If you’re a professional videographer, you may not have thought about public liability insurance before. The fact is, however, that as a professional videographer you need it.

Public liability insurance is a vital form of insurance if you’re working in a professional capacity – so it’s best to learn all you can about it and get covered quickly.

What is public liability insurance?

Public liability insurance exists to help cover the costs associated with a claim arising from accidental damage to parties or property that arises from your actions. This coverage can be in the form of paying for legal representation in the event of a court case. It can also be in the form of covering any compensation that is claimed by third parties.

Public liability insurance is what prevents you from having to pay costs arising from an accident or negligence directly out of your own pocket. Most policies will have an agreed cover limit, so check that you feel you have enough cover for your business. 

Not sure how much coverage you need? Get in touch with the team here at Aaduki and we can help advise you. 

Do you need it as a videographer?

While public liability insurance isn’t a legal requirement under UK law, it is strongly recommended as it can protect you financially should legal action be filed against you for property damage or injury.

You might think videographer insurance just consists of insurance for your equipment and yourself, and it does, but remember that your business is about more than just you. During your time as a videographer, you’re likely going to find yourself in a number of unusual locations, often surrounded by people and their property. What happens if you damage something? Or someone gets hurt?

Public liability insurance exists to provide some much-needed backup in the event you’re involved in or are the cause of an accident or injury to someone. You can never guarantee that your actions won’t somehow result in injury to a third party or damage to their property or possessions.

A practical example

Here’s a theoretical example of where public liability insurance would be used.

Say you’re a wedding videographer. You’re busy filming the bride and groom during their first dance. Unfortunately, as you’re doing this one of the bridesmaids accidentally trips over some of your equipment. She falls hard and badly breaks her hip – what happens next?

If she claims you were negligent in the placement of your equipment, and you dispute that, you can use your public liability insurance coverage to cover your legal costs incurred in defending yourself. If, however, you accept you were negligent in the placement of your equipment, your public liability insurance can be used to cover any compensation or settlement that is decided. This can be done either through the courts or via insurance companies and legal representation.

If you don’t have public liability insurance you’re going to be faced with the spiralling costs of a court case, or a settlement possibly running into tens of thousands of pounds. It only takes a single court case like this to cripple a small photography or videography business.

Coverage is essential because accidents happen

As a photographer or videographer, you’re likely doing your utmost to ensure you can conduct your work in a safe, professional manner. That being said, it’s worth bearing in mind that public liability insurance isn’t somehow admitting that you’re clumsy or negligent in the way you go about your business – far from it.

Public liability insurance exists because accidents happen, and sometimes no matter how well prepared you are there’s nothing you can do about it. Everyone has bad days, everyone has momentary lapses of concentration, and everyone makes mistakes. Public liability insurance can help protect your business in the event that one of those momentary lapses has a knock-on effect for a third party. 

Additions to public liability insurance

In addition to public liability insurance, there are other liability insurance plans out there that are worth considering. Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement if you’re going to take on any employees, and it provides them with the same coverage third parties get from public liability insurance. Namely, you will be protected from court case costs or settlement clams in the event an employee is injured, or their property damaged, in the course of working for you.

Another is professional indemnity insurance. This covers you in the event that a client takes legal action against you if they feel that the work you have produced fails to meet a professional standard. 

A key investment for professional videographers

If you’re making your passion your profession and providing a commercial videography service, in any capacity, you need public liability insurance. Contact Aaduki today to get a simple, affordable and accessible public liability insurance quote.