Interpreter Insurance

Interpreters break communication barriers

Interpreters don’t necessarily have the riskiest job. However, you still need the right business insurance to cover professional risks. Your clients are commonly high-profile individuals, government personnel, and corporate executives. Any errors or omissions in your translations may lead to financial losses or harm, which can turn into a lawsuit. APOLLO Insurance offers tailored small business insurance for your interpretation business needs. 

Even if you’re translating between two of your native languages, there are possibilities of errors. You could have an off day, misunderstand specialized jargon, or mishear a word. Translation mistakes can cause your clients harm or loss, which can create legal troubles for you. Even if you don’t make errors, a client that perceives you made a mistake may still sue. Regardless of the justifications of a lawsuit, your small business may not be financially capable of withstanding the related legal fees. A professional liability insurance policy can cover these costs, so you won’t have to pay out of pocket. 

Buying the right insurance is a vital business move for savvy interpreters. It provides your interpretation practice with peace of mind in that you won’t be financially liable in the event of a lawsuit. This lets you create a more predictable business plan with fewer sudden expenses and costs. 

Why do interpreter need insurance?

Interpreters need insurance because of the risks they face. Not only is there a chance that you may provide the wrong translation to your clients and cause harm or a financial loss, but a client may perceive you were negligent when you acted reasonably. In both cases, the client may sue your business. Even if you weren’t negligent, you still have to pay for legal defence fees. Professional liability insurance protects you by covering these fees for you. 

As an interpreter, your clients are commonly government officials, high-profile individuals, and business people. These professionals want to mitigate their risks as much as possible. As a result, they normally prefer hiring an insured interpreter. Clients may even ask for proof of a professional and general liability policy before signing the contract. So, buying an insurance plan as an interpreter may be mandatory as opposed to an option.

What risks does your interpreter practice face?

Suppose you’re translating for a business executive speaking with a potential foreign business partner. If you mishear what your client said, and your translation is, therefore, incorrect, it could create confusion or offence to the foreign business partner. Now imagine, your improper translation resulted in the loss of the business deal. Or, even if your client believes your error or omission caused the deal to fall flat, they may sue you for a significant amount. Cases like this are where interpreters may find business risks. Insurance protects against these scenarios. Professional liability insurance, specifically, can pay for the costs related to a lawsuit arising from a perceived or actual inadequate provision of services. This means you don’t need to worry about the financial consequences of being sued if an error or omission occurs. 

Risks can also occur if clients visit your office. Suppose someone comes in for a consultation, but they slip on a wet floor on their way to the door. If they injure themselves or their property, it could result in a lawsuit against your business because their injury occurred on your premises. Other office-related risks could arise if your space faces a flood, fire, burglary, or other unfortunate circumstances. Your property, such as laptops, cellphones, and furniture, could be stolen or ruined. These are all risks that insurance could protect against.