Extra liability limits layered above your general liability, commercial auto, and employer's liability policies — for the claim that's bigger than your primary limits.
A commercial umbrella policy adds an extra layer of liability protection above the limits of your existing general liability, commercial auto, and employer's liability policies. Once a covered claim exceeds the underlying policy's limit, the umbrella responds and continues paying up to its own limit — protecting business assets from a judgment that would otherwise exceed your primary coverage.
A single serious incident — a customer injury with significant medical costs, a vehicle accident with multiple injured parties, or a large property damage claim — can quickly exceed a $1,000,000 general liability or auto limit. Some larger contracts and leases in Arizona also specifically require combined liability limits that are easiest to satisfy with an umbrella layer rather than raising every underlying policy individually.
An umbrella policy generally doesn't broaden coverage beyond what your underlying policies already provide — it extends the limit, following the terms of the policy beneath it. That makes the strength of your underlying general liability and auto policies directly relevant to how well the umbrella performs. We review the full stack together, not just the top layer, when we quote umbrella coverage.
It depends on your risk exposure and any contract requirements. We review your existing limits and your clients' or landlords' contractual requirements before recommending a layer size.
Generally yes, as long as your underlying policies meet the umbrella carrier's minimum required limits — we'll confirm that fit before binding coverage.
Typically it sits above employer's liability (Part B of workers' comp), not the statutory workers' comp benefits themselves, which are handled under state law.
Call or text 480.789.1844 to review whether an umbrella policy fits your Arizona business.