Is Any Sort of Liability Insurance Needed for a Tiny Web "Business"?

[GingerApple]

Hello all,

Recently I've started up a little outfit supplying website owners with content for their websites. I simply get the work in from various areas and pass it on to one of the freelancer writers I have on my books, I'll then deliver the work to the client, pay the freelancer and take a little for myself. Simple. None of the freelancers are working for me, they are all self-employed.

It is very small, shouldn't really be classed as a business but just making a little bit of money each day.

So my question is do I need any sort of liability (or other type) or insurance to protect myself if anything goes wrong? The specific example I have in mind is if an article on (purely hypothetical) how peanuts can help you lose weight is published on a website owned by someone else, and someone reads it with a nut allergy lets say and decides to try it out and ends up in hospital. Would there be any grounds for the website owner to call me liable and take legal action? Do I need any sort of insurance to protect me against such matters? Or any insurance to protect me from any other matters that may arise?

Perhaps even is the risk too great to be worth the reward?

Thank you for reading.

 

[evocart]

If you are selling anything that can cause halm or injury, or are giving advice which if not read properly or due to other heath problems causes your website visitor / client to be injured or worse then you are going to be the one that gets suid. This goes for products as well.. the customer would sue you and then you would take action against your supplier.

So you don't need insurance, but IMO you would be mad not to have insurance as if things go wrong then you could really have a problem.

So If your site falls into one of the above catagories then I would suggest you cover yourself just in case.

Good Luck.

 

[GingerApple]

It probably got lost in my vast amount of text up there, but I don't own the websites, I simply supply the content to website owners who request it. And I have suppliers to write the content for me.

Anyway, it does sound as if I could well be liable incase things do go wrong, especially in today's culture. Where/how would I go about getting the right insurance please?

 

[evocart]

It probably got lost in my vast amount of text up there, but I don't own the websites, I simply supply the content to website owners who request it. And I have suppliers to write the content for me.

Anyway, it does sound as if I could well be liable incase things do go wrong, especially in today's culture. Where/how would I go about getting the right insurance please?

In that case someone would sue the website and then to recoup any losses / bad publicity the site may sue you, either way not good.

I would google a few companies and make a list, then contact them and they will be able to tell you what insurance you would need and how much liability is included, again I would probably use £2Million as a rule, though ask a few companies and then see who you feel happiest to go with.

It shouldn't cost that much per year, and work it into your pricing so that you are not loosing out.

Good Luck.

 

[GingerApple]

Sounds like that's my afternoon sorted, thanks for your help.

 

[evocart]

Sounds like that's my afternoon sorted, thanks for your help.

No problem, best of luck to you.

 

[Ranks]

Interlogy, I don't mean to be rude but do you sell insurance? I only ask as it seems ridiculous to be advising insurance is needed for the OP, he is not responsible for what the website owner publishes.
Just my 2p
Jay

 

[GingerApple]

Either way I've got in touch (via email, regrettably) with a few insurance firms to ask them what they'd recommend and I'll give a couple of others a ring tomorrow morning.

So far it's looking like I might need public liability and professional indemnity.

Would be good to hear an opinion from an insurance seller on this forum however.

 

[evocart]

Interlogy, I don't mean to be rude but do you sell insurance? I only ask as it seems ridiculous to be advising insurance is needed for the OP, he is not responsible for what the website owner publishes.
Just my 2p
Jay

lol, no I don't sell insurance and have no interest in ever doing so, I just know you have to be carefull what you and any site visitors publish these days.

And the OP is responsible for content if it's content they are supplying the website and charging the website for doing so.

And yes a lot of the "larger" forums even have insurance in case they are sued by companies for slander and such.

So I hope you can see where I am coming from, and it is up to the OP wether they take out any cover, they will hopefully never need it, but I would personally prefer to be safer than sorry.

Also If they do get sued by someone and you told them not to waste their money... are you going to pay their legal fees? (not trying to be funy, just trying to get my point accross.)

 

[Ranks]

Yeah, good points Interlogy. Its a mad world we live in, and I spose you need to be insured for most possibilities...

Also If they do get sued by someone and you told them not to waste their money... are you going to pay their legal fees?

Im going to put a disclaimer in my sig
Jay

 

[evocart]

We're getting more and more like America each year

 

[TheGuru2010]

Not to sure if you have had a good chat witha broker yet OP, but if you PM me some detaisl we can have a chat & see what is best.

 

[MrMichael]

Surely you could just have a brief mention of the matter in terms and conditions when you supply content to the site, advising that they are responsible for the content and in ensuring it is not defamatory, and potentially indemnifying you for any losses arising should they publish the material and subsequently be sued.

Your freelancers are writing content at the direction of the client, and it is the client's decision to publish, so they should be responsible if any losses arise, which could/should be detailed in terms & conditions.

I suppose this could operate in tandem with insurance potentially, but the above would be a much cheaper option than insurance.

 

[Astaroth]

Remember of cause, even if you have great contracts both with your client and your freelancers to try and remove any liability from yourself that will not stop a spurious attempt to call you as a co-defendant or recover costs from a claim against your client.

Your insurance would not only cover the cost of paying damages but the cost of defending the claim itself.

 

[GingerApple]

I think it would be best to stick with the safe rather than sorry approach and look into getting some.

I've been trying to find some specialist web brokers, but haven't had much look. Don't suppose anyone knows of any?

 

[lockyer]

I think I ihave a combined PL/PI (public and proffessional indemnity) product that may fit the bill.

Give me a ring or drop me a message with your contact details.

 

[-Joe-]

Either way I've got in touch (via email, regrettably) with a few insurance firms to ask them what they'd recommend and I'll give a couple of others a ring tomorrow morning.

So far it's looking like I might need public liability and professional indemnity.

Would be good to hear an opinion from an insurance seller on this forum however.

As far as I can tell from what I've researched in the last day or two, you can avoid having to fork out for indemnity by chucking a quick clause in the contract.

PM me if you want the clause I'll be using, I've already paid for my contract.

@Mods, I'm not selling anything, I'm giving this away.