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Professional Indemnity Insurance

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What Is Professional Indemnity Insurance?

Businesses that offer advice, professional legal or consultation services or handle client data and intellectual property will most likely want to have professional indemnity insurance.

Professional indemnity insurance covers you if a client claims compensation for any mistake in the advice you gave them. This includes any errors in designs, plans or calculations and accidental disclosure of sensitive data or any infringements on a client’s legal rights.

Some clients will only work with businesses with professional indemnity insurance cover. Certain professional bodies and industry associations, such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), also make it compulsory.

What Is Covered Under Professional Indemnity Insurance?

Professional indemnity insurance will cover compensation costs and legal fees for monetary losses in the event a client claims against you.

Mistakes can occur in many areas, from building measurements to strategic advice. If your mistake causes a client financial loss, they have a right to claim against you.

Professional indemnity insurance protects you against claims of:

Check Mark Negligence

Should one of your employees lose or misplace any important documents that enclose secure information, they can put the client in danger of losing money.

Check Mark Infringement of intellectual property rights

Copyright holders can sue for damages if you don’t have the appropriate intellectual property rights and licensing for copyrighted images and photos.

Check Mark Breach of confidence

The sharing of confidential and commercially sensitive information without prior consent from the owner.

Check Mark Client Fund Mismanagement

Protects against claims related to errors in handling or managing client funds.

Check Mark Legal Defense Costs

Covers legal expenses incurred while defending against claims, even if the allegations are unfounded.

You could also be sued for libel, slander or defamation, employee dishonesty or accidental transmission of a computer virus.

What Types of Occupations Need Professional Indemnity Cover?

The following professions may need professional indemnity insurance:

1

Structural engineers

A PI policy may protect structural engineers from claims relating to mistakes, negligence or omissions in their professional services.

2

Architects

Professional indemnity cover is crucial to protect architectural practices and their reputation against compensation claims. PI cover may also cover legal costs if their professional advice or designs cause financial damage or physical harm.

3

Accountants

The regulating professional body requires accountants to have professional indemnity policies in place. A PI insurance policy may cover the legal costs for any successful legal disputes, which can potentially save accountants from bankruptcy.

4

Public relations professionals

Although not specifically requested by a trade organisation, PR professionals may choose to protect themselves with PI cover in case of client disputes or breach of confidentiality.

5

Healthcare professionals

Medical employees may need medical malpractice insurance to cover them financially if a client sues them for clinically negligent services.

6

Financial advisers

Professional indemnity insurance serves as a form of legal defence against third-party claims. A PI policy could also cover extensive legal fees tied to a claim made against you. This is relevant if a client loses money because of your financial advice.

What Happens Without Professional Indemnity Insurance?

If a third party should make a claim, and you’re without professional indemnity insurance, you may have to pay hefty amounts in damages. You could also face reputational repercussions, which can get your business in trouble and cost you your livelihood.

A claim against you may reach hundreds of thousands, if not millions. You will need a policy that will cover costly fees to save your company should a mistake be made.

How Much Professional Indemnity Insurance Do You Need?

The average coverage provided by professional indemnity insurance providers is £50,000 up to £2 million. The cover itself can be bought as a standalone cover or included as part of a business insurance policy encompassing other areas.

The easiest way to find the right deal for your business is to compare professional indemnity insurance via Quote Goat. We make it easy to get a quote and compare several leading insurance providers in one place.

What Factors Affect Professional Indemnity Insurance Costs?

Each business’s price for indemnity insurance will be determined by various factors. This includes the type of work they do, whether or not they have made a claim before, and how much cover they choose.

  • Number of staff: Larger companies with more employees are more likely to be subjected to compensation claims and may, therefore, face higher premiums. Smaller businesses with fewer employees may pay less for their professional indemnity insurance policy.
  • The type of business you have: Your premiums are closely tied to the level of risk associated with your specific business. Legal professionals may experience higher premiums. The less risky your industry is, the less risk your job poses to customers, and the lower your personal indemnity insurance premiums will be.
  • Your annual turnover: You can expect to pay 0.25% up to 5% of your annual turnover for professional indemnity cover. Therefore, the higher your turnover, the higher your premiums may be.
  • Any prior insurance claims: Your claims history could impact how much you end up paying for professional indemnity cover. If you have made previous claims, it may indicate that legal action was taken before. This makes insuring your business a higher risk and may reflect in your premiums.

Professional Indemnity Insurance FAQs

Is professional indemnity insurance tax deductible?

Business owners can deduct certain ‘allowable expenses’ when calculating their taxable profits. Luckily, business insurance can be classified as one of these deductible expenses. Professional indemnity insurance is seen as a day-to-day expense required to keep the business running.

This is especially true when it comes to businesses where professional indemnity insurance is required by law. It's important for business owners to maintain accurate records of all income and expenditures, including insurance premiums. Retaining receipts and policy documents is essential for substantiating these expenses in the event of an HMRC review.

Does professional indemnity insurance cover me when working with international clients?

You can get professional indemnity insurance to cover you while working with international clients. When working with international clients, it is still possible to be sued and have to pay compensation for negligent advice that causes physical or financial damage to your client.

Confirm with your provider or thoroughly read your policy documents to note the geographical and jurisdictional limits.

Geographical limitations refer to the physical location your professional indemnity insurance will cover you for. Juridicial limits refer to which country's laws or legislation your professional indemnity insurance is required to follow.

What is the difference between public liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance?

Public liability insurance covers claims made by a member of the public. Your business may have directly or indirectly led to personal injury or financial losses. For example, if a client visits your premises and gets injured. With the right public liability insurance policy, you should have cover if the claim results in compensation payouts and exorbitant legal fees.

Professional indemnity insurance refers to services rendered and protects you if your work or suggestions cause harm or trigger financial losses. Clients can then decide to sue. In certain industries, professional associations require specific businesses to get professional indemnity cover due to the high-risk nature of the industry.

What happens if I need to make a claim?

Radar’s dedicated team will guide you through the claims process, providing support at every step to ensure a smooth resolution.

Can I purchase PI insurance online?

No. Given the complexities of legal practice and associated risks, it’s best to discuss your requirements with a specialist broker. This ensures you receive tailored advice and comprehensive coverage.

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Written By Michael Foote, Insurance & Finance Expert

Michael Foote is the founder of Quote Goat with over 13 years of experience in finance, insurance, and currency sectors. Since launching Quote Goat, he has appeared on TV and in major online publications, including Forbes, The Telegraph, and The Metro. Prior to Quote Goat, he worked for firms such as HSBC.