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Personal trainer or exercise professional insurance is essential protection you must have. Whether you are a personal trainer or you train a group, people follow your instructions. They use supplements and equipment recommended by you. So, if anything unfortunate happens, you have to face legal claims. You can get the needed protection with exercise professional insurance.
A new fitness professional who has just received certification does not know much about the kind of insurance he needs. If you are one of those first-timers, you will find this article pretty helpful.
Personal Training and Negligence
Most clients don’t know how to properly use certain exercise equipment and how many rounds of a certain exercise are enough. It is your job to give instructions and recommend supplements and other products. You are a qualified exercise professional who knows things. Therefore, you are responsible for the safety of the client. An injury may occur due to the following:
- Improper instruction
- A recommended exercise or product
- Training session
- Dissatisfaction
- Overtraining
These injuries may occur due to your negligence. If you don’t provide standard knowledge, skills, and care then this is your negligence.
Elements of Negligence
Caring for the client during training sessions is your responsibility. This includes creating a safe environment and exercise program, instructions, and supervision. Not doing so is negligence. You committed a breach of duty that may cause an injury or some loss. The following are the four elements of negligence.
- Duty
- Breach
- Cause
- Harm
A client who wants to file a claim hires a lawyer. The client may claim negligence and file a civil lawsuit. He/she needs to prove that the injury or loss occurred due to your negligence. A fitness professional also needs to hire a lawyer. A lawsuit costs time and money. This is the reason why you need to exercise professional insurance.
Liability Insurance
Fitness professional liability insurance is the protection you need for claims. This insurance provides protection against the following:
- Bodily injury
- Personal injury
- Sexual misconduct
- Damage to someone’s property
- Independent contractors
- Temporary staff
- Board investigation
The client may file a lawsuit against a fitness trainer, business, or both. In addition to legal claims, an exercise professional insurance may also cover legal defense, loss of earnings, and medical expenses.
General Liability Insurance
Commercial liability or general liability is protection for the place of business. It covers fall, slips, and other physical risks and property damage.
General liability and professional liability are the two types of liability insurances in the fitness industry. Professional liability insurance covers professional services and general liability insurance covers the place of business.
Tips For Reducing Legal Risks
Even when you have both liability insurances, you must try to reduce risks in your gym. Put efforts to deliver client satisfaction and provide a safe environment in the gym. Following the best practices for client safety and satisfaction is the best way to prevent lawsuits. Here are some tips for you.
Focus
Focus on your clients. Give proper instructions and supervise during the training sessions. Make sure that there are no distractions.
Informed Consent
You and your client should be on the same page. Ask the client to provide written informed consent. This consent includes client goals, medical clearances, exercise programming, and potential risks.
Time
Make sure that you have time to take breaks between training sessions. You should be able to focus on each client. You and the client are likely to make mistakes when in a hurry.
Test
Regular testing helps in tracking the progress of clients. This also motivates them.
Educate Yourself
Stay up-to-date with the latest training trends and techniques in the industry. Make sure that you have relevant certificates.
Record
Maintain proper records of each training session. Keep track of the progress and health of your client. Record all occurrences during the training. These records can be of great help in case a lawsuit is filed against you.
