Is an Insurance Broker Also an Agent?

A professional indemnity insurance broker or agent is one who is familiar with financial planning and receives a commission for guiding you as you seek the best professional indemnity insurance coverage for your needs. Most individuals get a bit confused when they have so many options to consider. They prefer using the expertise of someone knowledgeable in the field. For assistance in choosing the right agent or broker, one can use the Internet to get a list of reliable agencies or professional indemnity insurance brokers in the area.

An insurance broker generally does not work for the insurance companies. They take up individual case studies, make surveys, bring back the best options, and guide you as to the one most suited to your needs. For this, the broker expects a commission. Brokers receive a commission on every sale they make. An insurance agent, on the other hand, works for a company or many companies and receives a commission for every client he or she brings in for the insurance company. Therefore, they try to sell you the product of the companies they work for and can provide up to date information for you regarding those companies.

Since brokers link themselves to multiple companies, they can provide a wealth of useful information as intermediaries in the financial sector. Some insurance brokers belong to big commercial business establishments where they involve themselves in specialized fields to cater to clients with specific needs in a particular area. If they choose to work in a small area, then they take on the job of personally filling in the forms and delivering it to the insurance agency and the client who gives them business.

The work of a broker does not stop with getting a client. The insurance broker has to be available for the client when a situation arises, especially if there is an accident or damage to property due to theft or vandalism. A good insurance broker will make sure his or her services to the client in order to have their continuous business. By having a broker who is always working diligently, the client feels his or her investment is secure and recommends that broker to their family and friends. The broker makes sure that premiums reach the insurance office regularly and on time and keeps the client updated on new policies when it is time for renewal, and informs the client when they can change to a better plan.

Whether they work as a professional indemnity insurance broker or independent agent, a broker's trustworthiness and capability ensures a quick rise to success. An insurance broker ideally is a sales person with good communication and verbal skills. A successful broker is persuasive and positive in their approach. If their disposition is pleasant and they display patience, the insurance broker can go a long way towards ensuring client service and obtaining referrals to pave the way on the road to success.

Insurance Options for the Self-Employed

If you're self-employed and work by yourself you need to make sure you organize the correct insurance for you and your business. This will be insurance that covers you against any unforeseen and unexpected set backs or accidents that befall you and your company. If not protected you could face serious losses or even the closing of your business.

A lot of insurance companies offer something called Public Liability Insurance for the self-employed. If you search the internet you will be able to see a number of different quotes and policies. This is the most important type of insurance for your business. It covers you and your business for claims made against you by customers, clients and third parties, including members of the public.

The exact type of insurance you need depends on your type of self-employment, and one policy will vary from another. In addition, and depending on the nature of your career and your dealings with the public, you may well need to combine Public Liability Insurance with other kinds of insurance. For example, financial advisors may need to have both public liability and also professional indemnity insurance because of the nature of their profession and because of the position of trust they take when dealing with the general public. In addition their may be insurances that their own industry require they take out, related to financial advice, for example.

There are, then, a number of specialist insurances that self-employed workers should check if they need. The following are the most common insurance policies for the self-employed:

Public Liability Insurance

Public Liability Insurance protects you and your company from claims against you by members of the public, customers, clients and is advisable for almost all businesses.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Professional Indemnity Insurance gives you insurance cover for the services and advice you might give to your customers or clients. Should that advice or service be incorrect or wrongly performed and cause damages to your customer, they would have redress in the courts. Professional Indemnity Insurance covers you.

Employer's Liability Insurance

Essential insurance for all self-employed people who have reached a stage with their business where they need to employ other people.

Commercial Vehicle Insurance

If you use a commercial vehicle for your work then you need to get commercial vehicle insurance.

Business Buildings Insurance.

Business Buildings Insurance is essential if you work from home or rent or own a site - it covers both the building and any of the business equipment inside.

To find a suitable self-employed insurance policy for your business seek out brokers who specialize in self-employed and contractor mortgages, tax solutions, umbrella companies, pensions and insurance policies. They will give you a better rate than most general brokers and financial institutions.

5 Practical Points to Consider Before Buying Professional Indemnity Insurance

In the unfortunate situation of professional negligence or error, PI Insurance may well save your business. It is important to ensure that you obtain the most suitable form of cover in order to maximise protection. Before you buy, ask yourself the following questions:

Is my profession covered?
For some professions, the purchasing of PI Insurance is mandatory. These include Accountants, Solicitors and the Medical profession, amongst others. A definitive list of named professions can be found online. However, anyone can purchase Professional Indemnity Insurance, and an increasing number of professionals in a range of industries are choosing to do so on a voluntary basis. Even if PI is not essential to your profession, it may be advisable.

How much cover will I need?
This varies dramatically from case to case. When taking out a policy, you need to consider the size of your contract and client, any potential defence costs and the maximum amount of compensation which could be awarded against you. In general terms: the higher the financial stakes, the greater the amount of cover required. You can usually set your own limit of indemnity when taking out a policy, but bear in mind that you will often be required to pay an excess. It is also worth noting that some clients will have a minimum limit of indemnity that they require. Some government departments, for example, require contractors to have at least £5 million of cover.

