Insurance for fishing clubs?

[TF_iansi01354]

Can I pick you brains on this minefield. I have been a member of a few small fishing clubs, some with and some without insurance for public liability.

My current club is debating the ins and outs of renewing at increasing cost their insurance.

There appears to be a view that if all the clubs matches are on day ticket, commercial waters, the club’s insurance is not required as the commercial is by law required to have public liability cover of there own.

I would appreciate any informed views on the pro’s and con’s in an increasingly “ambulance chasing world”. Clearly I will not treat as formal advice just wondering what the views are?

Ian

[TF_Waveney One]

Heard of golf clubs and fishing rods but fishing clubs???!

Seriously though, all commercials will have public liability insurance but those ambulance chasers will sue as many people as they can “jointly and severally”. That means the owner of the commercial, the club and possibly the manager of the water if it is felt that they could be held liable in any way. It means that all of those named in the law suit will be liable for any loss or damage suffered and if one cannot pay then the others will be liable.

It also depends upon the type of the accident. A platform collapsing and the angler ending up in the water and suffering brain damage because he was under the water for too long would be the commercials responsibility fair and square you would think. BUT, the match organiser is surely responsible for pegging out and should have left that peg out as it was dangerous perhaps. If he didn’t check the pegs before the draw then he is responsible. BUT did the club’s committee tell him that it was his responsibility to check all the pegs? If not then they are culpable of neglecting their responsibility in that area. It goes on and on I am afraid.

One thing that I have found in life is that if you can afford the insurance premiums then you probably do not need the cover!! If the premiums are shooting up year on year then you need to ensure that you have the cover as the insurance company is receiving an increasing number of claims.

[TF_JohnH]

Why do you assume all commercials have public liability insurance? My understanding is that many do not and seem to think a sign saying anglers fish at their own risk is good enough.
I am not so sure.
Our club of 500 members fish on our own waters and fish matches on commercials and we have our own cover. I think off hand we are covered up to £5m in a single claim. The policy costs £300-£400 per year.
The Government seems at last to be acting on bogus claimants and no win no fee solicitors but I dont hold my breath for premiums reducing anytime soon.
I think all match organisers need to be aware of the exposure they take on as this area is a minefield.

[TF_iansi01354]

JohnH – clearly I maybe wrong but assumed commercials charging for the facilities had a legal obligation if they wished to have the public partake of their facilities?

Have to agree though its a minefield so looking for views to make a “best guess” as to the way to go.

Clearly there is not a black or white answer!

[TF_JohnH]

Ian, carry out your own research and ask commercial owners whos lake you want to book if they have cover. Unless things have changed from when I last looked seriously at this some 6 years ago when I thought about buying a commercial fishery, most will have no cover.
Angling Trust, if your club are members is a good source of advice and they will point you in the direction of a broker.
If you have no cover and an incident occurs then match organisers and the clubs mamagement are liable even though the posts they hold are unpaid and entirely voluntary.

[TF_Waveney One]

JohnH is correct. The committee of an angling club is held to be liable as it is their responsibility to ensure that proper cover is in place. Seems very hard to me but there are precedents in law that have established this liability.

Just goes to show that helping out voluntarily is not for the faint hearted, people have lost their houses in such case – not angling that I am aware of but other voluntary clubs.

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