Trackside insurance..........do you need it?
Discussion
The answer is an emphatic YES, simple. But has anyone ever been asked to produce there insurance certificate when signing in?
As responsible professional/semi pro photographers we understand the requirements for the correct levels of cover for any aspect of the trade, be it 3rd party cover, public liability, professional indemnity, employee cover etc. But how often have we all attended race meetings to find people wandering around with 'press' tabards who appear to be nothing more than friends/family/students who have been invited along to take some shots.
What insurance do they hold? What liability do they have? What happens if, god forbid, something goes horribly wrong?
I find this frustrating knowing how much extra I pay for my trackside cover and would like to hear the veiws of others on this subject.
Carl
As responsible professional/semi pro photographers we understand the requirements for the correct levels of cover for any aspect of the trade, be it 3rd party cover, public liability, professional indemnity, employee cover etc. But how often have we all attended race meetings to find people wandering around with 'press' tabards who appear to be nothing more than friends/family/students who have been invited along to take some shots.
What insurance do they hold? What liability do they have? What happens if, god forbid, something goes horribly wrong?
I find this frustrating knowing how much extra I pay for my trackside cover and would like to hear the veiws of others on this subject.
Carl
In complete honesty I have never paid for trackside insurance, mainly because I never knew there was such a thing 
When Im at Harewood, I sign on as an official photographer which not only gives me access to other areas, but it makes sure that I am covered by the organisers insurance policy
Now....got a link for that insurance stuff??
When Im at Harewood, I sign on as an official photographer which not only gives me access to other areas, but it makes sure that I am covered by the organisers insurance policy
Now....got a link for that insurance stuff??
sidaorb said:
The answer is an emphatic YES, simple. But has anyone ever been asked to produce there insurance certificate when signing in?
As responsible professional/semi pro photographers we understand the requirements for the correct levels of cover for any aspect of the trade, be it 3rd party cover, public liability, professional indemnity, employee cover etc. But how often have we all attended race meetings to find people wandering around with 'press' tabards who appear to be nothing more than friends/family/students who have been invited along to take some shots.
What insurance do they hold? What liability do they have? What happens if, god forbid, something goes horribly wrong?
I find this frustrating knowing how much extra I pay for my trackside cover and would like to hear the veiws of others on this subject.
Carl
Whilst I am not trying to be seen as the devil's advocate, I would say that the answer isn't an emphatic yes. It depends completely on your professional situation and your own level of cover you want to hold.As responsible professional/semi pro photographers we understand the requirements for the correct levels of cover for any aspect of the trade, be it 3rd party cover, public liability, professional indemnity, employee cover etc. But how often have we all attended race meetings to find people wandering around with 'press' tabards who appear to be nothing more than friends/family/students who have been invited along to take some shots.
What insurance do they hold? What liability do they have? What happens if, god forbid, something goes horribly wrong?
I find this frustrating knowing how much extra I pay for my trackside cover and would like to hear the veiws of others on this subject.
Carl
The only insurance which would be mandatory in that situation would be if for example, you are part of a Limited Company - even a sole director, or you work for another company (Ltd or not) that they have employer's liability insurance. That would cover you should you are injured.
Above that, then it is really a risk assessment. Is public liability insurance necessary? Will your tripod fall on a small child and you will be sued, maybe. Will your house get burnt down, maybe. Personally I have both insurances, but that is my choice.
Indemnity insurance for photography I must admit I have not come across before, as it is mainly for those such as solicitors or financial advisors of which their service is the providing of advice and they need legally to be covered for the consequences thereof, I really don't think a standard package would cover a photographer or by applicable.
And for the amateurs? Whether they have insurance is up to them. They may fall under the same random occurances and their camera might whack someone over the head and cause a blood clot, but that is the case wherever they are, trackside or not, or indeed whether they have a camera in their hand or not. In that situation though the type of cases that are brought against an individual are very rare, and the amounts are relatively small even then. It really isnt worth insuring for.
Trackside, more than any other place offers the individual even more protection, as even if someone was looking for compensation, chasing the track and their large insurance liability fund rather than an individual would be a much more sensible bet!
It varies with the circuit. At some circuits simply being signed on includes you on their insurance but not at others. Therefore if you're shooting from trackside you need PLI cover and £5 million in the level most ask for these days.
If you're shooting track days or non-organised events you definitely need it.
Just to clarify, "trackside" = circuit side of the fences in non-public areas.
If you're shooting track days or non-organised events you definitely need it.
Just to clarify, "trackside" = circuit side of the fences in non-public areas.
Edited by MonkeyHanger on Tuesday 4th March 17:42
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