Am I covered for work that I've done before I take the policy out?
The majority of PI policies work on a claims-made basis. This means that the insurance covers any claims which are made during the policy period, rather than the actual incidents themselves. However, some insurance providers will require you to pay for retroactive cover to ensure that you are protected against any issues with work completed before the instigation of the policy. Some policies will run for a set amount of time, whereas others will continue indefinitely until payment is actively cancelled.

Does it cover me internationally?
Again, this varies according to industry and to the insurance provider. Many insurance providers offer industry-specific policies to ensure the most relevant and tightest level of protection. Policies can be further tailored to the requirements of your individual business, and amended as your needs alter. The function of Professional Indemnity Insurance is to protect you against the worst eventuality. It is therefore vital that you select (and if necessary, create) a policy which extends to the level of cover you require.

How do I pay?
The most common form of payment for PI Insurance is by direct debit. This of course means that the insurance is usually an ongoing business expense, rather than a single lump sum. The benefit of this is that your policy will continue to run until you cancel payment, thus avoiding a situation where your policy has expired without your realising. There are other methods of payment which can again be arranged to suit your individual situation.

There is much scope for flexibility with Professional Indemnity Insurance. By asking yourself these questions, you should begin to develop an idea of the needs of your particular business. The purchasing of this type of insurance could make the difference between professional security and dissolution - it is therefore important that you capitalise on the protection available.

How To Find The Right Professional Business Insurance

Are you a professional who plans on putting up a business so you can practice your profession at your own time and comfort? Just like any other business-minded individuals, professionals can have a business of their own as well. Real estate brokers, doctors, accountants, lawyers, home inspectors, architects, or surveyors are some of the professions with good business potentials. If you plan to have one, then you need to get professional business insurance for your business.

Professional indemnity insurance, also called professional liability insurance or errors and omissions insurance, is a type of general liability insurance that protects professional practitioners from possible negligence claims raised by their clients or patients. Although such insurance takes various names depending on the type of profession, the coverage generally focuses on claims regarding property damages, personal injuries, negligence, or bodily injuries. Generally, there are two types of this insurance: the Claims Made Professional Liability Insurance and the Occurrence Professional Liability Insurance.

To find the right professional business insurance, determine first if you want to end your policy once your coverage expires. If you do, purchase the Claims Made Professional Liability Insurance Claims. Also called the Reported Coverage Policy, this type of insurance protects you within the date of the policy purchase until claims made sixty days after expiry.

If you have a business whose clientele have longer statutes of limitations to report claims, the Occurrence Professional Liability is ideal. This insurance protects you even after the policy ends as long as the occurrence of the incident happened within the active policy period.

When looking for the right insurance provider, go for trusted insurance companies who have notable backgrounds. Never hesitate to ask regarding deductibles or exclusions of the policy. It helps that you do your research first because not all insurance companies cover everything. Also, you may want to include legal defense costs in your policy which you can use for legal fees, just in case the need arises.

Have the right professional business insurance for your business ventures. That way, you won't have to worry about getting into major issues with your business.

Professional Indemnity Insurance is Not a Luxury

Professional indemnity insurance sounds highbrow doesn't it? What does it mean and how important is this type of insurance? The basic purpose of this insurance is to insure those who give professional advice in any sort of professional work. For instance a stockbroker or a doctor are both at risk of being sued for wrong or faulty advice and so that's where Professional indemnity insurance comes into play. It covers the risk!

For instance a stockbroker who advised his client to sell stock could face being sued for losses by his client on the basis that the stockbroker had sold his services as an expert and had proven to be incompetent. Equally the family could sue a medical doctor who radically misdiagnoses a patient's disease and this lead to the patient's death. This can be stretched out to include a tax agent or an architect or a psychologist all of who are in the advice business and this advice when acted on should be safe advice from money investments to health to public safety.

So if you are in the business of advising make sure you are covered by Professional indemnity insurance because you can be bankrupted if you are on your own. The other side of the coin is for the person who makes claims who if creating a court action for a claim and it proves to be unfounded could be directed by the court to pay all costs. So from both ends of the world of professional advice it's wise to do your homework.

If you are in the process of getting Professional indemnity insurance then get ready for a big cost because it is the highest costing of all insurances because claims can go into millions of dollars. However regardless of cost you can't do without it, as nothing is watertight predictable and the best of professionals can end up facing a court process.

The only other option is to get out of the business, which has happened - take the example of some in gynecology who deliver the child badly damaged and millions are claimed for lifetime support - many gynecologists have been scared out of that specialty and have returned to general practice.

So while Professional indemnity insurance is hard to understand and it has a time delay in getting the necessary approvals its not just necessary but essential and the practitioner who works while the time delay of getting the insurance is a fool and the person who thinks they will never be charged with ill advice is equally foolish. The Boy Scout's motto "be prepared" was never more relevant.

