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    How A Texas School Admin Learned The Importance Of General Liability

    Posted by Matt Wilson on Jan 6, 2025 1:57:25 PM
    Matt Wilson

    Ramon is the director of a private school in Austin. His days are busy, filled with meetings, helping teachers, and planning events for students. But one day, something happened that changed how he thought about his school’s safety.

    A substitute teacher slipped on a freshly mopped hallway and hurt their back. Ramon thought the school had done everything right by putting out a “Wet Floor” sign. But when the teacher’s medical bills came in, Ramon realized the school is responsible for them. What Ramon had not realized is that the school's general liability policy wasn't going to cover this one.

    Ramon had not experienced liability claims for the schools he had worked at over the last decade. He had worked on assumptions that general liability was most of the liability risks his school could experience. Given the word general in the name of it, you can see how that might be a thought. While this private school insurance coverage helps schools handle the unexpected so they can focus on what matters most, it is not the Swiss Army Knife of legal liability insurance.

    What Is General Liability Insurance?

    General liability insurance is like a safety net for schools. Whether you are a public school, charter school, or private school, it helps cover the costs when accidents happen to a visitor on your campus. This can include someone getting hurt either on campus or on a field trip; or maybe your school activity causing damage to the property of someone else.

    At Ramon’s school in Austin, the busy campus is full of people every day—students, teachers, parents, and visitors. With so many people around, there’s always a chance that something could go wrong. General liability insurance helps protect the school from these risks, so they don’t have to pay for everything out of pocket. As long as the people or activities involved land inside the coverage limits of the general liability policy.

    How A Texas School Admin Learned The Importance Of General Liability

    What General Liability Insurance Doesn’t Cover

    Even though general liability insurance is important, it doesn’t cover everything. Remember that substitute teacher that Ramon was worried about? That is one of the first things that insurance companies will not cover with this type of coverage. This short list is not exhaustive, but can give you some examples of incidents that are not covered by general liability.

    When the substitute teacher slipped, Ramon realized his school needed workers' compensation in addition to general liability coverage. Working with an experienced independent insurance agent who specializes in private school insurance will help you understand what extra liability insurance you might need to protect your school.

    Real-Life Examples of General Liability Coverage

    Since the potential risks for making a covered claim against your general liability policy are wide open, it is often easier to talk about what is not covered than it is what is covered. There are some tried and true bodily injury or property damage claims that are easy to identify and understand to have a better grasp on this important coverage type.

    • A parent trips and falls during a school play, hurting their ankle. Since they were backstage helping in the dark as a volunteer, this essential coverage can cover those bills.
    • A student accident during a science fair knocks over a neighbor’s fence. The rocket launch went sideways and damaged their personal property. The legal liability falls on the school here.
    • A vendor setting up for a school carnival claims they were injured while unloading equipment. Even though this would likely be a work-related injury for the vendor, things like wet floors or other hazards can turn this into a liability lawsuit.

    In all these situations, general liability insurance helps schools pay for costs like medical bills, repairs, or legal defense costs. This makes it easier for schools to handle these challenges and move forward since their budgets won't be disrupted and they don't have to worry organizing the legal defense.

    Why General Liability Coverage Matters

    Private schools face risks every single day. Students run and play at recess, parents come to events, teachers lead classes, and contractors work on campus repairs. All these activities could lead to accidents on your school property. Ramon could understand this and began exploring his options to get not only general liability, but the additional liability insurance coverage his school needed.

    General liability coverage helps schools like Ramon’s pay for medical bills if someone gets hurt. It can also cover legal costs if the school is sued. Without this protection, schools might have to use money meant for students to pay for financial losses associated with these problems.

    Ramon felt much more confident about what liability insurance his school had after consulting our agent with experience insuring Texas private schools. Not all insurance carriers will cover all private schools in Texas, so it is important to work with a local advisor who understands our state!

    True Texas Education Insurance - Private Schools

    How to Choose the Right General Liability Coverage

    Getting the right general liability insurance starts with working with someone who understands schools. Ramon worked with an insurance agent who asked about his school’s size, activities, and risks. They made sure the policy fit what the school needed based their financial risks.

    Ramon also learned to share important details with the private school insurance agent who was invested in this process with them. Understanding that hosting events and safety plans can help get the best insurance costs with the best insurance companies. This helped him find the best coverage at a price the school could afford.

    Protect Your School Like Ramon Did

    Ramon’s story shows how accidents can happen when you least expect them. With general liability insurance, his school is now ready for anything. Working with an insurance expert who understands Texas private schools can help you find not just the best general liability policy, but also the right customized insurance solution for your circumstances. That is what True Texas Education Insurance is all about.

    If you want your private school to be ready too, we can help. Click the button below to talk with Insurance For Texans about how general liability coverage can protect your school.

     

    Topics: General Liability, liability, private schools