As a personal trainer you have to work hard to establish yourself professionally, but it only takes one incident to put that in jeopardy. Personal trainer liability insurance offers protection in case a personal trainer causes any injury or harm to a customer during a training session. The trainer is also covered by personal trainer insurance if a client believes that they have been injured as a result of the trainer’s negligence. Furthermore, many gyms will not allow you to operate without providing them with proof of personal trainer insurance.
There are two types of liability insurance to protect a personal trainer from monetary losses due to negligence: general liability insurance and professional liability insurance.
General liability insurance
General liability insurance covers a personal trainer in case of so called ‘ordinary negligence’: losses due to exercise equipment malfunction, slippery shower rooms, worn out flooring surfaces etc. This type of insurance typically covers all of the equipment and the premises.
As an employee at a fitness center, you typically would be covered by your employer’s liability insurance. However, some facility owners are under-insured or even completely uninsured for their individual trainers’ professional liability putting a personal trainer at great risk.
As a self-employed personal trainer you may not need general liability insurance if you hold sessions outdoors or go to client’s homes, since you have no control over this environment. However if you provide clients with equipment to use, you could be held responsible for losses due to ordinary negligence related to your equipment. In addition, many clubs will not permit independent contractors on-site without evidence of liability insurance.
Professional liability insurance
Professional liability insurance protects a personal trainer from conduct known as professional negligence, or negligence in your duties, that results in a loss to the client.
Since the responsibilities of a personal trainer are not well-defined by law, professional liability insurance is a necessity for all personal trainers, particularly independent contractors. All losses that the client sustains as a result of your professional advice by demonstrating exercises must be compensated. A professional liability insurance policy must be acquired separately from a general liability policy.
Which insurance to get
As you can see from the above the amount of coverage you will need depends on the circumstances and the cost of personal trainer insurance will dependent on the amount of coverage you request.
Various personal training certification organizations offer insurance, such as the American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM), and the National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF).
Typically to acquire personal trainer liability insurance you need to be certified. However there are personal trainer insurance options available for non-certified professionals.
The decision about liability insurance shouldn’t be taken light-handed as this is a way to protect your client, yourself, your family and your business. In addition to the information provided here you are highly recommended to get an advice from a lawyer or insurance agent in regard to the amount of coverage needed.
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