Expert Witness Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages an expert witness business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for independent expert witnesses and expert firms. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual services, contracts, and clients.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Liability / E&O (Expert Witness) | Covers suits by your own client over errors — confirm testimony is not excluded. | Core | |
| Disciplinary / Licensing Board Defense | Covers board reviews triggered by your testimony. | Core | |
| General Liability | Covers injury or damage during site and product inspections. | Core | |
| Cyber Liability | Covers privileged and personal data in case files. | Prevalent | |
| Business Owner's Policy | Covers office contents and business income. | Prevalent | |
| Hired & Non-Owned Auto | Covers travel to depositions, trials, and inspections. | Prevalent | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers staff if you have employees. | Prevalent | |
| Contractual Liability | Covers indemnities in retention letters. | Situational | |
| Media / Defamation Liability | Covers articles and statements outside the courtroom. | Situational | |
| Subpoena Response Costs | Covers responding to subpoenas and records demands. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by expert witnesses is assuming witness immunity protects them. Six states allow clients to sue their own expert, the UK ended expert immunity in 2011, and general consulting E&O policies may exclude testimony and litigation support. Confirm your E&O names expert witness services, and add licensing board defense.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your expert witness coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Expert Witness Insurance · Expert Witness Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does an expert witness business need?
The core coverages for an expert witness business are Professional Liability / E&O (Expert Witness), Disciplinary / Licensing Board Defense, General Liability. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my expert witness coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.