Fitness instructors have an inherently risky job. You might not see it as such. But what happens when a student trips over a mat during a routine and bumps their head? Or, suppose you’re holding an outdoor class and a student suddenly gets hit by a baseball from a nearby park.
As the business owner, you may be liable for their injuries or property damage in these situations. This could turn your business on its head as you deal with a personal injury lawsuit. You’ll need to hire a lawyer and potentially pay for damage costs.
But this is where business insurance for fitness instructors comes in. The right business insurance can cover the cost of lawsuits against your business whether you provided negligent services or it was due to a day-to-day risk like a baseball to the face.
This article discusses why fitness instructors need general liability insurance. It goes over what general liability insurance covers, why fitness instructors need it, and what other policies might be helpful for your business.
What does general liability insurance cover?
General liability insurance covers the lawsuits affiliated with the day-to-day risks of bodily injuries and property damage. It can also cover cases related to libel or slander.
The bodily injuries that general liability policies cover are usually not directly related to the provision of your services. Injuries resulting from your services are covered by professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance.
Consider the following two examples:
- Bodily injury covered by general liability insurance: Suppose you rent a small event space to hold weekly Zumba classes. You have blaring music to pump up your class as you punch and kick your way through the session. A student trips on one of the speaker cords during the routine and injures themself. A general liability insurance policy could cover legal costs and damage awards if the student sues you for their harm.
- Bodily injury covered by professional liability insurance: Suppose you have several elderly students in their 60s and 70s. You don’t warn anyone that your class is ideal for people aged 20 to 35 who can keep up with intensive routines. You keep pushing your class, and one of the elderly students injures themselves as a result. If the student sues you for their bodily injury, a professional liability policy could cover legal costs and damage awards because the lawsuit arose due to your negligent services.
Although general and professional liability insurance both cover bodily injuries for fitness instructors, they come into play in different scenarios. Having both forms of personal trainer liability insurance protects all your bases.
Need Insurance for Your Personal Training Business?
Do you need insurance to be a personal trainer?
Liability coverage isn’t always mandatory, but fitness instructors should purchase it, nonetheless.
The right general liability insurance protects your business from lawsuits. It ensures you won’t have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket if a client or third party sues for bodily injuries or property damage.
As a result, you gain peace of mind and don’t have to worry about the unfortunate circumstance of an injury leading to a lawsuit.
Additionally, insurance could be mandatory in numerous cases. For example, if you join a gym as an independent contractor, the gym may require you to have the right business insurance. Event centre and public space rentals may also have the same insurance requirements.
Related: How to protect your fitness career with fitness insurance
Does my gym’s insurance cover me as a fitness instructor?
If you work for a gym as an employee, their liability insurance policies often cover you. But as an independent contractor, coverage is less certain. That’s why a gym usually requires contractors to provide proof of insurance before they begin.
A gym’s insurance commonly provides exclusions and limits that lead to a lack of protection for contractors. It’s best to clarify these issues with your gym and understand what shortfalls you need to cover with your own policies.
What other insurance policies do fitness instructors need?
Fitness instructors need more than general liability insurance. As mentioned prior, professional liability insurance is vital as part of your complete business insurance package.
Additionally, contents insurance is a popular policy to purchase. Contents insurance protects your business assets and provides the repair or replacement value if it’s lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed.
For example, if the laptop you use to prepare classes and email students goes missing, your insurance company can help you replace it through contents insurancce.
General liability insurance is an excellent investment for anyone in the fitness industry. It allows you to mitigate the risks that threaten your business.
Get a free quote for personal trainer insurance online with APOLLO. You can also finish your purchase in under five minutes and ensure your business is prepared for the worst-case scenarios.
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