Keeping on Top of Contractor Insurance

Professional Indemnity Insurance is very much an insurance product for professionals. If the clue didn't first surface with the name, then surely its detailed professional, business specification made you realise this. Quite recently I read that when starting out in business ownership, especially concerning those becoming self-employed, the purchase of professional indemnity insurance is very much that first step into becoming a fully-fledged business enterprise. When entering the world of business, we as professionals are stepping into a connected web of finances, legislations and agreements that make up a community of successful and self-sustaining companies.

Because there is a vast amount of regulation within business, and it isn't simply flogging the next big thing from the back of a van (as much as Del Boy would disagree) certain business insurances must be put in place for proper enterprise to commence. So yes, professional indemnity insurance is a very important step when venturing out into self-managed business and it is interesting to witness just how important such a common form of cover can be.

Professional Indemnity Insurance is an aspect of small business insurance that covers the policy holder against any claims that may be made due to professional malpractice. It's a type of insurance that applies particularly to those working as sole traders, contractors and freelancers being ideal examples and it is relevant across a vast range of sectors. From IT contractors to architects, the inclusion of such a policy is highly effective, as professional error can occur at any time and within any trade.

Every business, large or small strives for success (if yours doesn't then I seriously advise that you re-think your business strategy). Because of this, companies must network and connect with clients and partners, obviously landing work whenever possible. As businesses do grow and intertwine within the commercial market, the higher the risk of potential claims becomes, as one is increasingly left open to legal issues.

The business environment in the modern day is rife with claims and counter claims, the number of 'no win no fee' soliciting services being practically shoved down our throats whenever we turn on our televisions. Of course in a growing market, legal issues exist, but often instead of opting for expensive and complicated legal involvement, a practical insurance policy will suffice. Business Insurance is designed to cover a company against all of those additional pitfalls of owning a business, and contractor insurance for example acts in very much the same way.

Professional indemnity insurance as a contractor insurance policy is highly effective, as being businesses in their own account contractors need an existing cover to protect their professional indemnity and finances. Obviously a cover such as this is better than paying beyond the odds for legal advisors, and professional indemnity insurance benefits limited company contractors in a large number of ways as opposed to simply protecting their potential professional error.

Do You Need Professional Indemnity Insurance?

Professional indemnity insurance (also referred to as PII, PI, professional insurance, public liability insurance, PLI and errors and omissions insurance) is crucial cover for any party who supplies advice, guidance or professional services. If you work in any professional industry, from creative companies to firms who handle data, insurance is essential, yet it can be tricky to know whether or not this form of cover is necessary to you.

In this article,
we'll be exploring which industries require professional indemnity insurance and why this type of cover is so important to companies across the UK and worldwide.

Who needs professional indemnity insurance?

If you think you need PI, chances are you're right! Essentially, if you work in a line of business where mistakes or misjudgements in your work could affect a client or third party, professional indemnity insurance is a vital form of cover which could protect you from the little errors that life can sometimes throw your way. If you're still not sure, it may be helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you offer your clients advice or guidance?
2. Do you work with data?
3. Do you provide technical solutions or services?
4. Do you offer creative services?
5. Is client confidentiality important in your work?
6. Do you work with important documents vital to clients?

If you have answered 'yes' to any of these questions, taking out professional indemnity insurance is a very smart idea.

Basically, PI insurance provides cover should any accidental miscalculations, mistakes, misjudgements or errors adversely affect your clients. If a client was to take legal action against you in such a situation, public liability insurance would cover the cost of a successful claim, court costs and any other losses to your business.

Which industries need professional indemnity insurance?

As a rule, any 'professional' industry has a need for PI, but this definition isn't particularly clear. To give you some idea of the sorts of areas in which insurance is important, here are a few examples:

• I.T. companies (from programmers to technical support teams)
• Financial companies (from accountants to bankers)
• Creative businesses (from advertising to marketing to photography companies)
• Architects, travel agents, engineer, estate agents...

This list is not exhaustive by any means. If you're at all unsure please consult our quick 'do I need insurance' checklist above or speak with an insurance expert. If you do need insurance, it is important to make sure you address this need. Without the right protection in place you risk your livelihood and your business. So get cover now!

Professional Indemnity Insurance for Various Professions

A solicitor seeking protection under professional indemnity insurance is not something which most of us thought about being necessary until recent years. As the very name suggests, a solicitor is adept with his profession, with various laws and legislations that pertains to his area of expertise. In fact, the very status of a solicitor itself is a sure sign of authenticity and height of meticulousness, and he being charged for failure to deliver up to his standards is something which we never believed could be a possibility.

The situation is quite different nowadays. The overall industry scenario has become much volatile, making the jobs of solicitors tougher. A minute and unaccounted step has a good probability to leading to nasty claim against a solicitor, amounting to severe financial loss, loss of reputation, or both, and these are not uncommon. Hence, professional indemnity insurance is a necessity for solicitors even.

