Advice for business

Life Insurance products are products that protect your income and/or lifestyle. In some cases, such policies also protect your family against the eventuality of premature death. They may also be utilised to provide substantial proceeds once you reach retirement age and are no longer working.

If you have dependants or other people with whom you share your life, life insurance can play a vital and valuable role at virtually every stage of your life. It is not just for the young, nor is it only for parents or guardians of young children.

Why buy life insurance? The main reason for insuring your life is to replace an income you are generating that someone else relies on. If an earner passes away, life insurance can enable the survivors to go on without having to make financial sacrifices.

Life insurance can also pay for one-time costs that are connected with death, such as funeral and burial costs, and outstanding debts (such as home loans or final medical expenses not covered by health insurance).

It takes careful planning to choose the right life insurance policy for you, your family or business. It is also important to review regularly your life insurance needs to make sure that they keep up with your changing personal and economic circumstances.

Types of Life Insurance Products

Life Insurance as a form of saving and protection – The long-term nature of life insurance allows you to make clear plans for long-term saving. Mist life insurance companies have long and wide experience of successful investment as well as providing protection in the event of your early demise.

Endowment Insurance – This both protects your family and creates savings for the future. Although more expansive than protection insurance alone, it relieves the financial impact on the family and dependants in the case that the earner dies whilst simultaneously building up his savings.

Endowment policies can be issued on a with-profits or unit-linked basis (see below). You pay premiums for an agreed number of years say 10, 15 or 20. At the end of this time you receive a lump sum, which is either the sum insured together with bonuses in the case of a with-profits policy, or – with unit-linked endowments – the lump sum is the return of all money invested together with the investment growth. If you die before the maturity date the insurance company will pay the sum insured, or the value of the policy at that time if greater.

With-profits – A with-profits fund is a pooled investment, where the money you pay in (the premium) is pooled with other premiums and invested by the insurance company in a very wide range of assets. These will include stocks and shares, bonds, government bonds, property and cash. The investment return your policy pays is smoothed so that you are sheltered from the more extreme variations of direct investment. The investment growth achieved by the with-profits fund is paid to you as regular and final bonuses and added to your policy. Once bonuses have been added, they cannot usually be taken away.
Growth and bonuses cannot be guaranteed in advance but it is likely that bonuses will add significantly to your sum insured, bringing you a good investment return over the years of your policy. The with-profits endowment policy is a means of regular long-term saving with a minimum of risk and the potential for a good return. It smoothens out fluctuations in the value of investments, although there is no guarantee of the final (maturity) value of the policy.

Unit-Linked Policies – With a unit-linked policy there is no guaranteed sum insured payable except in the case of death. The insurance company invests your premiums in specific funds chosen by you. The amount payable under your policy depends on the value of the investments in those funds at the time your policy matures. Insurance companies offer a range of different funds to which your policy can be linked. You should ask for an explanation of the different funds so that you understand the different risks and opportunities. There is no guarantee of the value of the sum to be paid on maturity. The potential benefit from a unit-linked policy can be greater than from a with-profits policy. But of course there is also the risk that the eventual benefit could be lower. The value of investments can fall as well as rise.

Optional Extras – Most life policies have optional extras such as:

Waiver of premium – If you cannot follow your normal occupation because of illness or injury, the insurance company will pay your premiums to maintain the benefits under the policy.

Critical Illness – This provides cover against the risk of you developing a serious health condition such as a heart attack or cancer. If you develop one of the illnesses listed in the policy, a lump sum (or occasionally a regular income for a set period) will be paid. This type of insurance can be bought on its own or as an addition to whole life, endowment or term insurance.

Taxation

Future changes in legislation and tax practice could affect life assurance investment vehicles. Therefore you should seek professional tax advice if you wish to determine your exact tax status.

Assessing Your Life Insurance Needs 

A life insurance policy is a long-term commitment. It is not designed for you to cash in early. Insurance companies and other financial advisers can help you decide what products are suitable for you. Never surrender a life insurance policy without taking expert advice.

When you have decided on a policy you will have to complete and sign a proposal form. This form may ask about such matters as your age, occupation and health. You must answer all questions truthfully. If you fail to do so, it can, in some circumstances, mean that your policy will not pay out.

What if I change my mind?

Every effort is made to ensure your application for life insurance is made in the full knowledge of all its terms and conditions, but most policies have a “cooling off” period of thirty days. During this time you can tell the insurer you do not want the policy and receive a refund of any initial premiums you have already paid.

