Excess Liability

Umbrella & Excess Liability Insurance

Excess liability insurance, sometimes called a commercial umbrella, adds an extra layer of liability protection above the limits of your existing business policies. It helps shield your company’s assets from a large or catastrophic claim.

How Excess Liability Works

When a covered claim exceeds the limit of an underlying policy — such as your general liability, commercial auto, or employer’s liability coverage — excess liability pays above that limit, up to the amount you select.

What is excess liability insurance?

It provides additional liability coverage above the limits of your underlying policies, such as general liability and commercial auto, to protect against large claims.

How is excess liability different from an umbrella policy?

The terms are often used interchangeably. An excess policy adds limits over a specific underlying policy, while an umbrella can both add limits and, in some cases, broaden coverage.

Which businesses need excess liability coverage?

Businesses with significant assets, higher-risk operations, or contracts that require higher limits often benefit from the added protection.

When does excess liability coverage pay?

It pays once the limit of the underlying policy has been exhausted by a covered claim, continuing up to your excess policy limit.

Why buy excess liability through an independent agent?

As an independent agency, Baer Insurance Services represents many carriers, so we can coordinate your underlying coverage and excess limits, with personal, local service.

Umbrella & Excess Liability Insurance — Coverages Can Include:

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  Excess limits over primary policies
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  Broad form coverage extensions
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  Legal defense costs
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  Defense from first dollar
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  $1M+ per occurrence limits
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  Catastrophic event protection
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  Gaps in underlying coverage
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  Personal injury liability