Small business general liability claims

This is determined on a case-by-case basis and may depend on whether the claim goes into litigation or if certain types of claims require counsel. You are always able to retain your own counsel at your own expense, either to monitor the claim or to advise on potential excess exposure issues. Whether or not Liberty Mutual retains counsel is determined on a case-by-case basis. If Liberty Mutual retains counsel, it will be at our expense.

If the claimant files a lawsuit, please note the date, time, and method of service (the way you were informed of the lawsuit), then contact your claims adjuster immediately and provide copies of the legal documents. Liberty Mutual will review the lawsuit and then reach out to you to discuss next steps.

Medical bills may be submitted throughout the life of the claim, and our responses vary by state. Please contact your assigned adjuster regarding how medical bills are handled in your venue. The timing and handling of medical bill consideration may depend on whether you have medical payments coverage or if the claim is being handled under liability coverage.

Claim values are determined through a detailed review of all available evidence, the value of related economic damages, and an evaluation of general damages based on our experience and knowledge.

Actual Cash Value is the current market value of an item after accounting for depreciation (age, wear, and tear) from its original replacement cost.

Depreciation is the accounting method of spreading the cost of a long-term asset (like machinery or a vehicle) over its useful life, reflecting its gradual decrease in value from wear, tear, or obsolescence.

Replacement cost is the amount it takes to buy or rebuild an item of like kind and quality at today’s prices.

“At fault” refers to who is considered responsible for causing the accident or injury.

Yes. Please retain any damaged property until we have advised you that it is appropriate to dispose of it.

This is specific to each state, so please contact your adjuster for details regarding your situation. Generally, if the claimant is partially at fault, the amount the claimant can recover may be reduced.

The length of the claims process depends on many factors, including the severity and complexity of the claimed damages. For a more specific estimate, please contact your claims adjuster.

If you are unable to reach your adjuster, you may contact our customer service team at 844-325-2467 for assistance or connection to the adjuster’s manager.