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Topic: Writers: thoughts on prof. liability insurance?
| Author | Message |
| frembes.com | Posted – 3/19/2008 7:23:15 PM | show profile Hi all, I wanted to get your thoughts on professional liability insurance for freelance writers. I've been full-time for several years but have not looked into it until recently. The main reason I am interested now is that a major client has asked their freelancers to sign agreements that say they (editorial staff and publisher) are not responsible should someone sue for libel. Any thoughts on having insurance? And any ideas where to find insurance carriers who offer this specific type of coverage?? I am based in MA, if that helps. Thank you! |
| Cyrus | Posted – 3/20/2008 12:26:46 PM | show profile You definitely should have it; you can go through insurance brokers to get it. These aren't the Allstate and State Farm companies of the world, but rather commercial insurance brokers that work with companies like CNA and others who insure businesses. You can get 2 or 3 million in coverage for under $600 a year in many cases. Search your local yellow pages for insurance brokerages. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 3/20/2008 2:29:08 PM | show profile I've been freelancing for 20 years without libel insurance. Granted, anyone can be sued for anything, but libel suits are pretty rare. If I were doing investigative pieces I might feel differently, but my stuff isn't the kind of thing anyone is likely to sue for. I don't know exactly what the agreement you are being asked to sign says and don''t know if that would change my mind. Libel insurance sure isn't the first insurance I'd buy. Health, disability, and a few other types of insurance are probably better bets. I mean, sure, in the best of all worlds, every writer should have libel insurance, and you can always find the rare horror story. But in the reality of limited resources, I can put $500 or $600 a year to better use than libel insurance. |
| Cyrus | Posted – 3/20/2008 6:19:42 PM | show profile Just thought i'd point out you don't only need it if you're sued. Technically, if your homeowners insurance finds out you're using things in your home like a computer as a course of running a business, they don't have to pay a claim resulting from theft, etc. because homeowners doesn't cover anything used for commercial purposes. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 3/20/2008 7:22:29 PM | show profile True, but I'd separate the technical from the practical. What's the likelihood that if your house is robbed and you put in a claim, the insurance company is going to ask if the stolen laptop was used for business? Pretty small. -- Posted ? 3/20/2008 6:19:42 PM | show profile Just thought i'd point out you don't only need it if you're sued. Technically, if your homeowners insurance finds out you're using things in your home like a computer as a course of running a business, they don't have to pay a claim resulting from theft, etc. because homeowners doesn't cover anything used for commercial purposes.-- |
