Professional Liability Insurance for Ottawa Social Service Providers
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Social service providers in Ottawa provide critical advice and services to support individuals who are dealing with complex issues or situations, which can range from healthy ageing and early childhood development to addiction and incarceration.
Your work is incredibly important—but it also puts you at risk of being sued. This is because, no matter your years of experience and level of care, you might make a professional mistake that causes your client financial damage.
Fortunately, lawsuits don’t have to be the financial ruin of your business, but you must have the right insurance in place. That’s why social service providers in Ottawa should consider professional liability insurance. This coverage can cover legal defence costs if a client sues, claiming negligence resulting in financial damages.
We know you’re busy. That’s why EasyCover has simplified the insurance process. With our unique platform, social service providers in Ottawa can obtain an instant free quote and purchase professional liability insurance all online in a matter of minutes—there’s no need to pick up the phone to speak with a broker. Get social services professional liability insurance so you can work with peace of mind.
Why should social service providers in Ottawa have professional liability insurance?
Professional liability insurance provides social service providers in Ottawa with protection should a client sue, claiming they’ve suffered financially as a direct result of the advice or service they’ve received.
For example, if a client feels your counselling was futile, they might sue to recover the service fees they paid. Or, a client could sue you to recover lost benefits if you forget to file a report that would have helped them secure additional financial support.
You must pay to defend yourself in such cases, even if the claim made against you isn’t warranted. You’ll have to cover expensive legal costs out of pocket if you don’t have the right coverage. With professional liability insurance, social service providers in Ottawa can rest assured that legal costs—such as hiring a lawyer, settlements and judgement awards—can be covered.
Is it mandatory for social service providers in Ottawa to carry professional liability insurance?
The government does not mandate professional liability insurance like it does automobile coverage; however, some professional organizations, such as the Canadian Association of Social Workers, highly recommend social service providers carry professional liability insurance.
Fighting allegations of negligence and professional mistakes can be extremely expensive. Fortunately, professional liability insurance can help social service providers in Ottawa cover:
- Defence expenses, such as hiring a lawyer or lost wages due to court attendance.
- Restitution, such as settlements and judgement awards.
How are professional liability insurance rates calculated for social service providers in Ottawa?
Several factors are considered when calculating professional liability insurance premiums, including:
Your area of specialty
The social service field is varied, with professionals in Ottawa providing a range of services and advice. EasyCover offers professional liability insurance to social service providers who specialize in the following areas:
- Adult and senior care
- Child and family wellbeing
- Drugs and alcohol addiction
- Mental health
- Occupational therapy
- Probation
- Youth offenders
The size of your business
Your annual revenue and number of employees will impact your premiums. EasyCover offers professional liability insurance to social service providers in Ottawa who make up to $2 million per year, with a maximum of five employees covered under the policy.
Your level of coverage
One of the most important considerations when purchasing professional liability insurance is your coverage limit. EasyCover offers three levels of coverage: $1 million, $2 million and $5 million. When choosing a limit, it’s important for social service providers in Ottawa to be aware that this is the maximum amount that will be paid out for all approved claims within your policy year.
How is professional liability insurance different from other coverages?
Many businesses carry commercial general liability coverage, which provides protection for third party bodily injury or property damage caused by negligence. This type of insurance usually excludes coverage for professional services causing a financial loss.
Professional liability insurance provides coverage specifically in situations related to claims of negligence or mistakes in expert advice or services, which ultimately cause financial damages. You can see why this is an important coverage for social service providers in Ottawa.
If you maintain digital records of your clients’ private information, it would be advantageous to have cyber liability, which offers protection in cases where you might be the victim of a data breach. EasyCover also offers options for general liability and cyber liability coverage.
If you’re unsure of which coverages you might need in addition to professional liability insurance, contact us to speak with one of our brokers.
Protect yourself against the unexpected.
Protect yourself against the unexpected with Professional Liability Insurance for Social Service Providers in Ottawa from EasyCover.
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