Everything You Need to Know about Church Liability Insurance in Jersey, GA

Imagine this scenario; your youth team is having a Bible class with young members at the church. Everyone is having a good time when suddenly someone slips on the stairs and has an accident that ends with a form of physical injury. 

In this scenario, the parents of the injured child may blame the church for the incident, and their lawyer threatens to sue you for a $5,000 medical bill. You can either choose to foot the bill or reach out to your liability insurance agency in Jersey, GA. 

Liability insurance covers damages, accidents, and injuries you may sustain while on the road, at home, or even at the Church. The policy provides both you and the injured party financial protection from unforeseen events that may lead to bodily, business, property, or even reputational damage. 

With so many kinds of liability insurance available, never have consumers had more choices.

To make things easier for you, here’s a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about liability insurance in Jersey, GA. 

What Is Liability Insurance?

Liability insurance is an umbrella term that describes different kinds of insurance coverages meant to protect your church or organization when someone sues you or reports a claim against your institution.

Simply put, it’s insurance meant to protect you from paying out of pocket when you’re responsible for causing bodily injury or damage to property.

Since there are plenty of insurance providers for each type of liability coverage, the insurance industry's competitive nature means there are different policy rates for different specifics of what a policy covers.   

The cost of your liability coverage depends on the insurance company, the amount of coverage you seek, the type of insurance, market-rate variables, and the number of claims you make when you have the policy.   

Let’s take a look at some of the common types of liability coverage. 

Types of Liability Insurance

1.  Church Liability Insurance Coverage

Church liability insurance covers bodily harm and property damages that the congregation or other parties may suffer on church premises or while involved with church-related activities. 

Unfortunately, even religious institutions are common targets of theft and burglary, resulting in financial loss and damage to church property. Church liability insurance coverage covers religious artifacts and other items that a normal property policy may not protect. 

As you can see, there are various reasons why church liability insurance coverage is critical and how it adds value to a non profit organization. Further, this is why there are several types of liability insurance, it helps to cover various types of liabilities that may arise over the course of running an organization that caters to the community.

2. General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance is also commonly referred to as business liability insurance. It protects institutions from financial liability in the event of a lawsuit or third-party claim of property damage or bodily injury caused by you or your employees.

An insurance company will consider factors such as the type of organization and the number of years it has been in operation to calculate the general liability insurance cost.  As you would expect, low-risk organizations pay a smaller amount than those in high-risk industries such as construction. 

Factors To Consider Before Buying Liability Insurance

1. The Assets You Own

As a church, an accident can potentially damage your finances if the other party decides to file a lawsuit. If, for instance, you’re found to be responsible for an accident that led to an injury whose medical expenses amounted to  $50,000, the other party can sue you for that amount. If the lawsuit is successful, you could lose a significant portion of your savings, investments, or even your home. 

Remember that  the more assets you have, the more you need liability coverage. 

It helps to have comprehensive coverage on your assets that you have added over time as it mitigates liabilities and provides overall peace of mind.

2. The Probability of an Accident Occurring

Another important factor you should consider is the likelihood of an accident happening depending on the nature of the risk you’re insuring yourself against. 

If it’s automotive liability insurance, you have to factor in your driving history. Have you had any accidents in the past? If you’re thinking of buying general liability insurance, consider the nature of your business processes and an employee’s chances of causing accidental harm to another party. 

3. What the Policy Doesn’t Cover

Every insurance company has a list of events that are not covered under a certain policy, known as ‘exclusions.’ Knowing these exclusions will save you the frustration of knowing them after you file a claim from your insurance company. For instance, personal liability does not cover injuries caused by a car or related to your profession. 

4. The Cost of Your Policy

Owning insurance is great, but it’s no good if it puts a severe strain on your finances. The ideal insurance coverage for you will account for your basic needs and will not eat into your savings. 

A good rule of thumb is reviewing your insurance needs every year. As your needs grow and change, so will your insurance policy. You can always get liability coverage later for something like a new church building or car. 

The Bottom Line

Accidents happen. Lawsuits can quickly leave you bankrupt. But if you don’t have liability coverage, you risk having to pay for claims out of pocket. If you would like to learn more about liability insurance, Church Insurance Man can advise you on any type you’re considering, be it auto insurance, worker's compensation, or general liability insurance. 

Get in touch with us today by calling (470) 375-8274 to learn more about our services, such as our Church insurance package.