If you are an independent contractor using space in a facility that you do not own, or if you are not the primary leaseholder for the building, you need professional liability insurance to protect against potential lawsuits from clients.

Markel offers coverage to:

• Personal trainers
• Instructors for aerobics, yoga, Pilates, dance, stroller/fit strides, cardio kickboxing, group aerobics, Zumba®, Jazzercise®, dancercise, and water aerobics

Note: If you own a facility or are the primary leaseholder, learn about general liability insurance for small studio owners.

Why Insure Against Potential Lawsuits?

As a trainer or instructor, clients turn to you for expert advice on health and fitness. Unfortunately, they can just as easily turn on you if they believe the exercise program you recommended caused their illness or injury. The number of clients suing their trainers for negligence has risen dramatically in the past few years, and many of these lawsuits have resulted in awards of substantial sums of money.

How Does Professional Liability Insurance Help?

Professional liability insurance helps protect you from financial loss. Without insurance, if a client is injured and sues you for negligence, you would have to pay for losses out of your own pocket.

When you provide services at a facility that someone else owns, their insurance does not cover you and will not protect you. Most gyms and schools require you to have your own professional liability insurance.

Note: All trainers and instructors must be currently certified by a U.S. national certification organization.