The decision to buy professional liability insurance is a watershed moment for most architects and young firms. It often means that the firm has been awarded a project at a significant scale or with a significant budget, or that a client has contacted the firm with concerns about a particular project. Or it may simply mean a firm is getting serious about the future.

The majority of claims against small firms in recent years came from residential projects.
Insurance statistics: Courtesy Victor O. Schinnerer & Company