articles/Insurance/aquestionofinsurance-page2

A question of insurance - part 2 of 1 2 3 4 5 6

Published 01/11/2008

The other thing PL covers is third-party property damage. This would cover you if you damaged someone else's property whilst conducting some photographic work. For example, you could lean against a wall and knock part of it over with your weight as you are taking the picture! The fact that the wall was not 'secure' enough is no protection in law. You would be responsible for the repair to it - after all, the property owner would argue that the wall was fine before you leaned on it! A simple accident like this could cost in the region of a £1,000 - something you wouldn't want to have to find as a photographer! Or, a more common claim would be knocking over something in a client's house whilst you were there on business. Unlike other parts of PL cover, there is traditionally a £250 excess for third party property damage, so it is worth remembering to try to be as careful as you can when you're dealing with others!

PL cover is for damage to another person or their property whilst professional indemnity, or PI as it is known, covers your liability for failing to produce work to a professional standard. Professional indemnity insurance provides you with financial protection for your business and the costs of defending claims made against you, including damages that may become payable. Claims can occur where a client or other person suffers financial loss as a result of alleged errors or omissions on your part.

PI cover is a MUST for one-off events like weddings, where you have been booked to provide photographs, but is unlikely to be needed at events where you would 'sell' photographs afterwards to make money - after all, if you don't get the shot that is wanted, you won't sell any pictures! You may be sued unfairly by a client who is merely dissatisfied, but has no valid claim. This would involve you in substantial legal costs and nonproductive time. From the legal standpoint, the position with regard to the 'duty of care' is the same for any professional. If you offer a service in a specific area or set yourself up as a specialist, you owe a 'duty of care' to anybody who might reasonably rely upon your service and advice over and above that owed by the ordinary man in the street.

A good example of where PI would be useful is if you were to undertake wedding photography and the bride and groom felt the pictures you produced were substandard or you were unable to produce them as the film had been lost or stolen, or the data card wiped. They may then choose to issue legal proceedings against you. If this was the case, PI insurance would cover the costs of defending and/or settling the claim.

Always look to buy this cover from a reputable insurance provider in your specialist market. A number of high street insurance brokers will charge you £60-£100 for PL cover but the most common carrier usually won't cover you whilst you're in someone's home and a number of the other Iinsurers just don't understand anything about photography!

If you're a member of the Society, then a combined PL of £2 million and PI of £75,000 will cost you £110 per year if you are based in the UK with Aaduki.

Some photographers feel that the equipment is their 'life blood' and they couldn't do without it so for them then insurance is the most sensible solution. It means they have some 'hiring in costs' should the worst happen and they need equipment to continue with work commitments whilst any claim is being considered.

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