public liability insurance

[turkish14]

Me and my wife are planning to organise a childrens sports day for family and friends involving 6 children maximum, the events are sprints, football etc the most risky event imo is a 40 inch (from the ground) high jump, i have tried to contact citizens advice but to no avail.

Do we need any particular insurance for this, as some have suggested that if a child gets injured we could be liable, others have said that its at the parents discretion as to wether they would like there child to be involved.

any help would be appreciated......

[Smudge]

It's all a matter of risk, hopefully nothing will happen but if it does and you are insured, it's not going to hurt you financially as much as not being insured. I was sued for $5 million once, it was a frivolous law suit but without my insurance company behind me paying all the bills would have cost tens of tousands just defending it.

Talk to your insurance company, I'm sure a one day event will be a minimum premium.

I guess a form signed by all the parents that holds you harmless might be an alternative but then you'd need a solicitors advice on that.

Cue Lisa

[Vacamion]

If you are not doing this for profit (ie it is in your personal capacity, not a business) your household contents insurance should have a section which covers you for personal legal liabilities, most household policies do these days.

Might be worth either checking your policy or having a word with your broker.

[Benji]

I guess a form signed by all the parents that holds you harmless might be an alternative but then you'd need a solicitors advice on that.

Can't help with the general query but you can't contract out of liability for death or personal injury as part of a business... and i'd guess that includes events like this whether for charity or not (UCTA 1977). Can't say for sure though.

[turkish14]

If you are not doing this for profit (ie it is in your personal capacity, not a business) your household contents insurance should have a section which covers you for personal legal liabilities, most household policies do these days.

Might be worth either checking your policy or having a word with your broker.

its non profitable, it literally just is a childrens sports day. It's been organised round our friends house so will need to check her household contents insurance.

Its madness that these days you cannot have your childs friends round without worrying about them hurting themselves and getting sued

[Bert]

If you write a letter to each of the parents, explaining what the activities will entail etc, and get them to sign the letter, like a consent form then you'll be covered if anything goes wrong - providing you're insured.

[Guest]

Cue Lisa

I'm afraid we didn't go into too much detail on this, a bit like Benji. I certainly would ask around, rather than take the risk.

its non profitable, it literally just is a childrens sports day. It's been organised round our friends house so will need to check her household contents insurance.

Its madness that these days you cannot have your childs friends round without worrying about them hurting themselves and getting sued

Compensation culture has a lot to answer for. I wouldn't mind if it's used for it's correct purpose, i.e. 'punishing' those who breach a duty of care, but it's all about the money. None of the ads for personal injury claim mention negligence or duty of care, just entice you in with promises of money, and it's now part of the mindset that an accident = money.