GETTING STARTED
Three points to consider
- Identify third-party harm associated with the activity.
- Distinguish operational, professional and product risks.
- Compare the sum insured, territory, excesses and exclusions.
What does business liability mean?
The assessment focuses on liability for harm caused to others in the course of the declared activity, according to the policy and applicable framework. Establish who may suffer harm, in what circumstances and why it could be attributed to the business.
Protecting the business’s own assets is a different need. Liability and business multi-risk insurance should therefore be assessed according to their respective functions, without assuming one resolves the other’s risks.
Operational, professional and product risks are different exposures
Activities at your premises or clients’ sites may create operational liability needs. Errors or omissions in professional services and harm connected with products may require separate arrangements.
Describe what the business does, where it works, what products it supplies and whether it uses subcontractors. A CAE code helps identify the activity but does not replace this operational description.
Sum insured, excess and quotation limits
Check whether the sum insured applies per claim, per period or with other limits. Check the excess and any sub-limits for specific covers. Reading these terms helps identify the share of risk retained by the business.
Amounts required by a customer or commercial contract should be assessed with the intermediary. A contractual requirement alone does not confirm that every liability the business accepts can be transferred to the insurer.
Work at clients’ sites and specific risks
Damage to adjacent or existing property, cables and pipes, machinery operation, and loading and unloading are examples of needs the form allows you to identify. Selection indicates what you want assessed; it is not acceptance or automatic inclusion.
If you work outside Portugal, state the countries and corresponding turnover. Clarify territorial scope, relevant jurisdictions and other quotation terms before assuming the same insurance responds everywhere.
Example: work at a client’s premises
Work may involve nearby client property, equipment used by the business, and transport or unloading operations. Describing each exposure lets you ask which are covered and which require additional protection.
This example does not determine liability or guarantee payment. If a claim is made, assessment depends on the facts, agreed terms and applicable framework. Also confirm how to report the incident and which information to retain.
Preparing a liability insurance request
Gather the CAE code, intended sum insured, territorial scope and turnover by country. Identify the covers you want assessed and describe relevant operations to the intermediary. If customers impose requirements, mention them for assessment through the appropriate channel.
Before taking out the policy, ask about exclusions, notification deadlines and conditions applying to claims. RMACHADO GROUP helps prepare the request and explain the quotation.
A question to clarify before deciding
Are the relevant activity and premises included in the proposed non-contractual liability cover?
The product examples mentioned in the frequently asked questions illustrate possible differences. They are not an offer from RMACHADO and do not show that a particular cover is included in your policy. Availability, acceptance and terms must be confirmed in the specific quotation.
What to compare in a quotation
Use these questions to clarify differences that could affect your decision.
| Comparison point | Question to clarify |
|---|---|
| Activity | Which operations and people are covered? |
| Limits | Is the sum insured per claim, per period or subject to sub-limits? |
| Territory | Where may damage occur and claims be brought? |
| Exclusions | Which liabilities fall outside the protection? |
Frequently asked questions
Are business liability and professional indemnity insurance the same?
Not necessarily. Business operations and professional services may require different covers. Describe both if they form part of the activity.
Does the insurance cover every customer complaint?
No. A complaint alone does not establish liability or cover. The facts, declared activity and policy terms matter.
Is liability insurance always compulsory?
There are compulsory and optional liability policies. The obligation and requirements must be checked for the particular occupation or activity.
Can damage occurring at the premises form part of this assessment?
Lusitania’s information includes harm to third parties at the premises and arising from the activity. Confirm the specific quotation’s scope.
Does cover concern only physical property?
The offer consulted distinguishes financial and non-financial consequences of bodily injury or property damage. Check the policy definitions.
Are non-contractual liability and commitments accepted in a contract equivalent?
Lusitania’s information describes legally attributable non-contractual liability. A contractual commitment requires separate assessment; do not assume equivalence.
THE NEXT STEP
A review starts with your details.
Prepare the request, check the summary and submit it when correct. A record is created only after final submission; the request does not activate insurance.
Prepare a quotation request ↗Further information
Consult institutional sources and reference documents. Insurer pages illustrate specific products; their terms are not necessarily included in any quotation presented by RMACHADO GROUP. Some linked sources are in Portuguese.
General information from RMACHADO GROUP. Examples are illustrative and do not guarantee cover, price or outcome. Terms, acceptance and cover depend on the quotation and policy. The intermediary does not underwrite the risks.