subject: All Fitness Instructors Must Protect Themselves Against Lawsuits [print this page] All Fitness Instructors Must Protect Themselves Against Lawsuits
In today's litigious society, every professional has a need for his or her own professional liability insurance. If you provide services to the public in return for money, it is essential that you protect yourself against unforeseen lawsuits. While you would like to think, all of your clients are responsible and fair individuals that are not always the case. As a professional personal trainer or group fitness instructor, you are vulnerable to a number of different types of claims and lawsuits. Even though your job is to motivate individuals to become more physically fit, there are situations that may arise that will prevent this goal. To protect yourself and your clients invest in group fitness insurance for fitness instructors and have peace of mind in knowing you are protected.
As a fitness instructor you are expected to give your clients all the tools and knowledge they need to lose weight and gain muscle. Because you have undergone extensive training in relation to the human body and exercise, you are expected to communicate this knowledge effectively to clients. Legal damages can be extremely damaging to an instructor's income as well as their reputation. While some lawsuits are warranted, studies show a majority of claims arising in the group fitness arena are unfounded. Even unfounded claims can severely affect your professional relations with clients and the fitness center where you offer classes.
Fitness centers and health clubs will carry facility insurance and liability insurance covering employees and clients. In most cases facility insurance policies do not extend to independent contractors. This means that if you are not carrying your own coverage no coverage will extend to you if a liability claim occurs. The club will be covered if the claimant finds the club negligent however, the instructor will not. Group fitness insurance for professional physical training instructors will protect your interests in the event of a lawsuit.
If a claimant takes legal action against a fitness instructor, group fitness liability insurance is designed to pay for legal expenses, settlements, and judgments. No matter how good of an instructor you are you can still face litigation. Some common claims against instructors include muscle injuries, broken bones, joint injuries, and bruised bones. If the claimant feels you failed to supervise workouts effectively and they were injured as a result they can file a claim against you as a professional.
Group fitness insurance for personal trainers and group instructors is available through specialty commercial insurance companies. Most policies will have limits of liability in increments of $1 million. There will be specific exclusions and limits for a variety of different claims. Sit down with an experienced commercial insurance agent and build a policy that will protect your career and your income.
