability policy or a BOP might assist in covering unanticipated costs associated with work-related accidents.

How much liability insurance do I need in Virginia?

In Virginia, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle without the minimum legal liability coverage:

• Injury to the body: $30,000 per victim and $60,000 per incident 
• Property damage: $20,000 per accident 
• Bodily injury caused by an uninsured motorist: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident

Beyond general liability, there’s more to safeguard your Virginia-based business. Explore our dedicated post on Virginia Commercial Auto Insurance to understand how to protect your fleet and road operations in the Old Dominion.

Whether you need assistance obtaining a quotation, comprehending general liability class codes, or filing a claim, we’ve got you covered. For more information, obtain a free online quote for general liability insurance from us today.