On what basis are public liability insurance policies typically written?

Public liability insurance policies are typically written on an occurrence basis. This means that the policy covers incidents that happen during the policy period, regardless of when the claim is actually made. The key aspect of this type of coverage is that it focuses on when the accident occurred rather than when the claim was reported.

With occurrence-based policies, the insured is protected against claims for incidents that occurred while the policy was in force, even if the claim is filed after the policy has expired. This provides long-term peace of mind for policyholders, as they can be assured coverage for past incidents that may only come to light later.

The other types of policies mentioned, such as claims-made or losses occurring, function differently and focus on the timing of the claim or the specific circumstances of loss rather than just the occurrence of a covered event. Retrospective basis coverage is also less typical and usually pertains to specific niche scenarios. Therefore, occurrence basis is the most standard structure for public liability insurance.