Professional liability insurance (aka Errors & Omissions or Malpractice Insurance) is different from General Liability Insurance which provides protection for bodily injury and property damage to a third party. Professionals are expected to have extensive training and technical knowledge in their particular area of expertise. They are also expected to perform the services for which they were hired, according to the standards of conduct in their profession. If they fail to use the degree of skill expected of them, they can be held responsible in a court of law for bodily injury or financial harm. Common issues covered by professional liability coverage include negligence, misrepresentation, inaccurate advice, or failure to perform, which all can result in a financial loss or injury to the client or patient.
Who needs Professional Liability Insurance?
-
Architects
-
Doctors
-
Real Estate Agents
-
Mortgage Brokers
-
Accountants
-
Lawyers
-
Appraisers
-
Consultants
-
Insurance Agents
-
Any business that offers a service where a mistake can be made that results in financial harm to a third party.
Claims Examples:
A Mortgage Broker failed to process a loan application on a timely basis which resulted in the borrower losing an agreed upon rate. Rates increased and the borrower was unable to secure a comparable rate resulting in significant excess interest paid.
A Computer Consultant was assisting a client with their credit card processing from one vendor to another. It was alleged that the Insured failed to follow their own guidelines and procedures during the process and mishandled sensitive account information.
A private school hired a Management Consultant to assist them with employee recruitment activities. The suit alleges the Insured performed an inadequate background check and failed to identify the employee’s criminal history which included a sexual assault on a minor.
A Property Manager professional liability claim was filed involving a class action lawsuit alleging the Insured reviewed the applicant’s eviction reports without their consent.
A Safety Consultant professional liability claim resulted when the claimant alleged the Insured’s critical inspection report was not comprehensive enough to have prompted the client to take precautionary measures to avoid an explosion that resulted in one fatality and one severe injury.