Cover your business for product liability, protecting you against claims of injury or damage caused by products you’ve designed, manufactured, or sold.
What Is Product Liability Insurance?
Product liability insurance makes up part of your public liability insurance. It specifically protects your business if someone – a customer or client – makes a claim against you due to a faulty product.
This could involve the product injuring someone, damaging someone’s property, or failing to perform its intended tasks. For specialist industries such as construction, food and beverage manufacturing, and steel fabrication, if products fail, it could lead to hefty compensation claims.
What Does Product Liability Insurance Cover?
Product liability insurance covers claims arising from personal injury or property damage caused by products you have manufactured, sold, or supplied. This could include:
- Faults or defects in design or manufacture
- Inadequate instructions or safety warnings
- Contamination or spoilage (particularly in food production)
- Unexpected reactions or hazards from product use
It can help cover the cost of legal fees, compensation payouts, and any court-awarded damages, safeguarding your business from financial loss and reputational damage.
Plus, if you sell the products but don’t manufacture them in house, product liability insurance can cover you if the products were faulty when supplied to you.
Our clients include:
Key sectors
Automotive
Woodworking
Chemical
Electrical &
Electronics
Fashion & Footwear
Food & Drink
Plastics
Additive
Manufacturing
Metal
Fabrication
Creative/Digital
Agencies
Software Development
IT Service
Providers
Who Needs Product Liability Insurance?
Any business involved in manufacturing, importing, distributing, or retailing physical products should consider product liability cover.
If a product is faulty, your business can be held legally responsible if:
- Your company name is on the product
- You can’t identify the product’s manufacturer
- You imported the product from outside the European Union
From sole traders and SMEs to large manufacturers, this insurance provides essential protection for businesses of all sizes.
Product Liability Insurance v. Public Liability Insurance
While both types of insurance provide protection against claims made by third parties, they serve distinct purposes within a business’s risk management strategy.
Public liability insurance is designed to cover incidents that occur as a result of your business activities. This includes accidents on your premises, such as a customer slipping on a wet floor, or injuries and property damage caused while your staff are working off-site. It responds to claims where a third party alleges your actions or negligence have caused them harm or financial loss.
Product liability insurance, in contrast, applies once a product has left your control. If an item you have manufactured, supplied, or sold causes injury or damage after being purchased or distributed, this cover provides protection. Claims might relate to design faults, manufacturing defects, or inadequate instructions or warnings. Even if you did not produce the item yourself, you could still be held liable – particularly if the manufacturer is unknown, based abroad, or no longer trading.
In practice, many businesses require both types of insurance. For example, a catering company could face a public liability claim if a guest is injured by a spillage at an event, and a product liability claim if food they provided later causes food poisoning.
Holding both forms of cover ensures your business is protected from a wider range of potential risks, whether those arise from your day-to-day operations or from the products you bring to market.
Product Liability Insurance From Wentworth Alexander
With years of experience supporting UK businesses across a wide range of industries, Wentworth Alexander offers product liability insurance that you can rely on. We work with leading insurers to source robust cover at competitive rates and provide ongoing support throughout the life of your policy.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to review your current arrangements, our team is here to help.
Contact us
Get in touch about your insurance
Our team is ready to help you find the right insurance solution. Speak to our specialists today to discuss your insurance needs.
Our team will be happy to help and provide you with the advice you need.
Redlands
Cliftonville
Northampton
NN1 5BE
Product Liability Insurance FAQs
Is Product Liability Insurance A Legal Requirement?
It’s not a legal requirement in the UK, but it is highly recommended. If a claim is made against you and you don’t have appropriate cover, your business may be forced to pay out of pocket – potentially resulting in significant financial hardship or closure.
How Much Does Product Liability Insurance Cost?
Premiums vary depending on the size of your business, the industry you operate in, the volume of products you deal with, and your claims history. At Wentworth Alexander, we aim to offer competitive quotes based on your specific circumstances, so get in touch
How Do I Make A Claim On My Product Liability Insurance?
In the event of a claim, contact our team as soon as possible. We’ll guide you through the process, help you gather the necessary documentation, and liaise with the insurer on your behalf. Our goal is to make claims handling as straightforward and stress-free as possible.