Does General Liability Cover Employee Injuries?

CGL is primarily third-party liability insurance. The standard ISO form contains an employer’s liability exclusion for bodily injury to an employee arising out of and in the course of employment, along with restrictions involving obligations under workers’ compensation laws. That means a worker hurt while doing the job should not be assumed to have a claim covered by the employer’s general liability policy. Rules and available coverages can vary by state and employment arrangement.

Workers’ compensation is a separate line, and employers liability may respond to certain lawsuits outside the workers’ compensation benefit system, subject to its own terms. Ask your broker which policy covers each employee injury scenario, including temporary and leased workers, and check the named insureds, state coverage, exclusions, and limits. The California Department of Insurance lists workers’ compensation separately from CGL in its commercial insurance guide.