Some exceptions apply. For example in the case of unit-linked policies it may not be the full amount you originally paid if the value of the units has decreased since purchase; and the cooling off period may not be availed of in the case of contracts of term insurance which you are required to take out as a condition to obtain credit or loan facilities from a bank.

Health Insurance

Health insurance covers you for the reasonable costs which you may incur which are related to medical expenses, from a simple visit to your family doctor for a cold, to specialist visits, diagnostic tests, hospital stays and complex operations.

Why do you need health insurance? 

Health Insurance allows you to choose to receive medical treatment where and when you like and in the comfort of private health facilities, depending on the insurance plan you choose, irrespective of whether such treatment is also provided in the public sector.

Health Insurers provide a variety of plans that cover day-to-day medical, surgical and hospital expenses.

What types of health insurance policies are there?

Health insurers offer various plans that broadly vary in the level of cover for hospital treatment: basic plans provide limited cover, mid-range plans offer full refund on most benefits in Malta; and top-range plans offer full refund on most benefits worldwide (area of cover limits may apply). Cover for out-patient treatment could be included, and this may vary according to the selected plan.

How do I pick a health insurance plan? 

If you are thinking of purchasing or upgrading your present insurance arrangement, it is crucial that you understand your health insurance choices and pick the insurance that is best for you and your family.

An insurance product information document (IPID) will provide you with a summary of coverage and can be helpful in choosing the right cover for you.

What am I covered for? 

Health insurance policies cover you for costs arising from an unforeseen illness/injury. For healthcare insurance this means the cost of eligible treatment resulting from an unexpected accident, illness or injury. Most insurers define an acute medical condition as a disease, illness or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment which aims to return you to the state of health you were in immediately before or which leads to your full recovery.

What am I not covered for?

Private medical insurance is designed to cover treatment for curable, short-term illness or injury (commonly known as acute medical conditions). In general, it will not cover the treatment of long-term and incurable illnesses.

Certain treatments are not covered, and these are common to most schemes.

In addition to those listed above as ‘Usually not included’, there are a few other medical conditions which some insurers do not cover. These generally include treatment relating to self-inflicted injuries, alcoholism or drug abuse and cosmetic treatment. A list of such exclusions can be found in the policy document.

Each insurer will give you a policy summary or ‘Insurance Product Information Document (IPID)’. You can also ask for a copy of the Policy terms. The ‘IPID’ includes information about significant cover limits, exclusions, restrictions, waiting periods and your obligations.

Will my premiums go up? 

Whichever scheme you choose, it is likely that your premiums will rise. This is generally caused by spiralling healthcare costs. Moreover, the sophistication and cost of treatments to improve quality of life is increasing steadily.

Most private medical insurance policies aim to cover these treatments as they become established medical practice and available privately. Likewise, the complexity of tests and equipment used to diagnose illness and injury are also increasing. Such tests are becoming far more widely available in private hospitals.

Another relevant factor is the age of the persons insured when the policy becomes effective / renewed.

How do I make a claim? 

Make sure you are familiar with your insurer’s claiming procedure. This would be detailed on the policy terms, and often available on the insurer’s website.

Your GP and/or specialist may need to fill in and sign your claim form at the time of your medical consultation.

You may be referred for tests, admission to a hospital as in-patient, or day-patient treatment. Before you receive such treatment privately, you should call your insurance company to check that you are covered for the treatment you will receive.  In fact, most insurers insist that you do this.

Some hospitals and specialists will send the bills to your insurer, on condition that they have obtained a guarantee of payment prior to treatment. Some may ask for payment from the patient, in this case you can then claim for reimbursement of eligible costs with your insurer.  Your insurer will give you all the guidance you need, confirm what your cover includes and, if necessary, send you a claim form. Stay in contact with your insurer who will confirm whether any treatment you plan to receive is within your cover. Your insurer will tell you how they pay claims.  If you have chosen an excess, you will have pay this as part of the claims process.

What if I want to change to a new insurer?

You may change insurers. However, it is important to remember that your new insurer may not cover any previous, or existing medical conditions, which your current insurer may cover (as you might not have suffered from such conditions at the time you took out your policy with that insurer). The cover limits and policy terms may vary.

It is best to check with your new insurer whether any new terms/restriction still satisfy your requirements.

