Any writer or author who has set up his or her own small business should consider a general liability policy – it’s often required for contracts and other agreements. Do you need insurance as a freelance writer? There are three types of insurance that every freelance writer needs: liability, property and medical.
Liability Insurance
Liability: Liability insurance covers against legal action related to your work.
At a minimum, you should at least have some kind of professional liability insurance to protect yourself. Non-fiction is about real things, real people, places and concrete information, and it’s easier to go wrong. Fiction authors can be sued but it’s much harder to prove unless the words are copied, word for word.
Health and Other Key Insurance Types
The most important insurance is health insurance. Everyone should have it, as it covers medical expenses if you get sick or injured. Auto insurance provides financial protection if you have an accident, covering other drivers and pedestrians. What state does not require car insurance? Virginia and New Hampshire don’t require it.
Life insurance plans give financial security to meet expenses if you pass away. Good insurance should pay claims regardless of damages. Commercial liability insurance offers protection against third party claims for property damage or injury during business. It covers paying compensation and legal expenses. Insurance refers to risk covered for an individual. The most common types are auto, life and homeowners insurance.
Insurance for Self-Published Authors
Do self-published authors need insurance? Self-published authors who have set up small businesses should consider liability insurance. It often is required for contracts. Freelance writers need three insurance types: liability, property, and medical. Liability insurance covers legal action related to your work. At minimum, have professional liability insurance to protect yourself. Fiction is harder to sue unless words are copied exactly. You only pay for protection you need. Health insurance covers medical costs if you get sick or hurt. Everyone needs it. Auto insurance pays if you have a car accident. Virginia and New Hampshire don’t require it. Life insurance provides money to cover expenses if you pass away. Good insurance pays claims no matter what. Most common insurance types are auto, life and homeowners.
When and Why You Need Public Liability Insurance
Having Professional Indemnity insurance protects you if sued by covering legal costs and damages payable. Public Liability Insurance for Authors covers if you or employees visit a customer and cause injury. It covers if a member of public comes to your place of business, is injured, and claims against you. It protects if such accidents occur and a claim is made. Public Liability insurance also covers if damage is caused to third party property while at a customer’s place.
Public liability insurance isn’t required by law. Many businesses decide they need it to protect themselves from large compensation costs. It also satisfies potential clients’ requirements. It protects you if you’re sued by a member of the public. This insurance matters if you interact with customers, suppliers or passersby while working.
Specific Examples of Coverage
Local government or council contracts ask you provide proof of public liability insurance with certain cover before doing business. Trades needing liability insurance include builders if business contacts public or customers. Public liability insurance covers if a client or member of public claims injury or property damage from your business activities.
If third party suffers injury from your work, public liability insurance protects from hefty costs. It covers third party property damage too. In most cases, insurers pay legal costs of defending a claim. Without this insurance, your business could pay a claim. So consider how public liability insurance could help.
Protecting Your Business and Peace of Mind
Public liability insurance protects livelihood if public injured or property damaged by your business. It provides cover against accidental injury or damage to third party or property. If you interact with public during work you should consider it. Any business interacting with public needs it – including sole traders.
Even working from home, public liability helps protect your business. Legal liability cover protects family against claims. It’s often part of home and contents insurance. At Australia Post it’s in home, contents and home and contents policies.
Public liability insurance is a business policy covering damages claims from public for your business. It covers costs of third party injury or damage claims. It can cover incidents at a client’s home while working. Customers, visitors, delivery staff are public. If sued, it covers costs that could otherwise bankrupt your company. Difference from business insurance is it covers general public damages claims.
Certificate of insurance is requested when liability and losses concern. Companies and contractors are required to prove no liability for damages, injuries, or poor work. Therefore business insurance is mandatory. Service providers need public liability insurance to cover costs if a member of the public is injured or property damaged. This protects the business from claims.