What to Expect After a General Liability Incident
After you file a liability claim you may have questions on the process and your responsibilities. Below we’ll break out the stages of the liability process and explain what you can expect from us.
If you haven’t filed a claim, but there’s been an incident, consider reporting it as soon as possible. There are many benefits to capturing details about the incident if the claimant decides to file a lawsuit at a later date.
Every claim is different, so for specific questions regarding your claim, contact your Claim professional with the information provided in your confirmation email. If you have questions about your policy reach out to your broker or agent.
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Travelers logo, text: Understanding a Liability Claim
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If you own a business, events like an injury from a slip and fall
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A customer walks down the aisle of a grocery store and slips on a puddle of water near a mop bucket and wet floor sign.
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or other damage related to your operations can become a claim against you.
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Even if you don’t believe you’re at fault, you’ll want to contact Travelers.
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Here’s what to do if an incident occurs.
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First, ensure you treat the impacted party with empathy and respect.
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Taking steps to make them feel safe
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can reduce the risk of escalation.
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Next, document the incident. Collecting contact information and evidence like pictures of the scene of the accident
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and witness statements can be important to protecting your business in the future.
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If a claim is filed,
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you’ll receive a confirmation with your claim number,
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and we’ll assign a Claim professional who will reach out as soon as possible.
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Your Claim professional will work with you to gather details including any evidence you may have collected.
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You can also upload supporting documents on Travelers.com/upload.
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Once we’ve reviewed your claim, we’ll determine who’s responsible and develop a plan to resolve it.
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Claims can resolve in a few different ways.
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For example, we may negotiate a settlement or deny the claim if you are not responsible.
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Remember, we're here to support you at every step of the claim process.
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Travelers logo, TEXT: For more information about the process, visit Travelers.com/Claims
Text: (c) 2025, The Travelers Indemnity Company. All rights reserved. Travelers and the Travelers Umbrella logo are registered trademarks of the Travelers Indemnity Company in the U.S. and other countries. One Tower Square, Hartford, CT 06183.
This material does not amend, or otherwise affect the provisions of any insurance policy issued by Travelers. It is not a representation that coverage does or does not exist for any particular claim or loss under any such policy. Coverage depends on the facts and circumstances involved in the claim or loss, all applicable policy provisions, and any applicable law. Availability of coverage referenced in this can depend on underwriting qualifications and state regulations.
Stages of the general liability claim process
Status: Claim opening
Now that your claim has been filed, you should have a claim number and contact information for the Travelers Claim professional supporting you. As the claim progresses, keep this information handy, as it is the best way to refer to your claim when contacting us or accessing tools online.
The page below can help you understand the process for the injured third party and includes information regarding timelines and expectations. We’ll continue to work with you to establish details around the claim and make sure you’re getting the best service possible.
Status: Information gathering and assessment
During this stage, your Claim professional will work to gather information about the claim. Sources of information may include photos, medical bills and witness statements. In certain cases, we may involve one of our specialized services to develop a full picture of the incident.
If there are documents or photos you need to share, you can upload them using the "Upload a file" button below to get them to your Claim professional quickly. We’ll let you know if additional action is necessary.
Status: Liability evaluation
After relevant information has been gathered, we’ll determine liability. We may determine that more than one party is responsible for the accident and will contact them if necessary. Once we’ve made a decision about who is at fault, we will work to build a resolution plan.
Status: Resolution pending
At this stage, we’re working on wrapping up the claim. The claim may stay open for a variety of reasons including ongoing medical treatment or additional evidence needed such as estimates, medical records, invoices or bills.
Claims can resolve in a few different ways. For example, a settlement may be negotiated, liability may be denied or a claimant may withdraw the claim.
We will let you know when the claim is resolved. Depending on the size of the claim we may discuss the resolution plan with you ahead of time. If you have any questions about the resolution of your claim, please contact the assigned Claim professional.
Status: Claim resolved
At this stage your claim has been resolved and parties will have been notified of our liability determination. If needed, your Claim professional will contact the claimant to communicate a resolution.
Now’s a great time to think about assessing your risk to prevent future claims. Our Risk Control resources can help you learn more.
If you have questions about your premium or coverage as the claim is wrapped up, you may want to contact your broker or agent.
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