Professional indemnity insurance policies for solicitors are bit different from typical professional indemnity covers available for other professionals. Professional indemnity covers for solicitors are widely drawn. It should be noted that the type of service offered by solicitors are different in nature from other professionals and so are the types of claims that arise against solicitors. A typical policy covers civil liability arising in the course of work carried out in the course of private legal practice; however, there is some exclusion. Professional indemnity insurance for solicitors does not usually cover claims for negligence or breach of contract, but for breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty, perceived dishonesty, etc. These are the areas where professional indemnity insurance policy that is applicable to other professionals differs from a professional indemnity cover for solicitors.

In most instances, a policy breach may result in claims going unpaid. In such situations, other professionals have policies that contain provisions limiting the rights of the insurer in cases of policy non-compliance; however, professional indemnity insurance policies for solicitors are in comparison more generous in nature of the cover provided.

It is very important that solicitors take note that while the cover may be widely drawn, it may not include any activity that typically does not come under the areas covered by a solicitor under normal circumstances. If any solicitor engages in any activity that falls outside the periphery of solicitation, it should be immaculate put across the insurance agency, who, in turn, will make sure that the offered policy covers the applicant from any claim.

PI Insurance Explained

Professional Indemnity Insurance is an example of very good, quality contractor insurance, and its effects can be felt instantly from its cover. The policy itself protects a contractor should they make a mistake that leads to financial loss to another party. The reason that this would be costly to a contractor is because in these cases the party will no doubt file a negligence claim against the contractor that could then be very expensive. This is where such a policy would be effective as its vital protection would cover a contractor for all costs and fees in this case. In addition, having the insurance will bolster the perception that a contractor is in business on their own account, therefore aiding their IR35 position. Plus it will give clients the reassurance that there are sufficient resources to handle any recourse in the unlikely event of an alleged breach of duty, adding value to any tender.

Many contractors are still waiting lengthy periods of time before purchasing this insurance however, but it must be advised that this could have devastating effects. Professional Indemnity Insurance is highly necessary as soon as a contractor begins a contract, and with potential negligence claims of possibly millions of pound on the line, the small annual fee is no high cost.

Because of this it is advised that contractors instantly purchase the product, as by owning such a valuable cover you will gain complete peace of mind in these cases. Many contracts need Professional Indemnity Insurance to begin a contract, the policy being a necessary requirement thus highlighting the product's immediate importance.

PI Insurance remains one of the top forms of business insurance, and by far one of the most purchased forms of contractor insurance, and it isn't hard to see why when weighing up its benefits compared to its actual cost. There are many cases of contractors suffering ridiculously high losses of up to millions because of them not owning Professional Indemnity Insurance, and any contractor would back up its importance. The policy's simplicity remains one of its most commended features, as with simply a click of a button on your mouse, a year's total and full cover could be yours, for a low price that is very hard to miss.

One of the rather unknown selling points of Professional Indemnity Insurance is that the policy boosts a contractor's perception that they are in business on their own account, therefore aiding their IR35 position. This is obviously massively helpful to any self-employed professional as IR35 enquiries are becoming more and more relevant to contractors as the HMRC continue to clamp down on so called 'disguised employment'.

When looking at all contractor insurances, it becomes clear that Professional Indemnity Insurance really is an essential policy and cannot be overlooked by contractors and freelancers alike. With its many benefits, not only concerning a professional's protection, but also their IR35 related tax status, it is a vital policy and compared to its many advantages, can be purchased easily and cheaply.

Business Insurance - The Best Choice For Owners

Professional liability insurance is a kind of insurance taken out by certain professionals in order to get coverage for claims made against them by customers. The insurance might apply to doctors and in this case it is called Medical Malpractice, or to Public Notaries for whom it is named Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O). Real estate brokers, appraisers, management consultants, website developers will also contract E&O insurance.

Software developers and technology consultants may benefit of this insurance too. In their case, the insurance covers the failure to perform, financial loss and errors and omissions of the products or services sold. In a single word, this professional indemnity insurance may apply to any business that provides advice or gives a service.

But let's see in what ways professional indemnity insurance will protect your business:

1. For example you made a mistake in the professional services offered to your client out of negligence, or you might have lost or damaged their data and these results in litigation. The insurer may represent you before the court and defend you and in case you become liable for damages, the insurance will cover those costs, limited to your level of coverage.
2. The mistake has been done and you decide to fix it. The insurance will provide you with funds for that, thus avoiding larger claims on the part of the client.
3. If one of your employees steals your client's money, the insurance will cover for the loss incurred.
4. Breach of intellectual property leads to a dispute. When literary and artistic works, inventions, designs and images have been misused, you might find yourself as a professional in a legal dispute which can be stressful and costly. Taking out insurance will cover the cost of the lawsuit.
5. Facing a trial can severely damage your reputation. Being insured and capable to defend yourself will save you and enable you to continue your career.

