Like any other career, being a personal trainer has its ups and downs. A big part of the job involves being up close and personal with clients, whether you work as a freelance trainer or in a gym.
No matter how professional your approach is or how skilled you are, mishaps are bound to happen from time to time and you want to be prepared for accidents or injury. One of the best ways to prepare is by getting insurance for personal trainers.
What is personal trainer insurance and why is it important to be covered? Which is the best insurance policy for personal trainers? Let us find out.
What Does a Personal Trainer Insurance Policy Entail?
A personal trainer insurance policy is a risk-management coverage that protects you and relieves you of financial responsibility and loss in case of an accident during a workout. If a client gets injured during a session with you and files a lawsuit, your insurance policy provides coverage.
The Importance of Insurance for Personal Trainers
Having a personal trainer insurance is important for the following reasons:
- Financial Protection: Although fitness injuries are mostly accidental, when a client files a lawsuit, a judge may rule in their favor. When this happens, you might be financially responsible for the client’s medical treatment, legal fees, hospital follow-ups, and lost wages. Making an out-of-pocket settlement can be a huge financial blow.
- Career Protection: The hefty financial burden that comes from an injury lawsuit can be career-ending. Insurance acts as a safety net, keeping your career on track without worries of financial instability.
- Maintaining a Professional Reputation: With the right policy, you get to address issues swiftly and preserve your reputation. It is also a great way to set yourself apart from the competition.
Sports and Fitness Insurance Options
How can you tell which insurance policy is right for your personal training business? Let us take a closer look at the options available:
Professional Liability Insurance
This type of coverage is also known as errors and omissions insurance, providing protection for something you did or failed to do. If a client were to claim that it was your negligence or actions that caused their injury, this policy can help you cover the resulting damages.
General Liability Insurance
General liability insurance provides coverage for damages resulting from an injury that happens in relation to you, not necessarily because of you. For example, if a client trips over training equipment on the floor and sprains their wrist, a general liability policy can cover treatment costs.
Product Liability Insurance
A third type of coverage, product liability insurance, protects you in case of an equipment failure that causes property damage or injury. For example, if you give your client a suspension kit to use but it fails and instead causes injury, this policy will cover resulting expenses.
Additional Types of Insurance for Personal Trainers
Depending on the nature of your business, you might also require one or more of the following types of coverage:
- Workers’ Compensation: This applies if you have employees, providing coverage for on-the-job injuries.
- Commercial Property Insurance: With this type of policy, you can cover the physical space where you run your business against hazards, unexpected events, and accidents.
Which Personal Trainer Insurance Policy Do I Need?
It is important to get coverage on all fronts. Note that a defective product is not covered under professional liability or general liability insurance. Similarly, general liability does not protect you from a lawsuit claiming that your services caused injury and professional liability does not cover you when a client trips on a rug in your studio.
At the very least, the three most important types of coverage for a personal trainer are general liability, professional liability, and product liability insurance.
Do You Need Insurance If Your Employer is Insured?
Some personal trainers working as employees in a gym feel that their employer’s insurance provides sufficient protection. However, that coverage primarily protects your employer and you might be left in the lurch when you least expect. Getting your own insurance is a great way to safeguard your personal interests and your career.
Start Your Personal Training Career on the Right Footing
If you are thinking of opening a gym, working in multiple gyms, or as a freelance trainer, insurance is just one of the considerations to keep in mind. One of the most important requirements to start off on the right footing and avoid mishaps is by getting the right foundational training.
The National Personal Training Institute, Inc. offers various programs including personal fitness training and advanced personal fitness training. All our training programs are hands-on, giving you an opportunity to get practical experience in being a personal trainer.
As a licensed and accredited institution, we train our students to uphold the highest standards of safety, preparing you for real-world career success. If you are ready to get your career off to the best possible start, reach out to us and enjoy the benefits of the highest-quality personal training program.
