Whether it’s a motor vehicle collision or an aviation accident, an accident can strike seemingly out of nowhere, and the causes of such accidents are rarely transparent. That’s where accident investigators come in. These professionals are called upon to handle investigation-related responsibilities at the scene, often working with police and other parties involved. They play a pivotal role in determining the accident’s cause, including determining who is at fault, gathering evidence, and reporting on findings.
South Western Group offers a customized Professional Liability (PL) policy for the unique risks in this hard-to-place market. Brokers interested in this market will find tailored coverage in SWG’s PL policy for Accident Investigators.
Why Accident Investigators Need Professional Liability
In Canada, accident investigators must be licensed in the province, territory, or city they are operating. Licensed accident investigators must also be insured in Canada.
Unfortunately, accident investigators can have all the right qualities and still be at risk of a mishap resulting in a negligence claim or lawsuit. Core liability policies only cover the basics and do not include Errors & Omissions (E&O) for licensed professionals. Thus, a general commercial insurance policy might not adequately protect these professionals against the financial loss associated with negligence claims and lawsuits.
Even the smallest error in judgment or data collection can lead to a negligence claim or third-party claim. Unfortunately, all licensed accident investigators are prone to such risks and many others, which is why liability coverage is necessary.
Common Exposures for Accident Investigators
An accident investigator will work at the scene of hundreds if not thousands of fatal motor vehicle collisions and injury collisions throughout their career. They are also called upon as expert witnesses in coroner’s inquests, civil hearings, arbitration hearings, and labor relations adjudications. In the courtroom, they are called upon to present their evidentiary findings and reconstructions. In short, accident investigators play a pivotal role in the execution of justice when accidents occur.
Because of this, negligence claims or third-party lawsuits can be severe. Accident investigation negligence claims can range from a distance calculation error to missing physical evidence to a documentation error.
- Distance calculation errors:Interpreting the impacts between pedestrians and cars is particularly difficult but necessary to reconstruct an accident and present evidence in the courtroom accurately. A mistake in distance calculation might seem insignificant but can lead to inaccurate conclusions about the accident’s cause.
- Missing physical evidence:A client claims an accident investigator failed to collect sufficient visual data from a motor vehicle accident and files a negligence claim.
- Errors in documentation:Errors in documentation can throw off an entire case, leading to inaccurate reconstructions and miscarriage of justice for the victims and their families.
Accident investigator policies cover almost all negligence claims. For the claim to qualify, it must be made within the active policy period. Once approved, the insurer will initiate an immediate investigation into the claim.
Tailored Professional Liability to Protect Against Negligence Claims
SWG PL – Miscellaneous Professional Liability insurance offers a packaged E&O and CGL policy that covers accident investigators as well as a wide range of other hard-to-place classes of business. Tailored E&O coverage protects small to large organizations from a broad range of various risks. SWG provides a Miscellaneous PL policy at competitive rates, bringing extensive knowledge and underwriting experience in professional liability.
In addition to accident investigators, we also provide tailored coverage for the following hard-to-place markets:
- Bookkeepers
- Business Consultants
- Collection Agencies
- Travel Agents
- Employment Agencies
- Event Planners
- Interior Designers
- Leasing Agents
- Management Consultants
- Translators
- Utility Locators
- And many more
Visit our website for more details.
Content is current as of the date of broadcast and is subject to change without notice.