Looking at the cost of this insurance it has to be noted that it is particularly high for those professions with high risks, but the benefit of the insurance will outweigh the costs. The insurance cost is established on the basis of the percentage of the company's total spending.

The needs differ according to the profession. Maybe it is high time for you to contact a reliable insurance broker and discuss all insurance options possible to offer you real protection in case of trouble with clients. As a professional firm or practice, you have to take out professional indemnity insurance frequently as a compulsory requirement of your company, your client and to protect yourself and your business.

2 Types Of Business Insurance You Must Have

Is your business insured? Are you prepared for when the unexpected, the impossible or even the most absurd disasters hit your business? While most see business insurance as an unnecessary expense in these tough time, the price you will pay for not having it can be severe and one that can ruin your business for good. Every business and every type of business will have different insurance needs. identifying your business needs is a very important step to ensure and protect your business.

Apart from some basic insurance policies on your building and your company assets, there are 2 very important types of insurance that is well worth looking into.

1. Professional indemnity Insurance
Professional indemnity insurance only applied to certain types of work but it basically safeguards your business against professional "mistakes" that are liable to lawsuits. Suppose you are an engineer and one of the structures you designed collapsed, then it can cost you more than just your license. With professional indemnity you are safeguarded and even if you are the best engineer in town, anyone can make a mistake which is why this is so important.

2. Workers Compensation Insurance
Commonly known as workers comp, this is becoming increasingly important as many occupations are now forced to have this in place in certain states in the USA. Worldwide it is part of a push for safer work environments and the need to have a safe and accident free workplace is re-enforced by this type of insurance. It basically protects your workers while they are on the job. In case a worker was to get injured, the insurance will support him or her financially instead of the burden being passed on to your business itself. in certain occupations this is very important - especially where there is a higher risk for workplace injuries.

Professional Indemnity Insurance For Accounting - A Risk That Needs to Be Covered

Given the complex nature of tax laws and accounting & corporate practices in all nations today, professional indemnity insurance for accounting professionals is gradually becoming a must. Keeping this requirement in mind, several insurance firms have formulated cutting edge professional indemnity insurance cover for accounting professionals and financial planning firms. In fact if one peruses any of the companies' lists of claims that are covered by accounting insurance coverage, one realizes that there are a vast variety of claims that the accounting profession needs a buffer against.

For instance a business makes a sizable investment based on the balance sheet made by an accountant or his firm, only to find further down the line that the figures are erroneous. The disgruntled businessman who sees his money lost is quite capable of filing for damages from the accountancy firm, his claim being that it was based on their balance sheet that he took the decision to invest. The accountant is then considered liable according to his professional actions. It is in such a probable scenario that professional indemnity insurance kicks in for the beleaguered accountant. One must always keep in mind that a professional liability lawsuit just does not involve staggering legal costs; it also damages reputations and credibility, sometimes irrevocably.

With the professional indemnity cover in his insurance portfolio the accounting professional knows that the risks of his profession have been factored in. He knows that his claims will be dealt with competently and promptly, keeping his best interests in mind. Broad coverage is beneficial to the accounting professional today. The areas which his policy should cover are legal fees and claim costs, loss of documents, fraud and dishonesty, cost of official inquiries, previous business, outgoing principals and sometimes even vicarious liabilities which covers advice provided by other professionals to referred clients.

All of this is covered under the broad spectrum of errors, omissions and malpractices. These insurance policies are available to firms of all sizes, from solo owner proprietorship firms to large partnership practices. In fact some companies even offer a 'Disabled Partner Replacement Coverage'. All these precautionary moves might seem like over the top to a layman, but for a professional who has invested a quarter of his life qualifying himself and another decade or more to establish his business, its money well spent. Risk management is essential.

In fact there are insurance firms that not only provide professional indemnity insurance to accounting professionals but also a number of adding on services that add value to their product providing for a more satisfied customer. Ranging from free legal counsel from qualified experts offering pre claim assistance, advice relating to issues about accounting practices and procedures, to document review and engagement letter wording. It is a comprehensive and all inclusive package, and any accounting professional will be smart enough to recognize a safety package that encapsulates all his risks, manages them and protects him.

Professional Indemnity Insurance - Peace Of Mind

n. pl. in·dem·ni·ties

1. Security against damage, loss, or injury.

2. A legal exemption from liability for damages.

3. Compensation for damage, loss, or injury suffered.

Definition from the free dictionary

Are You Prepared For The Worst?

Professional Indemnity Insurance (also called Professional Liability Insurance) in today's business jungle is crucial. We don't live in the dark ages any more, and big walls, deep motes and strong shields won't be much help against lawyers, bankers and irate clients. So then, what can protect us in this day and age against these three 'super powers'? What can cover us in the cases where normal insurance won't, such as:

- Negligence

- Misrepresentation

- Violation of good faith

- Unfair dealing

- Inaccurate advice

- Errors or Omissions

Yes, you guessed it, Professional Indemnity Insurance to the rescue!

