Insurance for Skydiving Instructors and Companies
Skydiving isn’t just for big-time adventure seekers: many people put skydiving on their bucket lists and take to the sky for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. Even though it has a reputation as a high-risk endeavor, accidents and fatalities are actually fairly rare. In 2018, there were 2,147 skydiving injuries. It might sound like a big number, but there were well over three million skydives that year, meaning that only 0.07 percent of all jumps resulted in injury. There were 13 fatalities, which is about 0.0004 percent of all jumps—the lowest number of yearly fatalities in the history of skydiving, even though there were more jumps than ever.
To put that in perspective, “…at least nine Americans die and 100 are injured in distracted driving crashes” every day. You’re more likely to die from a lightning strike than from a skydive.
Still, accidents can occur and all precautions should be taken to avoid them. You need insurance for skydiving instructors and companies to protect the business and individual employees in case of a claim after an accident.
Preventing Skydiving Accidents
There are a variety of things that may cause a skydiving accident.
- Equipment Malfunction: In 2016, there were 21 skydiving fatalities, and eight of them were attributed to equipment malfunctions.
- Inadequate Training and Preparation: Of the eight equipment malfunction-related deaths, “the U.S. Parachute Association (USPA) reports, ‘Well thought-out and rehearsed emergency procedures would have prevented half the deaths in this category in 2016.'” Being thoroughly familiar with both the equipment and safety procedures can help prevent accidents.
- Collisions: At those speeds, the slightest bump of another skydiver can cause a serious injury. Three skydiving deaths in 2016 were a result of in-air collisions.
- Bad Landings: USPA reports that many bad landings (and the resulting injuries) could be avoided with careful preparation and planning. In 2016, there were five fatalities as a result of bad landings, and the situations were very different for all of them.
- Hazardous Conditions: Weather conditions or problems with the landing site may cause skydiving accidents. This can be avoided by refusing to fly when conditions aren’t ideal.
Why You Need Insurance for Skydiving Instructors and Companies
Even though you have your skydivers sign liability waivers, it may not be enough to protect you in the event of a lawsuit. Even if you did everything correctly, there are legal fees associated with responding to the claim.
Furthermore, not every accident, injury, or fatality even fits into one of the categories listed above. In 2016, there were three skydiving fatalities that defied categorization: two deaths appeared to be from physiological issues that had nothing to do with the jump itself, and a third death occurred when the skydiver fell out of the harness. Even with careful precautions, random unfortunate events can occur.
Hopefully, you’ll run a long, successful business, free from incidents! However, skydiving insurance gives you peace of mind; you can go about your business knowing you’ll be able to afford legal help if you do come across a liability claim.
We Can Help You With Skydiving Insurance and More
Whether you’re a skydiving instructor, business owner, skydiving club manager, or an individual who skydives for fun or as a professional, we can help you with third-party liability coverage—as well as commercial property liability, professional liability, participant liability, and general liability insurance. XINSURANCE is proud to offer customized insurance solutions for all types of skydiving operations—big or small, commercial or personal. Yes, really—all of them! We’re happy to work with you because we believe no one should have to worry about whether they have the right coverage.
Get a quote and learn more about our skydiving insurance policies. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us! Call 877-585-2853 or email info@xinsurance.com today.
Authored by Rick J. Lindsey, President, Chairman, and CEO of XINSURANCE
Rick J. Lindsey hails from Salt Lake City, Utah. He began working in the mailroom of his father’s Salt Lake City insurance firm, getting his introduction to the business that became his lifelong career. Rick J. Lindsey quickly rose through the ranks while working in nearly every imaginable insurance industry job. As an entrepreneur, specialty lines underwriter, claims specialist, risk manager, and a licensed surplus lines broker, Rick J. Lindsey is highly skilled in all levels of leadership and execution. As he progressed on his career path, Rick J. Lindsey discovered an urgent need for insurers willing to write policies for high-risk individuals and businesses. He was frequently frustrated that he could not provide the liability protection these entities desperately needed to safeguard their assets. He also formed the belief that insurance companies acted too quickly to settle frivolous claims. Rick J. Lindsey decided to try a different approach. He started an insurance company and became the newly formed entity’s CEO. This opportunity has enabled Rick J. Lindsey to fill a void in the market and provide a valuable service to businesses, individuals, and insurance agents who write high-risk business. XINSURANCE also specializes in helping individuals and businesses who live a lifestyle or participate in activities that make them difficult for traditional carriers to insure. If you’ve been denied, non-renewed, or canceled coverage, don’t give up quite yet. Chances are XINSURANCE can help.
Last Updated August 25th, 2022
