A question we often hear is ‘I’m a physiotherapist and I have professional indemnity insurance, so why do I need public liability as well?’ We’ve got the low down to help you get the right cover.
Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity insurance is a required by law for all practicing physiotherapists in Australia. This protects you against claims of misconduct or patient injury as a result of your professional practices or errors or omissions therein. This includes the physical aspects of the physiotherapy you provide and also advice you provide to your clients within your area of expertise. Professional indemnity insurance can provide cover for legal consultation and court fees associated with any such claim. Health practitioner professional indemnity insurance is integral to the longevity of your business. Regardless of the professional service you provide, working in the physiotherapy industry your reputation is at risk should someone make a claim of negligence and this is something you need to be able to rectify quickly so you can get back to business.
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance covers you against accidental damage or injury to third parties. How does public liability insurance differ to professional indemnity insurance? The difference is that public liability insurance isn’t related to your professional services, more the practice of your business. For instance, if your massage table comes unhinged during a consultation and your client breaks an arm. Or if a client trips over a cable in your office and fractures a hip in the fall. If an accident like this occurs inside your practice, you could be liable for expensive medical costs associated with their treatment and recovery as well as compensation for the loss of wages due to any time off work the person may need due to the injuries sustained.
Whereas professional indemnity insurance is designed to cover physiotherapists against legal costs associated with a misconduct or negligence claim by a client.
Protecting your reputation
Having the right insurance for physiotherapists is essential for your business. In the event of an accident within your practice or a claim of negligence, having the right cover will ensure you can rectify the situation quickly to minimise the effect on your business’s reputation, so that you can get back to doing what you do best: helping people get back to what they do best. It’s important as a physiotherapist to have both professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurance.
To arrange public liability and professional indemnity insurance for your business, contact Contractor Cover on 1300 438 268 or organise a quick and easy quote online today.
