Liability insurance?
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Discussion

wd*

Original Poster:

4,045 posts

282 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
We are pondering buying a bouncy castle for sproglet, and as its his birthday in three weeks, we were going to put it up at his party which is going to be held in a rented hall/function room.

Would we need Liability insurance, or is it a case of tell the parents "its a bouncy castle, if your kid falls off, its your problem"? Would the hall/room need it?

We obviously aren't charging the kids to go on it.

mxdi

13,994 posts

280 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
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Sorry, dont know the answer tracy, but it is worrying nowadays what you could be sued for, its almost like my mum suing my childhood friend for telling me to jump off the swing that broke my arm. Hope the sprog likes it

Piglet

6,250 posts

286 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
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You might be better off hiring rather than buying - chances are the provider would then have their own liability insurance.

You would only be liable if you had been negligent - that would involve a duty of care (likely to be fairly obvious), and if you'd breached the duty of care - quite what that would be is anyones guess. Perhaps letting too many kids on at once? letting bigger kids on with little kids on there?

The best written disclaimer in the world can't exclude liability for personal injury caused by negligence so the "at your own risk" approach won't protect you.

Personally, I wouldn't do anything like this without some form of liability insurance but I imagine that finding one off insurance is likely to be pretty pricey which might bring you back to hiring?

It's an odd world but I guess it's the only one we've got!

wd*

Original Poster:

4,045 posts

282 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
Piglet said:
You might be better off hiring rather than buying - chances are the provider would then have their own liability insurance.

You would only be liable if you had been negligent - that would involve a duty of care (likely to be fairly obvious), and if you'd breached the duty of care - quite what that would be is anyones guess. Perhaps letting too many kids on at once? letting bigger kids on with little kids on there?

The best written disclaimer in the world can't exclude liability for personal injury caused by negligence so the "at your own risk" approach won't protect you.

Personally, I wouldn't do anything like this without some form of liability insurance but I imagine that finding one off insurance is likely to be pretty pricey which might bring you back to hiring?

It's an odd world but I guess it's the only one we've got!


Well, the idea to buying one was that he would then have one to play with in hte back garden. Of the children at the party,m all but potentially two are going to be under 2, one will be 3 the other (if he comes) 6.

Its just such a sad world when you even have to consider these possibilities

trevorw

2,875 posts

313 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
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MMmm that mixture of ages will be a recipy for disaster, you'll be constatnlt be telling the 6 year old to be carefull

Howabout a Jungle Gym type of thing intead, we did that for my son for his Second Birthday and he loved it, about £100 for 10 kids and that included food round a table and a cake! Oldest kid was about 5.

>> Edited by trevorw on Sunday 12th February 22:17

>> Edited by trevorw on Sunday 12th February 22:17

Boosted Ls1

21,200 posts

291 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
Speak to your house insurance company about extended liability.

As for hiring stuff be careful. A lot of these people may have no cover at all. I dealt with a bungee company giving jumps in the midlands. They had no cover, they couldn't get it so the person with the injury was well and truly stuffed.

Boosted.

wd*

Original Poster:

4,045 posts

282 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
trevorw said:
MMmm that mixture of ages will be a recipy for disaster, you'll be constatnlt be telling the 6 year old to be carefull

Howabout a Jungle Gym type of thing intead, we did that for my son for his Second Birthday and he loved it, about £100 for 10 kids and that included food round a table and a cake! Oldest kid was about 5.

>> Edited by trevorw on Sunday 12th February 22:17

>> Edited by trevorw on Sunday 12th February 22:17


we dont have enough kids for the local Wacky warehouse (need 8) and at £5.99 a head, it seems a bit wasteful when most wont even be able to eat the junk food they serve. We pondered just turning up there, but as its a satuday, it will be heaving.

I don't know if the 6 year old will be there, but there will be other activities for the younger ones (rockers, ride on things, etc), its just such a nightmare!

alc

366 posts

255 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
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wow, this brings back memories of when my kids were young, and every kid's party had to outdo the previous one!

We did them all - parties at the local swimming pool, skating rink, burger bar, picnics in the park, trips to the cinema, theatre......but the most successful seemed to be the childrens' entertainers, who come to wherever you are holding the party, they do magic tricks, usually involving the birthday child, make animals out of balloons, give out prizes etc etc.

Things do get worse! We are now into the teenage parties, which involve alcohol and as many members of the opposite sex as possible! Give me jelly and ice cream any day!!!

tvrbob

11,197 posts

286 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
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Tracy you would be wholly or partly liable, you can't shift that liability away entirely though contract will help if you can prove a contract is in place. If you can prove that the other responsible parents new that they were required by you to take certain precautions such as not letting children >X yrs old on at the same time as children of <X yrs and the claim can be attributed to someone not keeping to that clause then some of your liability may be avoided. If you own and provide the equipment you could never be free of liability.

The law needs someone to blame and they start by looking at the operator (owner). If they see nothing to prevent the accident then they will have found the person responsible.

wedg1e

27,044 posts

296 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
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alc said:

We are now into the teenage parties, which involve alcohol and as many members of the opposite sex as possible!


Can I come?