Why you may need computer contractor public liability cover
Working as a computer contractor can be an attractive proposition given the ongoing pace of growth and change in the UK IT sector. Whether trading as a larger firm or as an individual, a computer professional must work hard to secure clients and then deliver a professional service. Getting it right can be hugely rewarding but the process of running such a business is not without risk. Besides keeping clients happy, a firm must also consider its safety and insurance responsibilities, and may want to consider computer contractor public liability cover.
Public liability cover will step in should a member of the public make a legal claim following a mistake or act of negligence. For example a contractor might be asked to install a new network in a library by a council. An employee may leave a wire trailing while completing the work, which a member of the public could trip over and suffer an injury. This might lead to a claim for compensation which will need to be defended.
Hiring a solicitor or lawyer to defend a case can be expensive, and this is why many companies which might take up work in the public domain choose computer contractor public liability cover. Many local authorities and other businesses will actually not consider any contractor which does not have such a policy in place.
One key feature of computer contractor public liability cover is that it will often also pay out any compensation which is awarded to a successful complainant, up to certain agreed limits. For example if a firm has £200,000 public liability cover and faces a case costing £80,000 and resulting in £30,000 damages, they will not have to pay a penny, save any agreed excess. Of course, had the case and compensation combined costed more than £200,000, the firm would have been in danger of being under-insured – a factor each new policy holder must consider carefully when getting cover. Provided they opt for the correct level, a firm can therefore go on building and running the business without the worry of what would happen if they faced a legal claim from a member of the public.
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