Insurance Vs Assurance Vs Bankruptcy

Can you afford bankruptcy? Can you afford to carry on business without the assurance of having insurance protection should the client hit the fan? Professional indemnity insurance will provide assurance that your business will not suffer loss, setback or possible bankruptcy. Assurance can go a long way to increasing confidence; and confidence will increase perseverance, and perseverance will increase reputation, and reputation will increase client trust, and client trust will increase confidence - the full circle of safety and peace of mind!!

So... is it worth the insurance?

What Is Covered...

Professional indemnity insurance essentially covers you should your skills or services, bought by the customer, are thrown back in your face; the side-effects of something hitting a fan! It usually covers the legal costs that may arise from the client filing a lawsuit against you and also for any potential compensation in the event of losing the lawsuit.

...And What Is Not

What catches some off guard is the fact that professional indemnity insurance claims can come some time after you have provided the goods or service to your client, even many years later! When a policy expires they are canceled, and you may not be covered should a claim be made after you have canceled the policy or let it expire. You may be resting in front of your fireplace, enjoying your retirement and dreaming of that boat you have always wanted - then the phone rings and that boat sails off into the sunset without you! It is important, crucial that you keep your policy current for a number of years after you retire.

You will face the same issue if you switch insurers. During the 'in-between' time of changing insurers a customer, who bought a service or good from you while you were with the first insurer, could just make a claim against you - and your new insurance company won't protect you. Your previous insurance company won't protect you either, as your cover will have been canceled. Be mindful of this when switching insurance companies and ask the new insurer what provisions they have in the event of this unfortunate scenario happening.

Who Needs Professional Indemnity Insurance?

Traditionally, the term defines itself in 'Professional'; those considered to be the 'men in the white coats', such as doctors, lawyers, accountants and engineers. In more recent times the term 'Professional' has broadened to include many other industries, including education workers, health workers and consultants, architects and designers and real estate agents.

Certain professions are required to have professional indemnity insurance (PII). These include doctors, lawyers, insurance brokers, some contractors and some accountants. The need or requirement for PII may very widely from country to country.

Starting a Business? Have You Thought About Insurance?

If you are starting a business, an important part of the process of setting up your company is taking out the right insurance. If you are self employed this is no exception as you may be dealing with many of the same issues as a larger business.

When you are starting a business you need to think about the business activities you will be doing and make sure you have the insurance to cover you. Some businesses will need to have a higher level of insurance as they will be taking more risks than others and therefore will need to pay higher premiums for their cover.

As a business that is just starting you will be trying to save money and probably invest any money you have into your business. The last thing you need is to be hit by a claim because of some accidental damage that you might have caused to another person's property. If you are faced with having to pay a claim it would be a big relief to have insurance that covers the cost.

In the UK there are various types of business insurance you can buy that will cover your new companies needs.

Public Liability Insurance

Imagine that you were in the situation where you were a Tradesperson and you were working in someone else's home. You could be a plumber for example, and you accidentally break a pipe causing a leak. That leak could cause damage to that person's house. If you didn't have business insurance you might be liable to pay for the damage you accidentally caused. The cost of the damage could be large so having insurance could possibly stop your company from having to go out of business.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Professional Indemnity Insurance is another cover that could be vital for you to have if you are starting a business. This cover is mainly used by consultants who give other people advice. If as a consultant you give advice that is proven to be wrong and causes your client to lose money, Professional Indemnity Insurance will cover you for the costs of that claim.

Employers Liability Insurance

If when starting your business you intend to hire employees you will need Employers Liability Insurance. This will cover your business if an employee is injured or falls ill whilst at work due to your negligence. The cost of a claim could be very large and could be a significant problem for your business, especially if it has just started.

Additional Insurance Cover

You can also take out additional insurance cover depending on your needs as a small business. You may need insurance for your commercial vehicles, business buildings insurance, tool or equipment insurance, as well as other covers specific to the work you do.

Starting and growing a business should be an exciting time, you don't want it to be ruined by having to pay out a large amount because of a claim made against you. Business insurance is relatively cheap and easy to buy online and could save you from future financial worries.

Do I Need Professional Indemnity Insurance

A professional indemnity insurance policy is a financial product to compensate the insured (your business) in the undesirable event of damages accrued from a claim being made against the business due to contravention of duty within the policy period for neglect, error, or omissions. Still not sure? In its most basic form, this insurance policy covers your business for a loss that may arise from negligence caused by your business while carrying out such business. Professional indemnity insurance policies have a tendency to vary greatly in the amount of cover the policy provides.

There are a number of instances in which a business may have need to call upon their professional indemnity insurance policy. The first possibility is that a business provides a service to the purchaser, and due to a negligent act, a negligent omission, or other type of negligent error, carries out the work in a slipshod manner, which may lead to further issues arising down the road.

The same scenario could also apply to advice given by a business. PI insurance also protects against allegations of the supply of false, or otherwise generally misleading information. The third most common situation that may require the use of a PI insurance would be the unknowing or otherwise accidental encroachment of the intellectual copyright of another, be it an individual, a business, or other organisation. Intellectual material is also considered property, and the same copyright laws protect it.

