Liability insurance

[Anonymous]

Do nannies ever get liability insurance or write something in their contract along the lines that they will do everything in their power to keep the child safe but the nature of childhood is that sometimes accidents happen? As a nanny I would hate to be sued if my charge sprained his ankle or had some other accident. Many places have you sign release forms, like rock climbing places, stables, and other activities. Taking care of a child has it's risks. Obviously the nanny is super, super careful and conscientious, but sometimes things happen, despite our best efforts.

[Anonymous]

No one would win such a frivolous lawsuit. They'd have to prove in court that you were actually negligent.

[Anonymous]

You brought up a good point about kid-friendly activities asking parents to sign away any liability prior...Even my child's permission slips want the parent to sign away any liability from the schools.

However, if something negligent and/or abusive were to occur, I am sure the parents could still sue in spite of signing off since no one would let a child abuse or neglect issue go unpunished.

But rest assured, everyone knows that injuries from time to time are par for the course when around young children. So..kids will have scrapes and bruises on occasion, it is just expected.

It's when the police actually see injuries that do not match a caretaker's story that makes people go to jail for child abuse. This is a risk that all of us providers take in this profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You brought up a good point about kid-friendly activities asking parents to sign away any liability prior...Even my child's permission slips want the parent to sign away any liability from the schools.

However, if something negligent and/or abusive were to occur, I am sure the parents could still sue in spite of signing off since no one would let a child abuse or neglect issue go unpunished.

But rest assured, everyone knows that injuries from time to time are par for the course when around young children. So..kids will have scrapes and bruises on occasion, it is just expected.

It's when the police actually see injuries that do not match a caretaker's story that makes people go to jail for child abuse. This is a risk that all of us providers take in this profession.

If "this is a risk that all of us providers take" why isn't there liability insurance or something releasing us from (unreasonable) liability in a contract?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You brought up a good point about kid-friendly activities asking parents to sign away any liability prior...Even my child's permission slips want the parent to sign away any liability from the schools.

However, if something negligent and/or abusive were to occur, I am sure the parents could still sue in spite of signing off since no one would let a child abuse or neglect issue go unpunished.

But rest assured, everyone knows that injuries from time to time are par for the course when around young children. So..kids will have scrapes and bruises on occasion, it is just expected.

It's when the police actually see injuries that do not match a caretaker's story that makes people go to jail for child abuse. This is a risk that all of us providers take in this profession.

If "this is a risk that all of us providers take" why isn't there liability insurance or something releasing us from (unreasonable) liability in a contract?

What exactly are you afraid of?

[Anonymous]

I'm new to nannying and having had chilfren I know that accidents can happen. I just find it interesting that all sorts of businesses have safety waivers and summer camps have insurance but nannies seem unprotected from a potential lawsuit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm new to nannying and having had chilfren I know that accidents can happen. I just find it interesting that all sorts of businesses have safety waivers and summer camps have insurance but nannies seem unprotected from a potential lawsuit.

Those waivers aren't worth the paper they are printed on. You can still sue if you can show that the care provider or facility was negligent. That's why those types of places have liability insurance.

[Anonymous]

If children come to your place, OP, you'd have this type of insurance. But then you wouldn't really be a nanny anymore.

Anytime a so-called nanny is charged, it's for GROSS negligence, not for just a scrape or even a broken bone if a seven year old fell from a swing.