anyone have liability insurance for their slings?

[Hibou]

I am looking into it, but not sure where to start. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[odilly]

Do you have an insurance company for your home/property etc?
Ask them about business insurance, they'll able to help you with your questions.
Normally, in business insurance liability up to $ 1 000 000 includedin your package.

If you don't have business insuirance, than normally they can provaide you with small home business insuirance in addition to your personal home insuirance, but it would not include liability.

[Beeblebrox]

Originally Posted by Hibou

I am looking into it, but not sure where to start. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Do you mean if they are damaged or do you mean if a baby was hurt while in one?

[dotnetdiva]

She probably means if a baby dies or is injured in one.

I just distribute slings, but I went through the same company that does our home/car insurance. I know how tragic it can end up if carriers are used incorrectly, so I need to be covered.

Our insurance covers everything, liability, if it all goes up in flames, employee theft, etc...

[Hibou]

Originally Posted by Snooter

Do you mean if they are damaged or do you mean if a baby was hurt while in one?

Yes, I mean if a baby was hurt while in one.

Sorry I took so long getting back- I wasn't getting the email notifications.

[~Meg~]

I'm being faced with this myself. From what I've heard insurance for any type of baby-related product is SUPER expensive. I'm thinking the best bet is to form an LLC. At least that way if someone decides to sue they can only go after the business, not your personal assets. In TX, it costs $300 to form an LLC but that's far cheaper than product liability insurance.

[*Amy*]

I'm forming an LLC in Ohio for that reason as well. It's just way too dangerous to be (potentially) personally liable!

[SarahA]

Hummm. The importance of insurance is the one big thing I took away from the BW conference this summer- they put the fear of god in me. I know of one retailer who, left the conference and returned all of the slings she had in her shop that were not insured by the manu.

Lots of luck, Let us know if you find a great ins. deal.

[canadianmompreneur]

Takl to your insuirance company (you probably have home or car insuirance). Ask them about 1.000.000 liability insuirance for business.
In Canada this kind of insuirance cost about 500$ a year.

[BlessedbyLily]

I hate to discourage you because I believe so strongly in slings, but...

I used to make slings and eventually stopped selling them because liability insurance was so incredibly expensive. Some states (mine included) were not even writing liability policies for baby-related products when I was checking into it.

Gotta love those lawyers.

[art4babies]

I too went through the company that sold us our car/home owner's insurance.

[Kristine233]

There is a difference if you are a manufacturer vs retailer as well. One is business insurance and one is product liability insurance. Business insurance is easy to get. And its also not incredibly hard to find insurance as a reseller. Product liability insurance for manufacturers is another ball game, especially for baby carriers. Most in the US have a really hard time finding the particular insurance, mostly it ranges a min of $10k a year. Check the TBW business board sticky for insurance related discussions.

[peapiebaby]

This is something I've kind of put off looking into but think I need to.
I only have a couple of mei tais. But I also have a lot of merchandise in my home that I don't want stolen, destroyed by natural events, etc...
So that's why so many people are LLCs, then. Maybe I should look into that, too.
Thanks.

[wyckhurst]

Liability insurance for any baby products?

I'm also wondering, if you sell other baby products, do you need liability insurance? I make wetbags and diapers, etc. I can't imagine someone suing me over what I make, but you never know! Does anyone know? If you manufacture ANYTHING do you have to have product liability insurance?

[art4babies]

I think "yes."

[OllieMama]

I'm thinking of making/selling some carriers on a very very small scale (mei tai style, with rings instead of buckles or knots), as kind of a side project/money making hobby, at least to start. Is there any way to get around liability insurance? If I'm only going to make a few a month to sell at the local co-op or whatever, I can't see how it is even worth it if I have to get liability insurance. Is it possible to use waivers or something like that? I mean, I can see how a structural problem could still warrant a lawsuit, but if someone just doesn't use it right? I'm very new to this idea, and I'd love some input! TIA

:

[EmilyS]

bumping...I'm curious about the last post...

[Heather423]

Edit: Sorry I didn't read all the posts first but this was in ref to post #16..

I would look into insurance. There must be some sort of professional organization that would offer it. I am sure if you do a search you can find some info online. I am just getting into being a professional photographer and the "Professional Photographers of America" offer a policy included in thier membership which is a few hundred dollars a year. I believe in this day and age it is a necessity unless you have the funds to pay out for a lawsuit if one ensues. These days people will sue over ANYTHING! I am not even selling a product, just a service. If a bride sues me to cover the costs of her wedding because her photos didn't come out the way she likes them, then I would be screwed without insurance. If a buckle comes undone (or even stitching) and a baby falls out, I would bet you there will be some moms who will try to sue, that is just our culture unfortunately.

[medaroge]

A Waiver is NOT Enough! Check out the business forums on TBW, they probably have a more focused group of ladies to help, and they are all super great!

[art4babies]

Good question - even if you have insurance someone can use the carrier improperly.