General liability coverage, also called business liability or commercial general liability, is an essential form of small business insurance in Nevada. It can help pay for medical costs, damages and lawsuit expenses if a non-employee claims that your business caused an injury or property damage.

For instance, a customer at a small cafe in Las Vegas accuses a barista of spilling a scalding cup of coffee on their arm and seeks medical care. The business owner’s general liability coverage could help cover the customer’s medical expenses.

Cleaning and construction companies may also want to add tools and equipment coverage to their general liability policy. This optional add-on can help replace or repair essential work items that are stolen, lost or damaged.

State law requires most businesses with employees to carry Nevada workers’ compensation insurance. If a staff member gets hurt on the job, this type of coverage can help pay for medical bills and lost wages during recovery.

For example, an employee of a Henderson-based construction firm has a heat stroke working on a summer job, is rushed to the hospital and needs a few days off to recover. Workers’ comp coverage could help pay the employee’s medical bills and cover a portion of lost wages while they’re unable to work.

Nevada businesses that own vehicles or drive for business reasons need commercial auto insurance. That’s because personal auto coverage won’t pay for accidents while behind the wheel on business.

For instance, a self-employed plumber in Carson City has a wreck en route to a job near Lake Tahoe, damaging his work van and two other cars. Commercial auto insurance could help pay to repair the vehicle damages and cover medical bills if anyone suffers bodily injury.

Hired and non-owned auto coverage is an optional add-on to commercial auto policies. If you ask employees to drive their own vehicles or rent cars for business, you’ll want to make sure this type of coverage is included in your insurance needs.

Nevada commercial property insurance, sometimes called business property insurance, can help pay for business property that’s damaged or destroyed after a covered event, such as water, fire or wind incidents.

For example, a kitchen fire at a Las Vegas strip fast casual restaurant damages the cooking station. Commercial property coverage could help pay to repair the grill and replace items that were ruined.

It’s important to read your policy documents carefully to make sure there aren’t exclusions for your business. Some locations might not cover flood or hurricane damage.

Claims of professional negligence can result in a hefty bill even if you did nothing wrong.

That’s where professional liability coverage, which is also known as E&O or errors and omissions insurance, comes into play. It can help pay for damages or lawyers’ fees if you’re sued.

For example, a client alleges that an event planner failed to secure a conference room and AV equipment for an event at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center and demands reparations. The event planner’s professional liability insurance could help pay for damages to settle the claim, along with court costs and attorney bills if the client files a lawsuit.