Public Liability Insurance for Dance Instructors
In the world of dance, owners of dance studios want to protect their students as much as possible. Dance studio owners therefore spend time and money ensuring their studios are safe for students, parents and the general public. Even so, the most thorough inspection and repair of the studio may still leave unsafe areas, and to protect your students, your business, and yourself, public liability insurance may become necessary.
What is Public Liability Insurance?
Public liability insurance protects businesses against bankruptcy in the cases where members of the public are harmed on your property due to negligence on your part. This means that if, for example, a student were to harm herself on a loose floor board during dance practice, your public liability insurance could cover her injuries, any damages, and any legal fees involved in a lawsuit.
This insurance also extends beyond your students and your physical dance studio. The following situations and fees may be covered under your public liability insurance policy:
• An injury to a parent or a member of the general public due to negligence on your property.
• An injury to a student parent, or member of the general public that occurs during dance recitals in areas other than your dance studio.
• Your legal fees and the claimant’s legal fees, as associated with the claim.
• Medical bills, compensation and other damages for the claimant.
• Damages that occurred to your property, as associated with the injury/claim.
Other coverage may apply in certain situations. Since all public liability insurance policies differ, check with your insurance provider about the specific coverage of your public liability coverage.
How Can I Reduce My Liability Risk?
Public liability insurance may cover you in the case of a lawsuit due to negligence, but of course, the usage of liability insurance should be limited as much as possible. Not only will this keep your premiums low but will help keep your students as safe as possible.
To reduce your liability risk, you can simply assess the potential risks that exist in every situation. For example, assessing the risks in your own studio will help you keep your students, parents and the general public safe. Look for any areas in your studio that may pose risks, including:
• Slip, trip and fall hazards in your studio. These can include uneven flooring, faulty stairwells, unmarked shallow steps, and loose carpeting or floorboards.
• Hazards in the exterior of your studio, including uneven concrete walkways, loose pavers and an uneven driveway.
• Risks available in public areas where you may have contracted space for a dance recital. These risks could include any hazards for which you or the dance studio are personally negligent.
Searching for these risks can make you aware of the repairs necessary to keep your students safe. However, should any repairs be missed and a lawsuit take place, purchasing public liability insurance may keep your business safe from bankruptcy.