Motor Insurance

1.  What does Motor Insurance do?

Motor insurance protects motorists against financial losses that arise out of an accident involving their vehicle.  These can be a legal responsibility to pay compensation for injury or damage caused to others, or the cost to replace or repair their own vehicle.

The Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third-Party risks) Ordinance (Chapter 104) makes it compulsory for all motorists to be insured against their liability for injuries to others (including passengers) and for damage to other people’s property resulting from use of a vehicle. It is therefore an offence to drive your car or allow others to drive it without third party liability insurance.

Different types of cover are available. This can range:

from Third Party cover

which protects individuals against liability should they injure a third party or cause damage to a third party’s property, but does not provide any cover for the individual’s own vehicle;

or Third Party Fire and Theft cover

which offers protection for fire damage, theft, as well as liability towards third parties;

or Comprehensive cover

which goes beyond the basic protection and offers cover for the vehicle against accidental damage, fire damage, theft, as well as liability towards third parties.

When you purchase Motor Insurance, your insurer will usually issue two documents:

The Certificate of Insurance

This is evidence of insurance as required by law.

The Policy Document

This sets out in full the terms and conditions of your policy and will include a schedule setting out your individual cover arrangements.

You should read your policy carefully to ensure it gives you the level of cover you are seeking.

If you are unsure about what the policy does or does not cover then ask your insurer to explain.

2. What cover is included in a typical Comprehensive motor policy?

Liability for injuries caused to other people, including passengers.

Liability for damage caused to other people’s property.

Liability arising from the use of a caravan or trailer, while attached to the vehicle.

Accidental damage to your own vehicle.

Damage to the vehicle caused by a fire or explosion.

Theft and damage caused in an attempted theft.

The cost to hire a replacement vehicle if yours cannot be driven due to an insured accident (up to a specified amount in total).

A Personal Accident benefit – certain amounts are paid in the event of the death or specific permanent disablement of the policyholder (and sometimes his/her spouse or family member).

Medical expenses necessarily incurred, up to a stated limit.

Loss of or damage to personal effects in the car, up to a stated limit.

Other benefits may include the cost to replace locks following loss of a key, the cost to replace child car seats after an accident and cover for charging equipment in the case of electric vehicles.

Roadside assistance in the case of vehicle breakdown (this can be automatically included or added by the payment of an additional premium as an extra).

3. Is there anything I should ask or think about when buying motor insurance?

Policy Limits and/or Excesses

Make sure you are aware of any applicable excess and/or cover limits your policy may include (the excess is the first portion of a claim you will be responsible for paying).

Higher excesses are normally applied where young drivers are covered and for high value vehicles.

You need to check you would be able to afford the excess in the event of a claim.

Most insurance policies also have maximum limits the insurer will pay for a claim.

If you have Comprehensive cover, make sure that the insured value is enough to replace the vehicle should it be a ‘total loss’.

Insured drivers

The policy might only cover driving by yourself or specified people, or it might allow driving by any authorised person with your permission, possibly over a certain age limit (commonly this is 25 years and over).

Your insurers will want to know about anyone who is likely to drive – particularly their age, experience, claims and driving record and occupation.

Vehicle use

Your policy and certificate set out the uses for which your vehicle is insured.

For example, if you or any authorised driver want to use your vehicle for business purposes, make sure that your policy covers this as if it is used for certain business activities it may need to be covered under a different type of policy.

No Claims Discount

Policyholders with a claim free record normally qualify for a premium discount known as ‘No Claims Discount’ which increases for every claims free year.

Discount scales vary amongst motor insurers but can range from 15% for one claim free year up to 65% after four or five years.

The discounts allowed for Private vehicles are usually considerably higher than those allowed for Commercial vehicles.

Commercial vehicles insured on a “fleet” basis are effectively rated on the  claims’ experience of the entire fleet, and the question of a no claims discount (NCD) does not normally arise.

Certain companies also offer to protect your No Claims Discount entitlement so that a number of claims are allowed without affecting the discount.

You may have to pay an additional premium to buy such protection.

Driving someone else’s vehicle

Make sure that you have the vehicle owner’s permission to drive the vehicle and that the owner has extended their insurance to cover you (e.g. by adding you as a driver under his policy).

Similarly, before letting someone else drive your car think about the insurance implications of doing so and ensure that you are comfortable with these.

4. What determines the premium I must pay? 

There are many factors that influence the price you pay for motor insurance. Your premium may be higher or lower, depending on:

Your driving record

The better your record, the lower your premium.

