Examples of potential insurance claims against Photographers
No matter how photographic professionals make their living, they all need to be fully aware of the potential consequences that a claim against them could have and protect their businesses accordingly with Photographers Insurance.
Public Liability insurance and Professional Indemnity insurance offer comprehensive protection against the cost of defending allegations of professional negligence (such as failing to provide an acceptable level of photography to a client) and if unsuccessful, the cost of damages awarded against you.
In addition, these policies will cover the costs of defending your business (including damages awarded against you if unsuccessful) if someone is injured, or their property damaged, which arises from you going about your business.
There are also other important covers such as cyber insurance and equipment insurance that every photographer should consider to ensure they’re protected against the unexpected.
Here are some examples of potential claims that photographers could face.
Corrupt technology lets you down
You take the photos for a wedding. The weather is perfect, the couple and guests are happy and smiling, the photos you take look great through your lens. Things couldn’t be better.
You return to your studio the next day to download the files for retouching and realise the SD card has corrupted. You’ve lost all of those fantastic ‘one moment in time’ photos.
The client makes a claim against you for the cost of a reshoot.
You fail to prepare
You are booked for a wedding shoot, but rely too heavily on your SatNav to get you to the church ceremony on time. After driving through heavy traffic, you arrive at the wrong destination and miss the church ceremony as a result. Your client makes a claim against you for the cost of the photoshoot.
Misinterpreting a client brief
1) A client engages your services to photograph key elements of their business for their new brochure and website. You miss key elements the client requested resulting in the client making a claim against you for the cost of a replacement photographer and a reshoot of the photos.
2) You are tasked with taking photos by an insurance company for a compensation claim. You miss taking photos that are key to the claim, resulting in the company needing to book a reshoot. They issue you with an invoice for the cost of the original photoshoot.
You are the victim of a cyber-attack
You are the photographer for a magazine and your laptop is hacked and your client photos are stolen along with their sensitive data (some of which includes payment details). Your clients have given exclusive rights to the photos to the magazine, but some of the photos are released online prior to publication. The magazine who commissioned your services issues a claim against you as do the clients whose photographs and data have been compromised, resulting in multiple compensation claims.
Accidents will happen no matter how careful you are
1) A wedding guest trips over your equipment bag and ruins their expensive dress. They make a claim against you seeking compensation and send you an invoice for the cost of replacing the dress.
2) You are commissioned to take photos for a business client. A member of staff trips over a cable running from your laptop (which wasn’t taped down properly) and injures their wrist breaking their fall. They issue a personal injury claim against you seeking compensation.
Accidental damage to property
1) A venue alleges that your tripod has scratched an expensive floor and sends you an invoice for the costs to repair and repolish it.
2) You are commissioned to take photos for a property company. Whilst on site you knock a painting off a wall resulting in it tearing. The company sends you an invoice for the replacement/repair costs.
You double book clients and miss an assignment
As a freelance photographer you feel you need to accept any work that is offered. As a result you lose sight of your admin and double book clients, resulting in you missing an assignment that you had committed to. The client, whose assignment you missed, makes a claim against you for negligence and any costs they incurred preparing for their photoshoot.
Incorrect photographic proof
1) You are tasked with taking photos by an insurance company for a compensation claim. You miss taking photos that are key to the claim, resulting in the company needing to book a reshoot. They issue you with an invoice for the cost of the original photoshoot.
2) You provide an insurance company with photos of a storm damaged roof resulting in a significant payment being made to the homeowner. Later, the insurer discovers that your photos were of the wrong address and their payment should have been for much less. They issue you with an invoice for the difference in the value of the claim.
3) You have been recruited to take covert photos of an injured claimant who is looking for a significant compensation payment. You take photos of the wrong individual leading the insurer to defend a case through the courts only have their evidence rejected. They issue you with an invoice for their legal costs to take the case back to court.
Summary
Your diligence and duty of care is key to ensuring you and your clients are protected. It is clear from the claims examples mentioned that you can be on the receiving end of an insurance claim for instances that are out of your control and for simple misinterpretation and potentially unclear communication.
Business insurance can protect your finances and your reputation. Contact us today to discuss your insurance requirements and for a quote on 0800 640 6600.