Public liability insurance for interpreters

In case your business causes an injury or property damage.

What’s typically covered by public liability insurance?

Claims against your business for:

• damage to someone’s property, caused by your interpreter business
• an injury or illness caused by your business activities
• accidental damage or injuries caused by your employees

For example:

• your work bag falls from an overhead locker onto a member of the public, causing a graze and bruising
• while pouring a client’s tea you splash boiling water onto their hand, causing a burn

If you do employ anyone, you’re usually required by law to have employers’ liability insurance too.

Read more about public liability insurance

Employers’ liability insurance

In case an employee gets sick or injured while working for you.

What’s typically covered by employers’ liability insurance?

Claims against your business for:

• an injury or illness that happens as a result of working for you (including temps and casual workers)

**Employers’ liability insurance is required by law if you have people working for you. Without it, you could be fined up to £2,500 a day for each employee.**

For example:

• your employee cuts her hand on a blunt knife in your office kitchen, and needs stitches
• a trainee you’ve hired slips down the steps at the back of your office, injuring her lower back and elbow

Indemnity insurance for interpreters

In case there’s a claim for loss-causing errors or issues with your work.

Professional indemnity insurance for interpreters – what’s typically covered?

Claims against your business for professional negligence or a loss-causing breach of contract. This can include:

• advice which turns out to be incorrect
• mistakes in your work that cost others money to fix

For example:

• you send documents to your client which include an error, delaying their project and causing a financial loss
• an employee sends confidential information to the wrong person, and your client incurs costs while sorting out the damage

Read more about professional indemnity insurance

Business and office equipment insurance

In case something happens to the equipment you use to run your business.

What’s typically covered by business and office equipment insurance?

• theft of the equipment you use to operate, from your laptop to your recording kit
• loss of your equipment
• flood, fire, or accidental damage

For example:

• a flood in your office damages essential equipment, including a fax machine and photocopier
• your phone and laptop are stolen from your car while you’re paying for petrol

Read more about business and office equipment insurance

Legal expenses insurance

In case you have to pay legal costs while running your interpreter business.

What’s typically covered by legal expenses insurance?

• legal costs associated with day-to-day operations, like an employee dispute
• property damage, nuisance, or trespass and associated legal costs
• HMRC, tax, and compliance issues, if they come up
• includes a tax advice helpline, a 24/7 confidential legal helpline, and crisis support to help you protect your professional reputation

For example:

• you need to raise a legal case when your client refuses to pay an invoice
• three employees brings an equal pay claim against you, and you need to pay for legal representation

Read more about legal expenses insurance

Personal accident insurance

In case anyone you’ve covered is accidentally injured, at or outside of work.

What’s typically covered by personal accident insurance?

• injury or death of anyone you’ve chosen to cover in your policy – whether this happens at work or elsewhere
• lost income, hospital bills, or other medical costs associated with the accident

For example:

• you break your collarbone while playing rugby, and need time off work for hospital treatment
• an employee you’ve covered slips on the office floor and breaks her elbow, keeping her off work for a week

Read more about personal accident insurance

Which type of workers do I need insurance for?

Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement if you employ people.

If you have people working for you, including bona fide subcontractors (BFSC), labour-only subcontractors (LOSC), part-timers, or full-time staff, employers’ liability insurance is required by law.

Read on for our simplified guide to the difference between labour-only subcontractors and bona fide subcontractors.

Does interpreter insurance cover my work correctly?

Make sure you’re picking the right cover to protect you properly. It’s important to know that if you have another trade or job, you’ll need additional cover. For example, do you need to consider copywriter insurance or journalist insurance?

Do I need cover for other types of work?

If you provide other services, make sure you’re covered:

• Will writing insurance
• Translator insurance
• Bookkeeping insurance
• Finance and legal
• Web designer insurance
• Videographer insurance
• Designers insurance
• Publishing insurance

Other types of insurance

• Limited company insurance
• Self-employed insurance
• Freelance insurance
• Consultant insurance
• Contractors insurance
• Sole trader insurance

Which public liability cover limit should I choose?

Think about the maximum possible loss your business could face in the event of a claim, and make sure you take legal fees and damages into consideration. You can choose from three levels of coverage – £1 million, £2 million, or up to £5 million.