Gunsmiths have liability insurance.
Very important. And real gunsmiths are covered by HUGE policies. Because the product they service can end up causing huge damages.
Worrying about that? Will leave a body awake nights.
"OH CRAP DID I FORGET THAT ONE SAFETY CHECK?!"
Even then, folks can and do sue over something that everybody knows is not the smith's fault. Lost a finger because you used pistol powder in your .30-06 reloads? Sue the gunsmith that worked on the gun 3 years and 447 rounds ago. The smith is probably gonna be fine, but that insurance will be needed to cover the legal shenanigans costs.
It's not just gunsmiths.
ReplyDeleteI instruct a class on competition pistol shooting and safety at my local range, I've been doing so for over 6 years now. Two weeks ago I began to wonder what my legal liability would be if someone in my class was injured during the "Live Fire Exercises", so I sent an email to the office manager at the range.
Email is an imperfect communications medium, and I didn't think I was receiving the assurances that I needed: Specifically, that I was insured against a PERSONAL lawsuit.
I actually quit. I wasn't afraid of getting shot; I was afraid of getting sued!
It took a phone call from a range employee (also a personal friend, and past-president of the club) to convince me that I was insured BY the club for any personal liability suits.
Having been reassured, I went ahead and taught the next scheduled class (last weekend). The Office Manager was surprised that I showed up to teach the seven participants at the class; she had not been notified that I had "Un-Quit" after I was reassured of full liability coverage.
(In fact, Instructors are insured to the same level that elected Club Officers are insured.)
It's VERY important that people, especially unpaid volunteers like me, receive clear assurances that the range/club insures me against personal injury AND suits.
The range/club has instituted a new policy of requiring every class participant to sign a waiver. It may not provide much protection, but at least it certifies that the class participants are aware of potential injury.
I came away with the renewed
It's not hard for entity counsel to give out bs answers re coverage.
ReplyDeleteSome three years ago I was at an event for a group and part of our equipment was caught by wind and damaged a vehicle from a different group at a neighboring space, and I asked the Corp. atty re coverage for the damage to the vehicle and I got some bs about how the insurance did not cover property damage to others. Later I found she was wrong.
But I guess she came from the right school.