DirectDevil
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SNIPPED TEXT. An elderly relatively recently had someone injured when trimming back trees on her land. She had employed an insured company, luckily, but was worried sick about the potential for a claim. What kind of country are we living in where elderly people have to worry about people suing them and kids can't have some fun playing during a family celebration?
A classically good example of the need for caution and proper advice about liability insurance.
You will find that the side of the contractor's van has a sign saying that they are "fully insured".
Assuming that to be true you next ask if that means that you - the customer - are covered.
Most customers believe that the contractor's liability insurance covers them - the customer - too.
It probably does not cover the customer's interests. It probably covers the contractor's liability only.
Does it matter if there is an accident caused by a contractor ? Yes, especially if the contractor does not actually have insurance.
The general principle is that a principal [the customer] is not vicariously liable for the negligence of an independent contractor.
However, in certain circumstances, that shield does not protect the principal. For example, if the contractor was executing works that carried a strict liability, or created hazards on the public road and a few more little gems.
BTW if the contractors trimming trees were using a chain saw liability policies might be redundant as many of them exclude claims arising from use of chain saws.