If you have had accidents or serious traffic violations, you will pay more than if you have a clean driving record.

You may also pay more if you have not had a motor policy in your name for a number of years.

Your age

In general, mature drivers have fewer accidents than less experienced drivers, particularly those under 25 years.

Insurers generally charge more for young people below the age of 25 years.

The type of vehicle you drive

Some vehicles cost more to insure than others because of their engine power or higher value.

Other factors include the likelihood of theft, the fuel type, the cost of repairs, and the rated safety record of the vehicle.

Note – for Battery Electric Vehicles (EV’s) you may be required to provide details about your home charger, the specifications and installation certificate.  You are also normally required to notify your home insurance provider of the electric vehicle and charger details.

Other factors also include any other drivers, where it is kept, the uses to which it is put, and the type of cover required.

Changing your vehicle

You must tell your insurers if you change your vehicle.

A premium adjustment may be necessary, and you will need a new certificate.

This applies also if you sell your vehicle, the insurance cover is not transferable between one person and another, and if the vehicle changes ownership a new policy is required.

Motoring abroad

Maltese motor policies automatically provide the minimum cover required by law (third party liability) in other European Union countries as well as some others like the UK and Switzerland.

You must tell your insurer if you want to extend your Comprehensive or Fire and Theft cover while abroad before you leave.

Look after your vehicle

All insurance policies require you to make sure your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition.

If you do not, you may find that your claim will not be paid.

Important Note – not only is it an offence under the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third-Party Risks) Ordinance to make a false statement or withhold information for the purposes of obtaining a certificate of motor insurance, but it may also invalidate your policy. So, make sure you reply fully and correctly to questions you are asked about your driving and conviction record and about who will be driving it regularly and for what purposes the vehicle will be used.

5. What value should I insure my vehicle for, and would I be paid this amount in full in the case of a total loss? 

Your insurance policy states that if your car is unrepairable or is unrecovered following a theft, then you will be compensated with an amount equivalent to its market value at the time the incident occurred.

Insurers determine market value by looking at what it would cost you to buy a vehicle which is the same or as close as possible to yours.

This value thus depends on many factors such as the vehicle’s age and condition, its popularity in the used car market and any special features it may have.

When insuring your car your insurers can assist you in determining its market value.

Since most vehicles depreciate over time, your insurers will remind you to bring down the value insured on renewal to reflect this.

This can save you some premium by reducing value.

The insured value is not always the amount that will be paid in the event of a total loss, especially if it has not been revised to reflect depreciation or was over-estimated.

6. What should I do if I have an accident?

Front to rear accidents

Move the vehicles if you are obstructing traffic and fill in the front to rear form.

Although each driver is supposed to have a copy of this form in their vehicle, only one form needs to be used, and it does not matter whose form is completed.  The form must be signed by both drivers and each one keeps a copy.

When the front-to-rear accident involves more than two vehicles, a second form should be used.

It is also important that you get details of all witnesses before they leave.

It may be useful to take a photo of the accident site (before you move the vehicles) and of the damage caused.

Other accidents not involving bodily injury

If the accident is more serious than a front-to-rear collision, and no injuries are reported you need to call the Traffic Wardens on 2132 0202.

Do not move the vehicles until the Wardens arrive on site to draw up their report.

They will ask for a statement from you and any other parties and witnesses, make sure you are clear and mention all relevant factors. 

Other accidents involving bodily injury and/or damage to state property

Call the emergency services and the police on 112 and strictly follow the instructions given.

Do not move any seriously injured persons as this could endanger them but provide any possible assistance.

Do not move the vehicles or any debris arising from the accident.

General advice 

At the scene of the accident do not discuss whose fault the accident seems to have been.  Doing so. could create problems for yourself and your insurers in the handling of your claim.

It is often not straightforward to identify fault, especially at the scene since people may be in shock about what has just happened.

Leave that to the insurers or the authorities whose job it is to ascertain responsibility.

How do I file a claim?

To file a claim, follow these steps

Contact your insurer as soon as possible to inform them of the accident, regardless of who is at fault. Some insurers provide a link for this purpose on their website.

Your insurer will guide you on how to proceed and what forms or documents are needed to support your claim.

Supply the information your insurer requests as soon as you can and make sure that you fill out the claim form carefully and correctly.

