Public liability is commonly discussed when a business interacts with customers, visitors, suppliers, contractors, landlords, or members of the public. It may become relevant if business activity causes injury to another person or damage to someone else's property.
Examples can include a customer slipping in a store, a contractor damaging a client's premises, or a product display damaging property. The exact response depends on the policy wording, facts, exclusions, excess, and legal liability position.
A common misunderstanding is that public liability covers every dispute with a customer. It usually does not replace professional indemnity, statutory liability, product recall, cyber cover, or contract performance obligations.
When discussing public liability, the useful questions are practical: where do people visit, what work is done away from premises, what goods are sold, what subcontractors are used, and what contracts require.