General liability insurance in Washington

What general liability covers in Washington

General liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage claims you may face as a business owner. When a customer or third party is injured on your property or harmed by your products or completed work, your general liability policy steps in to pay medical bills, property damage, and legal defense costs.

• Bodily injury. pays medical bills, lost wages, and legal judgments when someone is injured as a result of your business operations, products, or premises
• Property damage. covers damage your business causes to someone else's building, vehicle, equipment, or other property
• Products and completed operations. protects you after you've shipped a product or finished a job; covers claims that arise from the product or work you performed
• Legal defense. your carrier pays attorneys and court costs even while defending a claim, subject to policy limits
• Additional insured. you can add clients, property owners, or partners as “additional insureds” on your policy, extending protection to them

Choosing your coverage limits

Washington law does not mandate a specific general liability limit for most businesses, but your customers, landlords, lenders, and contracts often do. The two most common limits are $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. Contractors, trades, and manufacturers often need higher limits or specialized coverage.

• $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate (common for small and mid-sized businesses)
• $2 million per occurrence / $4 million aggregate (common for contractors and higher-risk trades)
• Project-specific or umbrella policies for larger or one-time exposures

Washington-specific considerations

Washington's construction and trades sector is substantial, and contractor registration with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries is required for most construction work over $3,000. Maintain your general liability policy continuously to avoid affecting your contractor license. Tech and professional services businesses benefit from higher limits due to the concentration of venture capital and high-value contracts in the region.

How to lower your premium

• Bundle general liability with commercial property or business owners policy for a multi-line discount
• Implement documented workplace safety and loss-prevention programs
• Ask about loss-control services and risk management consultation from your carrier
• Keep a clean claims history; avoid lapses in coverage
• Review and update your coverage annually as your business grows

Additional insured and certificate requests

Customers and property owners often require you to add them as an “additional insured” on your policy, and to provide a certificate of insurance (COI) naming them. This is routine and inexpensive. Maru helps you manage these requests and keeps your certificates current.

Why buy general liability through Maru

Maru compares general liability carriers and limits across our network, ensuring you get the right coverage for your specific industry and risk profile. We handle additional insured endorsements, certificate requests, and renewal shopping automatically — so you stay protected and compliant without the administrative burden.

Frequently asked questions

Vadim — Maru Insurance
Licensed independent insurance agent · WA & FL
Written and reviewed by a licensed Maru advisor. Maru Insurance is an independent agency (WA License WAOIC #1365574, FL License #G363233) representing multiple A-rated carriers across Washington and Florida.