AAW insurance coverage question

[Hugh]

I would like some help from anyone who knows and understands the AAW liability insurance that is to cover AAW local club activitities.

I belong to an AAW affiliated club. The club wants to have a well known woodturner come and do a demo for the club members. I have a shop which is large enough to handle the group. The question is: How far am I hanging out there if I allow the group to use my shop (and tools and chairs) if something happens? Does the AAW insurance cover me if something happens to one of the viewing members? Do they cover the person who is hurt? Do they have to be AAW members or can they just be members of the club?

In the past I have allowed the club to use my shop. Recently, during a demo, one member's chair had a malfunction and the person fell to the floor. Luckly he was not hurt. But what if he had hit his head on something? Would the AAW insurance cover me for any liability?

I know the insurance plan is available to view, but I would like a legal view if possible, or at least someone who understands it.

Thanks.
Hugh

p.s. there may be more questions later.

 

[James E Gaydos]

insurance

Hi Hugh,
I believe your answer lies with the home office of the AAW, you state your looking for legal answers. There may be a few Lawyer woodturners on this site, but I would trust the info from the home office. They surely would know the legal answers. MHO
Jim

 

[hockenbery]

Hugh,

Ask John Hill - See PM I sent you.

The AAW insurance, insures AAW members engaged in AAW activities for liability
You must be an AAW member to be insured.

AAW activities include the activities of chapters in good standing.
All officers and directors of the club must be AAW members.

If the demo is a club function announced in a newsletter, web site, etc it would be an AAW function. Your club must be in good standing.

The demonstrators ar AAW functions who are AAW members are insured by the AAW insurance.

There is also some coverage for your shop if an AAW activity causes damage.
You don't need to be an AAW member to file a claim for damage to your shop.

-Al

 

[robo hippy]

You should have your own private shop insurance. If you do, you should check with your carrier to see what they have to say as well. They do know you have a wood shop don't they? They can get rather excited about things like that. It can make huge differences to them, especially if you sell, and have others in your shop.

robo hippy

 

[Royce]

I am not an expert concerning the AAW liability insurance. I'm sure the AAW's office can give you better answers. However, one thing I do know is this...

It is not enough to be a member of an AAW affiliated club to be covered by the insurance. You must be a member of AAW.

The club I am a member of is an AAW affiliate, however, our club does not require AAW membership to be a member of our club. (Some clubs DO require AAW membership. I am certain that the members of our club who ARE NOT also members of AAW are NOT covered by the AAW liability insurance.

 

[Hugh]

Hi there Everyone,
Thanks for the answers so far.....and any in the future.

James: I will check with the AAW office and see what they have to say.

Hockenbery: Thanks for the PM - I will try it.

Robo Hippy: I realize that my own insurance company needs to be asked some questions and I need to work out my insurance policy with them. Yes they do know my shop exists.

Royce: I need to check with my club and make sure they fullfil the AAW membership rules.

Everyone: It is me that wants the coverage. I have a certain amount of assets that I have worked many years to aquire and would like to keep them unless I wish to give them away. I know I need to talk with my insurance company and square things away with them on my own and not necessarly count on AAW coverage. Or I need to stop having this sort of function at my house/shop. I do not want anyone to get hurt in my shop. So far, so good. When we hold this type of event, I do my best to clean up and make the place safe for visitors. I just started to think about what ifs. I worry about the slip and fall. Anyway....thanks for the answers.
Hugh

 

[Bill Grumbine]

Hugh, I would not trust the word of anyone other than a representative of the company that administers the policy that addresses the situation in which you want to be insured. I have gotten some very bad advice from some well intentioned people, and had I followed it, I would be paying money out for coverage I wasn't really getting. That is fine, until a claim is submitted. Then you can find the world crumbling very quickly.

Call the company, talk to an underwriter, or someone in authority, and then get it in writing. Otherwise, you may find yourself twisting in the breeze one of these days.