Keep good records of any discussions or correspondence with your insurer or with other parties connected to the accident.

Get the names and phone numbers of everyone you speak with and keep copies of any bills or documents related to the accident.

If I file a claim, will my premium increase?

You may be reluctant to file a claim because you fear that your premium will increase or your insurance will be cancelled.

In general, an insurer will increase your premium by specific percentages for each claim made against your policy however some insurers provide “No Claims Discount Protection” meaning that just one claim will not reduce your discount on next renewal.

Your insurer may also decide to review the terms offered and on rare occasions not offer to renew your policy.

This can happen if your driving record gets markedly worse because you have several accidents, or if you drink and drive.

Different insurers have different rules about what constitutes an unacceptably bad driving record.

If you have an accident but do not report it to your insurer, you are failing in your obligations under the insurance policy, even if the damage seems minor.

If the other driver sues you weeks or months later, your failure to report the accident might cause your insurer to refuse to honour the policy.

Even if they do honour the policy, the delay will certainly make it harder for the insurer to gather evidence to represent you.

To Get Your Vehicle Repaired

If you have a Comprehensive policy

Ask your insurer for advice.  Your insurers will guide you to choose a repairer that has been officially certified.

They may also advise you to choose a different repairer who is better equipped and is more competent to handle the type of damage your vehicle has suffered.

As well as speeding up the repair considerably, this could allow you to benefit from Work Guarantees which your insurer has secured in advance with certain repairers.

Your vehicle will be inspected by an expert appointed by your insurers to determine the repairs needed and set an estimate for the cost of repairs.

The cost of repairs is your responsibility until your insurers have formally confirmed to the repairer that they will be paying.

Most insurers will procure any necessary replacement parts and deliver them to the repairer.

If parts are not available from stock these must be imported and the time this will take varies considerably depending on the vehicle make, its year of manufacture and other factors such as whether the vehicle was imported as used from a country outside Europe.

If you have Third Party or Third Party Fire and Theft cover

Your policy will not cover accidental damage to your vehicle.

You therefore must pay any repair costs to your vehicle yourself, if you were to blame for the accident.

You can claim these costs from the insurer of the other driver if he or she were to blame for the accident.

Your insurer can advise you on how to go about this but cannot legally do it on your behalf.

 What should I do if my car is stolen?

Report the theft to the Police immediately and then inform your insurer.

In many cases stolen cars are recovered within 48 hours, and any damage they suffer will be covered.

If not recovered, you will need to wait a while investigations are concluded before your claim can be settled by the insurer.

Note – most Comprehensive policies protect you against loss of or damage to personal belongings which are in your vehicle. Policies set a limit on the value of such property claims. Check your own policy for details.

7. What are the consequences of causing an accident when under the influence or alcohol or drugs?

Do not drink and drive, do not drive if you are under the influence of any drug, legal or otherwise.

If you do, you not only risk criminal prosecution by the police, but you may also face dire financial consequences should you cause damage or injure someone.

While the law protects victims of traffic accidents and forces insurers to pay compensation even when the responsible driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it gives the right to insurers to recover such payments from the responsible driver, and these costs could amount to thousands of euros.

8. How am I protected if I am the victim of a ‘hit & run’ accident or an accident caused by an uninsured driver or vehicle?

The best protection for your vehicle is to have Comprehensive cover, as your insurers will take care of any losses.

If you do not have Comprehensive cover, you may be able to obtain compensation from a special fund financed by insurers known as the ‘Protection and Compensation Fund’ (PCF).

The PCF however does not compensate victims of hit and run accidents where only damage is incurred as a result.

It will provide compensation only if in the same accident, a serious injury was incurred.

Travel Insurance

Before leaving on vacation, make sure you have adequate insurance. Vacations can sometimes cost a lot so it is important to have the proper insurance protection in case the cruise or tour operator goes bankrupt or you need to cancel the trip due to illness or other unforeseen events.

You can also purchase travel insurance from either a travel agent or you can buy directly from an insurer that specializes in this type of coverage. These can be summarized as follows:

1. Trip Cancellation
This would reimburse you if you have to cancel the trip due to sickness, a death in the family or another calamity listed in the policy.

2. Baggage Insurance or Personal Effects Coverage
This would provide coverage if your personal belongings are lost, stolen or damaged during the trip. Before purchasing this type of coverage, find out how much insurance the airline or trip operator provides for your belongings.