A PI insurance policy may have a variety of aspects of coverage, but there are also particular elements that for a number of reasons have been excluded from the policy. Often, the insurance policy will include protection against claims made against your business from a civil liability case, claims that have arisen from the loss of documents, or if documents have been damaged. Legal costs such as those that may arise in the defence case include, but are not limited to, the hiring and retaining of lawyers, the court costs, hiring of professional witnesses or experts of the industry, and so forth, may or may not be included dependent on your selected policy.

Other elements not covered will usually include elements pertaining to war and terrorism (including nuclear activity), pollution unless considered as a breach of duty of the business, potential claims known about when the policy was first purchased, and claims that should be covered under an additional policy, such as buildings, contents, or employers liability.

Any physical products (except possibly software and programming products used for the business that have been amended in some way) are not covered by PI insurance. The insurance policy will also not cover any fines and penalties, or claims from by an insurance company unless a judgement has been received declaring otherwise. Certain warranties set by your business may also affect the coverage provided by your PI insurance, such as a guarantee of outcome, whether express or implied.

So who may need to have a professional indemnity insurance policy? The most common industries where businesses shop for an insurance quote are those whereby a service is provided as opposed to a physical product. This includes businesses in the fields of accounting or other financial services, graphic design firms, marketing and internet marketing businesses, and surveyors, and management or consultancy businesses.

Other, more product based rather than service based, businesses, may be better with a shop insurance quote. It is always possible to get a shop insurance quote and compare the two to see which will provide your business with the most appropriate coverage. Bear in mind that it is very easy to shop for professional indemnity insurance online. It is recommended to get a few quotes for comparison, and ensure you select a policy that is comprehensive enough for your requirements. For example, some policies are more inclusive and will cover the bracket of 'any civil liability'.

Professional Indemnity Insurance - What Makes It Beneficial for Professional Businesses

Any business that offers professional services or gives advice should consider taking professional indemnity insurance (PII). Any faulty advice or service provided can make the business legally liable to the claims made by the client/sufferer. In such cases, professional indemnity insurance helps the business handle all the legal costs that arise from the claims made by the clients.

Some of the professions which need to take professional indemnity insurance are - medical professionals, building/maintenance contractors, financial consultants, advertising and PR agencies, designers, etc. For some of the professionals, professional indemnity insurance is made mandatory by UK government so as to get their professional authorization. They include accountants, architects, solicitors, mortgage intermediaries, insurance brokers and financial advisers.

The insurance protects the professional business against liability coming up apparently due to negligence, error or omission, loss of data or information, violation of confidentiality, employees dishonesty, etc., which may affect the business's reputation and financial stability badly.

Benefits of taking this policy
As an individual professional/a professional business owner, it is important to protect yourself from legal liabilities while executing your profession because, loss due to any kind of errors or negligence on part of yourself/your employees, may prove to be costly.

• Ensures smooth run of the business
Professional indemnity insurance protects you by covering the expenses involved in the whole process and by providing legal aid so that you run your business smoothly. The rightly timed assistance provided by this insurance policy will not let you stop your business at the time of crisis, thus, ensuring smooth running of your business.

• Covers the risks associated with employee negligence
Your employee may delete or lose some crucial information related to your client accidentally while at work. This may lead to the client to bring lawsuit against you. Having PII, you can be rest assured, as this policy also offers cover to the damage caused by your employees' negligence.

• Saves from financial losses during lawsuits
Lawsuits sometimes can lead into thousands of dollars, which can be a huge burden for you. Sometimes, you will have to bear the expenses of litigation as well the indemnity to be paid to the client. Having the PII insurance would rule out these financial problems and thus, saves you from the financial losses.

• Offers support from expert attorneys
The advantage of this insurance is that it offers support from expert attorneys. As a professional business, you cannot tackle the enormous loss of time and the intricacies involved in the litigation. This needs an expert legal adviser to do the job. PII insurance in this matter would be a great help to you.

Approach a reputable brokerage firm while choosing this insurance
There are many things you need to consider while choosing professional indemnity insurance. Some of them include: premium calculation method, the risks involved in your business, the nature of business activity or the potential indemnity, etc. You should also check for the statutory authority and reputation of the insurance company.

It is always advised to take help of a reputable insurance brokerage firm while choosing this insurance. This should be so because these firms deal with several firms' insurance products. They are well aware of the market. They would advise you the most appropriate amount of cover for your business.

Professional Indemnity Insurance - Why Is It Necessary for Professional Service Providers?

Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance is associated with providing protection for professionals who sell their skill or knowledge. At times, in course of professional work, errors are prone to occur which attract a liability. PI insurance is meant to protect you against such liabilities.

Professionals like architects, chartered accountants, software consultants and the like are at risk. Some of the causes which can lead to liability are inadvertent disclosure/loss of data, malfeasance, infringement of copy rights and professional negligence. Howsoever expert you are in the area of specialization, you are at risk because of the reasons just stated. It is for this reason that you, as a professional, should buy PI insurance of appropriate cover.

