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What is the difference between Professional Indemnity vs Public Liability Insurance

Professional Indemnity Insurance Public Liability Insurance Professional Services Insurance

What is the difference between Professional Indemnity vs Public Liability Insurance?

Put simply, Professional Indemnity insurance in Australia (also known as PI Insurance) covers losses arising from you providing professional services or advice to a client. If you are asking yourself ‘what constitutes a professional services’ then watch our first video – How do you figure out who needs Professional Indemnity Insurance?

You see, when your work is skilled and you require a period of academic training, your clients consider you to be an expert.

Furthermore, your customers rely upon your professional expertise. In fact, unprofessional advice, failure to exercise required skill or breach of a professional duty can all trigger a claim. Typically, these types of PI claims arise from the provision of professional services tied back to advice or design.

On the other hand, the trigger for a claim under Public Liability insurance is different. Quite simply, the trigger for a claim is a demand for compensation as a result of personal injury or property damage.

At this point, it’s worth noting that Public Liability Insurance policies extend to include Products Liability. Regardless, the trigger for a claim under both Public & Products Liability is still limited to injury or damage. Importantly, Public & Product Liability policies have a standard exclusion for pure financial loss claims where no property damage or personal injury has occurred.

Additionally, Public & Product Liability Insurance policies have a Professional Indemnity Exclusion. Similarly, Professional Indemnity policies often have an exclusion for personal injury or property damage claims, unless resulting out of a breach of a professional duty.

If I Purchase Professional Indemnity Insurance, do I need Public Liability?

Many people also ask, “if I buy Professional Indemnity Insurance, do I need Public Liability Insurance”? The short answer is, yes. If you operate a business, you can be liable for damages or injuries to another person or property. Don’t just take our word for it, this is highlighted in the Australian Government’s Business website. In fact, this liability exists whether you are a professional or not.

To Summarise

In summary, what is covered under Public Liability policy is excluded under Professional Indemnity and vice versa. That’s why it’s important to have both. The good news for professionals is cost. Public Liability is generally much cheaper than the cost of PI Insurance. Better still, if you purchase Public Liability with the same company that handles your PI insurance, they generally offer a discount.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Agile's Professional Indemnity insurance protects against claims arising from an act, error or omission in the performance of professional services.

Details Get Quote

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Professional Indemnity insurance is designed for professionals who provide a specialist service or advice, providing protection for financial loss and legal costs of a claim.

Details Get Quote

Business Insurance

A business insurance pack can provide cover for your business premises and contents, against loss, damage, theft or financial loss from an insured interruption to the business.

Details Get Quote

Go to FD Beck’s professional indemnity insurance calculator to get quote. Better still, FD Beck’s online quick quote includes Public & Product Liability options for both $10,000,000 and $20,000,000. Answer a few simple questions to generate your online quote. Almost 150 professional occupations are covered.

For over 100 years, FD Beck has protected Australians. Rest assured, we have the knowledge and expertise to handle every aspect of your insurance needs.

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General Advice Warning: This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.

All information above has been provided by the author.

FD Beck Insurance Brokers, ABN 68 004 455 038, AFSL 233784

This article originally appeared on What is the difference between Professional Indemnity vs Public Liability Insurance? and has been published here with permission.