3. Emergency Medical Assistance
This provides insurance and medical assistance for travellers. It would cover you if you had to be airlifted off a mountain due to a skiing or hiking accident, or if you had to stay for a prolonged period of time in a foreign hospital. It would also provide coverage if you got seriously sick or were injured and needed to be flown home.

4. Accidental Death
This provides a variety of coverage if you or a family member die on the trip. If you have a good life insurance plan or made other financial provisions for your loved ones, this may be duplicate insurance.

Is there anything I should ask or think about when buying travel insurance?

Policy document
You should read the document carefully. It gives you full details of what is and is not covered and the conditions of the cover. Cover will vary from policy to policy, and insurer to insurer.

Conditions, exclusions and warranties
Conditions and exclusions will apply to individual sections of your policy, while general exclusions, conditions and warranties will apply to the whole of your policy.

Health
Your policy contains conditions about the health of the people travelling and of other people upon whose health the trip may depend.

Hazardous activities
If you are going to take part in activities that present a risk of injury, including skiing or water sports, check that your policy covers you. This may not always be the case.

Property claims
Generally these claims are paid based on the value of the goods at the time you lose them, and not on a ‘new for old’ or replacement cost basis. Your policy will set out what proof the insurer needs to support a claim.

Policy limits
Most sections of your policy have limits on the amount the insurer will pay under that section. Some sections also include other specific limits, for example for any one item or for valuables in total. You are advised to check your policy if you intend taking expensive items with you.

Policy excesses
Under most sections of the policy, claims will be subject to an excess. This means that you will be responsible for paying the first part of each claim. The amount you have to pay is the excess.

If you would like more information, ask the person selling the travel insurance, particularly if you feel the insurance may not meet your needs.

Marine Pleasure Craft Insurance

Marine insurance covers damage to the hull, along with the liability for property damage, injury and death to passengers and others. Indemnities are also provided for the goods that may be lost or damaged whilst in transit.

The Insured Craft should be insured at its current market value taking into consideration type, age and condition and taxes/duties payable in Malta
Cover includes:

Full (Comprehensive) Cover including damage to the insured craft and Personal Accident Cover: 
Stranding, sinking, collision, bad weather conditions
Fire, self-ignition, explosion, lighting
Malicious acts
Theft of Insured Craft
Theft of inboard machinery, gear and equipment following forcible entry into the vessel or store
Damage to the Insured Craft arising out of bursting of boilers, breakage of shaft, latent defects and faulty design excluding rectification costs and damage to motors/electrical apparatus

Third Party Only Cover :

Only covers damages caused to others for which the Insured is legally liable. Such a policy would cover for liabilities to third parties for:
Loss of life and injury
Damage to other vessels and property
Legal costs

Liability insurance covers your legal duty to pay compensation to others following events for which you are responsible. For example liability insurance is mandatory in motor insurance as it is a legal requirement to insure your vehicle.

As with all insurance the precise cover depends on the terms and conditions of your policy.

Types of Liability Insurance

Employers’ Liability – enables businesses to meet the costs of compensation to employees who are injured or made ill at work through the fault of the employer. Employees injured due to an employer’s negligence can obtain compensation even if the business is in financial difficulties.

Public Liability – Public liability insurance covers your legal liability to pay damages to members of the public for death, bodily injury or damage to their property which occurs as a result of business activities. For example, you might need Public Liability cover if your work involves any interaction with the general public.

Premiums depend on the type of business you run, your turnover and the number of employees you have.

When deciding on how much cover to buy, you should carefully consider the maximum claim that could be made against you. However, be aware that a limit of indemnity will apply to claims arising from a single incident.

Product Liability – If you make, repair or sell products, you could be held legally liable for damage or injury arising from defects in their design or manufacture even if you have not been negligent. If you import a product for resale and something goes wrong with it, claimants are entitled to try to claim from you even if you did not manufacture the product. Products must be “fit for purpose”, and under the Consumer Affairs Act (Chapter 378) you are legally responsible for any damage or injury that a product you supply may cause.

What the insurance covers

The product liability insurance covers you against any compensation awarded as a result of damage or injury caused by your product, up to specified maximum limits.

Product liability covers you against unforeseen circumstances. If you simply make an inferior product, then you may not be able to make a claim. Bad workmanship is not covered either.

Motor Vehicle Liability – By law you must insure your legal liability arising from the use of vehicles on the road (see the Motor Insurance information page for further information)