Liability · Insurance Term
Personal and Advertising Injury
Definition
Personal and advertising injury is the part of a general liability policy that covers certain harms that are not physical injuries. Examples include false arrest, malicious prosecution, wrongful eviction, wrongful entry, slander or libel, invasion of privacy and some advertising claims.
In Plain English
A commercial general liability policy has separate parts. One part covers bodily injury and property damage liability from accidents. Another part, usually called Coverage B, covers personal and advertising injury. It applies only to a list of named offenses, not to accidents.
For property owners, the offenses that matter most are often wrongful eviction, wrongful entry into a tenant's space and invasion of privacy. A store that holds a suspected shoplifter could face a false arrest claim. Your policy lists exactly which offenses are covered.
Coverage B has its own limit and its own exclusions. Many policies exclude harm done on purpose. Some also exclude certain data or privacy claims. Cyber liability insurance is a separate product.
Not sure how your policy handles this? Have us review it, or get a quote.
Example
Hypothetical and simplified: an apartment manager changes the locks on a unit during a rent dispute, and the tenant sues for wrongful eviction. That kind of claim may fall under personal and advertising injury coverage, depending on the policy's wording and exclusions.
What to Watch For
- Check the personal and advertising injury limit on your declarations page.
- Review the list of covered offenses and the exclusions, especially for apartments and retail.
- Ask whether privacy-related claims are excluded and whether you need separate cyber coverage.
- Train staff on lawful procedures for evictions, unit entry and shoplifting stops.
Last updated October 14, 2026 · Primesure editorial team · How We Write