When Things Turn Physical, Coverage Shouldn't Vanish.
The coverage your general liability policy quietly took out
Assault and battery liability insurance covers bodily injury, and the cost of defending it, when a fight, altercation, or use-of-force incident happens at your business. It matters because of a detail most owners never notice until it's too late: standard general liability policies routinely exclude or sharply sublimit assault and battery, especially for bars, nightclubs, venues, security firms, and other places where people, alcohol, and crowds mix. When an incident happens and the injured party sues — naming the business for negligent security or failing to protect them — that exclusion is exactly where the coverage disappears. This insurance restores it.
For a whole category of businesses, assault and battery isn't a remote risk — it's the claim most likely to land, and the one a bare GL policy is least likely to pay.
What Assault & Battery Liability Covers
Assault and battery coverage typically provides:
Bodily Injury From Altercations — Injuries to patrons, guests, or third parties arising from a fight or physical altercation on the premises.
Negligent Security / Failure to Protect — Claims that the business failed to provide adequate security, staffing, or supervision and that a patron was harmed as a result.
Use-of-Force by Staff & Security — Vicarious liability for reasonable force used by employees, bouncers, or contracted security in the course of their duties.
Defense Costs — Legal defense for covered assault and battery claims — often the largest early cost, even when the business is not ultimately liable.
Mental Anguish & Related Damages — Emotional-distress damages arising from a covered incident, where included.
What It Does Not Cover
Assault and battery policies commonly exclude:
Intentional, criminal, or malicious acts by the owner or named insured
Excessive or unreasonable force beyond what the situation called for
Sexual abuse and molestation (covered under abuse and molestation liability)
Firearms-related incidents, unless specifically scheduled
Claims arising from a failure to maintain required security as warranted
Coverage depends heavily on the policy's definitions, sublimits, and any security warranties.
Who Needs Assault & Battery Liability?
This coverage is important for:
Bars, taverns, nightclubs, and lounges
Restaurants with bars, breweries, and entertainment venues
Concert halls, event venues, and festivals
Hotels, apartments, and habitational properties
Security guard firms and companies that employ bouncers
Casinos, hookah lounges, and cannabis consumption lounges
Convenience stores, gas stations, and late-night retail
If your business draws crowds, serves alcohol, or employs security, this is a primary exposure.
How Coverage Is Structured
Assault and battery coverage is typically arranged as:
A sublimit inside the general liability policy — often well below the GL limit
A buy-back endorsement that restores coverage the base policy excluded
A standalone assault and battery policy for higher-risk venues
Per-occurrence and aggregate limits, which may differ from the GL limits
Defense inside or outside the limit — a critical detail to confirm
Often paired with security-staffing, camera, or crowd-management warranties
The sublimit and defense structure usually matter more than the headline GL limit.
Real-World Claim Examples
A fight breaks out between patrons at a bar and one is seriously injured
A guest alleges a venue's security failed to intervene or protect them
A bouncer uses force removing a patron and a battery claim follows
A late-night altercation at a convenience store injures a customer
An incident at an apartment complex draws a negligent-security claim
In each case, a standard GL policy may exclude or sublimit the claim — this coverage responds.
Why Proper Placement Matters
Assault and battery coverage varies widely based on:
Whether it's a GL sublimit, a buy-back, or a standalone policy
The sublimit amount relative to the real exposure
Whether defense is inside or outside the limit
Security-staffing and crowd-management warranties
How use-of-force by staff and contracted security is treated
A low sublimit or an unmet warranty can leave the business exposed on its most likely claim.
Our Approach
At Cory Washington & Co., we treat assault and battery as a primary exposure for the businesses that actually face it — not a footnote buried in a GL exclusion. We confirm what your base policy excludes, place a sublimit, buy-back, or standalone limit sized to the real risk, and make sure the defense structure and any security warranties are ones you can actually meet. For related coverage, see our liquor liability and active shooter and workplace violence pages; for the operations most exposed, our bar and tavern, nightclub, and security guard business pages.
The crowd is the business. We make sure a bad night doesn't end it.
All insurance descriptions on this website are provided by Cory Washington & Co. LLC strictly for general informational purposes. They are not intended to be, and should not be relied upon as, legal, financial, or insurance advice. The information presented is general in nature and does not guarantee the availability, terms, conditions, or scope of any insurance coverage. Actual coverage is determined solely by the specific policy language issued by the insurer and remains subject to underwriting approval. Nothing on this website creates or implies an agent-client relationship, binds coverage, or alters any existing policy. Cory Washington & Co. LLC expressly disclaims any liability for actions taken, or not taken, based on the content provided here. For advice regarding your particular situation, please consult directly with a licensed insurance professional at Cory Washington & Co. LLC or another qualified insurance professional, and always review your policy documents in full.
See what to confirm in a assault & battery liability policy — what's standard, what's often limited, and what to add if needed — plus the gap most often missed, in the Assault & Battery Liability Policy Feature Checklist.
Complete the Assault & Battery Liability Supplemental online in a few guided steps, download the fillable PDF, or browse all applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get assault & battery liability insurance through Cory Washington & Co.?
Request a quote or contact our team. We start with a short conversation about your operations, analyze your exposures, then negotiate assault & battery liability insurance across multiple carriers that compete for your account and present options with the trade-offs explained. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
How are assault & battery liability insurance premiums priced?
Premiums vary from business to business. The main drivers of assault & battery liability insurance pricing are the nature of your operations, your revenue and payroll, your loss history, and the limits you carry. Rather than quote a flat figure, we negotiate across several markets and walk you through the options, so you only pay for the protection you actually need.
Is assault & battery liability insurance mandatory?
Requirements vary. Assault & battery liability insurance may be mandated by statute, or required under your contracts, leases, or loan agreements — and in many cases it is simply prudent given the risks involved. We look at your specific obligations and exposures, then recommend the coverage and limits that fit.
What if another agency has already declined or non-renewed my coverage?
Difficult, specialty, and previously-declined placements are a core part of our work. We access excess & surplus (E&S) and specialty markets that many generalist agencies cannot, and we explain the trade-offs clearly so you can decide with confidence.
Available in all 50 states. See how requirements differ in California, Texas, Florida, New York, or choose your state.