Public Liability insurance

[Peter Orr]

I have been shooting equestrian events for 10 years in the UK, and public liability insurance was always a pretty small add-on to my photo kit insurance. I moved to Oz last year, and have set up a digital events business here, based on horses again, and dogs. As we know, the kit is expensive, so I have been looking for insurance here. Insurance for the kit is so expensive as to be not worth while, but I have been amazed at the price for Public Liability now. My broker in Sydney (Oz's biggest city) was turned down flat by 10 underwriters before he found one that would even quote, and that was for roughly equivalent to US$1500 for US$2.5 million cover - not a helluva lot.

However discrete we try to be, there is always a chance that someone will accuse us of contributing to an accident, be it horses, bikes, whatever, and it is more likely now than 10 years ago.

So what I would be very interested to find out is:
whether other eventers have PL insurance,
was it hard to find,
if you do not have it, is there a reason why not?
Has anyone had a claim made against them?

Thanks guys, Peter.

[BobBranam]

Peter,
I am sure there are plenty of event photographers out there without insurance. I went many years without it. But, here I am finding more and more places that require you have insurance if you work their event. My equipment worth has grown so much and pulling multi trailers that could have a tree fall on them or be in a wreck I have chosen to buy insurance. It runs about $800.00 per year here with 1 million liability insurance. I feel so much better now mainly about replacement of my equipment. I have gone to ramps on my trailers just to keep customers from falling out doors. That has happened so many times. But you are right. If someone thinks you caused them to get hurt and they get hurt bad.. they will file against you.