Assault and Battery Exclusions: The Restaurant Liability Gap

1 min read Brian Berge · Independent insurance agent in Arden Hills, MN

Q: How do assault and battery exclusions change restaurant liability coverage? A: Assault and battery exclusions let carriers cap bar-related injury payouts, forcing higher limits or endorsements.

Start here: General Liability & Premises Risk

Twin Cities winter sidewalks and entryways drive slip-and-fall frequency, which is why GL pricing reacts quickly.

Observed Reality

Restaurants with late-night hours or alcohol service see claims denied or capped in surprising ways.

Why That Happens

Assault and battery exclusions carve out bar-related incidents, shifting costs to the operator or a separate endorsement.

Tradeoffs

Endorsements raise premium but restore coverage where guest injury exposure is concentrated.

Price Levers

  • Exclusion wording and sublimits.
  • Endorsement pricing tiers tied to hours, sales, and security controls.
  • Carrier appetite for alcohol service.

Deeper context

For general liability context, see Restaurant GL: What Slip-and-Fall Frequency Really Costs.

Decision Rule

If late hours or alcohol sales drive exposure, confirm the exclusion and price the endorsement before renewal.

Minnesota note: claim patterns and contractor timelines vary by county, so Twin Cities experience isn’t always a perfect proxy for outstate Minnesota.

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