What Insurances Do Martial Arts Instructors Need?
As a martial arts instructor, you need to make sure that you are adequately covered. While the most obvious reason for this is to protect yourself and your students in the event of an accident, there are many other aspects of your business that may require protection. Here we will explore some common insurance policies that martial arts instructors need to consider:
Why Do Martial Arts Instructors Need Insurance
The reason why martial arts instructors need insurance is because they are often responsible for the safety, health, and well-being of their students. They also help to prevent injuries while working with students who may be inexperienced or have special needs.
Martial arts instructors are often contact sports coaches, which means they are exposed to injuries that might occur during class activities. If a student gets injured during practice and has no health insurance policy in place, the instructor may be responsible for paying for medical bills out of pocket or from their own pocketbooks. The costs can quickly add up if someone is injured on a regular basis.
To find out more, read our blog about “why martial arts insurance is essential.”
What types of insurance offer protection for martial arts instructors?
Professional Indemnity
Professional indemnity insurance covers you against claims of negligence, error, or omission. For example, if a student is injured during class and decides to sue you for damages, this type of insurance helps pay for legal fees and any compensation awarded by the court. It also covers you if a student alleges that an injury has occurred due to a lack of supervision on your part.
In short: If someone gets hurt at your studio because of something you did (or didn't do) then professional indemnity insurance will help cover the costs associated with their treatment as well as any legal proceedings brought against them by their parents/guardians should they choose to sue you in court!
In addition to helping cover costs associated with injuries sustained while training at martial arts schools or dojos, this coverage can also be used in other situations where instructors need protection such as when they're teaching seminars abroad or working out-of-state (i.e., teaching classes in different cities).
Public Liability
If a single person is injured, the martial arts instructor is likely to be covered by public liability insurance. Public liability insurance protects against claims of negligence if someone is injured while at your studio, using your equipment or facilities.
For example, let's assume that a woman walks into an MMA gym and sees one of her friends practicing on the heavy bag. She approaches him to talk about how he's doing and asks him what he has been up to lately. Then she accidentally steps on one of those big weights used for squats and falls flat on her face!
It could happen! Fortunately for this poor woman (and fortunately for you), she has public liability coverage which will help protect you from being held liable in court as well as covering any medical expenses related to any injuries sustained during work hours at your gym facilities.
Equipment Insurance
The equipment you use in your martial arts studio is an important part of what you do. It helps you and your students learn, grow, and stay in shape. However, the cost of equipment can be high. If your staff members are responsible for maintaining their own equipment—or if your school has a policy that requires them to buy their own weapons and uniforms—they need protection against theft, damage, or loss.
Equipment Insurance is often called Gear Insurance or Gear Coverage by insurers because they cover all types of sporting gear: uniforms, mats, and other mats accessories like grappling dummies/pads etc. It also covers weapons such as swords, sticks (batons) knives etc.
The cost of replacing damaged or stolen gear can add up quickly! In addition to paying out-of-pocket first before filing a claim with an insurance company; there are often deductibles that need paying out before receiving payment from the insurer (sometimes referred to as “excess”).
Business Interruption / Personal Accident Insurance
Business interruption/personal accident insurance is one of the most important insurances that martial arts instructors should consider purchasing. It’s designed to protect against loss of income, provide financial assistance if you are injured or sick, provide financial assistance if you must take time off work, and help cover the costs of hiring a replacement instructor in case an injury or sickness prevents you from going into the dojo.
If your studio is open during evenings and weekends, then business interruption/personal accident insurance would cover any lost revenue from losing those days as well. If your studio has a contract with another company for classes at their facilities, then having this type of insurance will allow them to pay for any lost revenue which may occur due to illness or injury on your part.
Find the right policies for you
Martial arts instructors can benefit from a wide range of insurances. With the right policies, your business will be protected against potential losses, and you can focus on teaching classes instead of worrying about financial problems. Contact us today to find out which policies would suit you best.
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