 

[waltben]

Hugh, I would not trust the word of anyone other than a representative of the company that administers the policy that addresses the situation in which you want to be insured. I have gotten some very bad advice from some well intentioned people, and had I followed it, I would be paying money out for coverage I wasn't really getting. That is fine, until a claim is submitted. Then you can find the world crumbling very quickly.

Call the company, talk to an underwriter, or someone in authority, and then get it in writing. Otherwise, you may find yourself twisting in the breeze one of these days.

Can't agree more! You've got to get it from the insurer AND in writing.

 

[Bernie Weishapl]

I was going to have some local turners in my shop for some demo's with coring and some woodturning discussions. I checked with my carrier that I have shop insurance with and they told me absolutely not. If the building burns down, tornado takes the building, etc I am covered but if someone gets hurt it is on me. I am responsible for the damages and expense.

 

[robo hippy]

Bernie,
Two things you can do. One is to include a liability waiver in your insurance clause. I have mine through the Hartford, after investigating different companies, and seeing what Bill Grumbine paid for his. They offered the most inclusive policy I could find. You need coverage for shows as well. Another thing you can do which is pretty cheap is to become a LLC (limited liability corporation) which involves a little lawyer work, and filing a business name. First question a lawyer will ask is what to they have that I can take. With a LLC, they can only go after your business, not your personal assets. I was advised that most liability waivers that people sign to release you from responsibility are worthless, but probably wouldn't hurt to have one, or at least advise people of that.

robo hippy

 

[Bill Grumbine]

I was going to have some local turners in my shop for some demo's with coring and some woodturning discussions. I checked with my carrier that I have shop insurance with and they told me absolutely not. If the building burns down, tornado takes the building, etc I am covered but if someone gets hurt it is on me. I am responsible for the damages and expense.

Bernie, you should have seen what I went through to get the policy I have now. For the first five years I was in business, insurance companies laughed at me. I was told by several people, come back in five years if and when you have been in business that long and not burned the place down or been sued. I finally got a policy that covered me for what I was doing. When it came along, I tried to get into the AAW program. I had specific questions, and was told by a particular individual to "just fill out the form and keep my mouth shut" and I would get a policy.

Really?

Yeah, I would get a policy, but after talking to a representative at the company, they would not touch me for several reasons. One was furniture. They would not cover me because I built furniture! It seems that the flammable finishes that furniture builders use are much more dangerous than the flammable finishes that turners use. This is verbatim from the rep at the company. The other person told me to shut up about furniture. Gee, I wonder what would have happened had I made a claim, and they discovered <gasp!> furniture in my shop! I can tell you right now, I would have been on my own.

Then there was volume of sales. Oh, no way were they going to touch me for that. "Why, you're making way too much money to get insurance with us! We aren't going to cover that kind of volume!" They did refer me to the commercial division of the company, but they still would not cover me because I had a picture of a bunk bed for kids on my website! It did not matter that it was my own kids, and it was the only piece of children's furniture i had ever built. I was told that furniture for children was like a wood stake to a vampire when it came to insurance companies.

Then, they did not like my DVDs. Why, someone might buy one, watch it, do something they saw, or try to, and hurt themselves! 😱 And students!?! "You let people come in your shop and handle sharp tools! 😱 😱 Are you out of your mind!!!???!!! We'll cover visitors, as long as they don't touch anything but themselves while they are there."

To make a long story a little shorter, I found coverage through the Hartford. They set me up in such a way that I am covered for DVDs, students, products, and even furniture! 😀 And the best part is, my premiums are about half of what I used to pay to the old company. They are very close to what I would pay as a hobby turner through the AAW program too. So, I am as happy as I can be, given I am not thrilled about having to pay protection money in the first place.

 

[Charlie Knighton]

I am not thrilled about having to pay protection money in the first place

Bill, a couple of years ago i was told if i wanted to walk someplace at Richmond to go with you

 

[Bill Grumbine]

Bill, a couple of years ago i was told if i wanted to walk someplace at Richmond to go with you

Charlie, I'll just say that if I am going anywhere, I like to be prepared for whatever I might encounter, especially if it is trouble. 😉