Things covered under the policy
• Professional negligence: PI insurance offers you protection against law suits because of your professional negligence which entails some loss to your client. It covers problems arising from accidental mistakes, which are not within the purview of your personal control; say, your employee inadvertently deletes data from the database while in course of work, which leads to the loss of crucial data. The insurance provides the needed financial indemnity that ensues in the event of a legal liability.

• Circumstances unforeseen: Many of the faults that take place are not done by the professional intentionally. They are very much unexpected, but may lead to huge financial loss. As one is not prepared to face this unforeseen financial burden, having professional indemnity insurance can be of great help.

Apart from the financial compensation that you have to pay in case of litigation, professional indemnity insurance will also take care of precautionary advice which you, as a professional, deserve. These differ widely across professions. It will point to the remotest possible error on your part that may cause you to suffer a lawsuit.

• Lawsuits with malicious intent: At times, businesses or people with a malicious intent might drop you in trouble by suing you. In such cases, you can neither ignore the severity of the case, nor do you have the competency given the manoeuvring tactics at court of law. PI insurance would play the role of a lifebuoy at such predicament.

Who needs PI insurance?
PI insurance is meant for professionals who offer their knowledge, experience or skills as a paid service. Architects, engineers, brokers, solicitor, financial advisers, accountants are a few professionals who can take advantage of PI insurance. Above all, self-employed professionals should buy it at any cost, as they are solely responsible for their profession.

The clients can sue you because of your professional negligence of any sort.

Other benefits offered by the policy
Note that the law suits raised because of negligence on your part are difficult to handle in terms of time, resources and professional expertise. Sometimes, these legal claims might be too big to pay yourself, unless you have enough financial strength. Further, it may go to the extent to bring disrepute to you as also to your profession.

PI insurance is hence advisable for you, as it covers all the accidental mistakes which are potential enough to give rise to legal suits and claims for compensation. It avoids financial crippling in case of claims, saves reputation and enables smooth run of business.

Professional indemnity insurance may prevent you from having needless strain and your business from having a debilitating effect. Buying this insurance might cost a little, but the benefits thereof are manifold which you take into account.

5 Things To Ask Yourself Before You Buy Professional Indemnity Insurance

Professional Indemnity Insurance is designed to protect you when a problem arises with any professional work you have done. In today's litigation culture, this form of insurance is becoming increasingly relevant for a range of professions. Are you thinking about Professional Indemnity Insurance? Before you buy, it pays to consider the crucial 5 questions:

What exactly is Professional Indemnity Insurance?

Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance is designed to protect you in the case of professional error. In the course of your working life an instance may occur where unfortunately, the professional skill you exhibit is deemed inadequate. In this situation, a dissatisfied client may seek some form of compensation, resulting in financial implications for you and your business. This is where PI Insurance comes in: it provides financial support for defense costs, withheld fees and any compensation which may be awarded against you. In simple terms, Professional Indemnity Insurance is financial protection against professional error.

Why do I require PI Insurance?

This type of insurance is typically relevant for professionals who regularly give advice to their customers, and/or who are responsible for customers' data and other intellectual property. It can loosely be regarded as protection against non-physical but nonetheless detectable damages. PI Insurance can be voluntary, but it is mandatory for some professions, such as Architecture, Accountancy and some IT Consultancy.

How does PI Insurance benefit me?

If you are at all liable to be challenged in the competency of your work, or there is scope for your services failing to meet the expectations of your client, then PI Insurance will certainly benefit you. PI Insurance will provide you with financial support if you are accused of professional negligence, misuse of intellectual property, loss of data, dishonesty and defamation incurred by your business. Despite best intentions, no one is immune to mistakes or accusations of mistakes - PI Insurance tackles the consequences of these errors.

When does the cover come into action?

Most forms of PI Insurance work on a claims-made basis. This means that the insurance only covers the claims made during the policy period. If an incident occurs whilst you hold the policy, but the claim is made after you have discontinued the insurance, then the claim will not be covered. On the flip-side, if an incident occurred before the time of holding the policy, but the claim is made once you have the insurance, then you can be protected. Each claim is treated individually - as the policyholder, you can usually select your own limit of indemnity.

Where are there exemptions and conditions?

To ensure the most comprehensive insurance, it is advisable to thoroughly research the policy options available. Many providers of PI Insurance offer industry-specific policies. Requirements are different for each sector: for some, cover is restricted to business carried out within the EU, for example. The policyholder will usually be required to pay an excess for each claim, and the amount varies according to policy. Suitability of Professional Indemnity Insurance can be achieved by the varying levels of cover available. This suitability can be further tightened by bespoke policies which can be continually amended.

It is important to tailor Professional Indemnity Insurance to the requirements of your individual business. The insurance is ultimately designed to protect you in the case of professional mistakes - choosing the right Professional Indemnity policy is the first step towards annulling these errors.