Graphic designers’ insurance

Why do graphic designers need professional indemnity insurance?

Unless you have legal expertise and an unlimited budget, you probably can’t put any mistakes right on your own.

And potential problems could come from anywhere. As well as all the usual problems like typos, misalignment, and dodgy fonts, you could also risk other people claiming that your brilliant idea is actually theirs.

In these situations, PI insurance can help by paying a solicitor to defend you from these allegations. Even if you’re not to blame, you have to face up to these claims; ignoring them is as bad as admitting defeat.

If you are liable for your client’s problems, your insurance can also cough up for any compensation or damages. By offering a more positive outcome to your clients, professional indemnity helps to protect your good reputation.

How much professional indemnity insurance do I need?

If you’ve decided you need some cover, all you have to do is decide how much ‘some’ is. Easier said than done.

There are no hard and fast rules. Our best advice is to remember that your policy covers you and your business. Seems obvious but that means thinking about what you do, who you do it for and how much it’s worth. If something goes wrong, what could the knock-on effect be (worst-case scenario in other words). What’s the most expensive mistake you could make?

In fairness, actual professional negligence is pretty rare. It’s more likely you’ll just be accused of it. Even so, defending you can cost tens of thousands of pounds and your level of cover has to be enough to cover, potentially, more than one allegation.

If you’re looking for more help, read of this guide or give us a call.

What does professional indemnity insurance cover?

PI insurance covers allegations of negligence; when you’ve made a mistake in your work and it’s cost your clients money.

Specific policy wordings can vary, but it should cover things like:

• Defamation
• Intellectual property infringement
• Loss of documents
• Negligent misrepresentation or misstatement
• Employee dishonesty
• Virus transmission
• Breach of confidentiality

But that’s not all. Some professional indemnity policies can fix a mistake before your client is even aware of it, thereby preventing a claim in the first place. Clever stuff.

What else do I need?

If you visit clients, or they visit you, public liability insurance covers any claims for property damage or bodily injury. For example, your client could trip over your poorly placed briefcase, or you could drop their shiny new tablet on the floor. In either example, PL insurance could cover your legal fees, plus any compensation.

If you have one or more employees, it’s a legal requirement you have employers’ liability insurance. If any of your employees sue you for damages for an injury or illness they’ve sustained because of working for you, your insurance will compensate them.

If you work away from the office, you should insure things like laptops, cameras, and tablets with portable cover. To protect stuff like plants, office furniture, and printers, consider office insurance. You may think your kit isn’t worth much, but imagine if you had to replace it all at once.

Business interruption insurance allows you to carry on working if your studio is out of action. Whether it’s fire, flood, or flea infestation, you’re covered for the costs of setting up elsewhere, plus compensation for any lost revenue.

In the UK, company directors are personally liable if someone accuses you of running your business without due care and attention. Luckily, directors’ and officers’ insurance can cover your defence costs plus any compensation you’re liable for.

Why choose us?

Because we deliver a quick and easy way to get your business insurance. In just a few clicks, you can get a quote, buy your insurance, and have your documents delivered straight to your inbox.

Got any questions? No problem! You can call our experts for advice and jargon-free explanations.

Oh, and we don’t have a call centre or a phone menu. So you’ll always be able to easily reach one of our team.

As a bonus, you get some extras with your insurance:

• You can get a bit of cash every time you recommend someone to us who then buys a policy
• You’ll get an “I’m insured” badge for your website
• An advice hub filled with helpful information, tips, and guidance for your business.

Want another opinion? Check out our customer feedback.