Who is covered?
You as an individual member of the association. Your minor children that work in your business. Your spouse, employees, independent contractors can be added for $80 each, per year. If your business is a partnership, your partner or partners can be added for $80 each. Injury to yourself, your children, spouse, employee or independent contractors is not covered under this policy.
What is covered?
Coverage is provided for "Bodily Injury" or "Property Damage," plus "Personal and Advertising Injury Liability" for covered perils as defined in the policy. The policy is written on a standardized insurance form provided by the Insurance Services Office, form CG 0001(12 04). Certain policy terms, conditions and exclusions apply. We will explain some of these further on in the Q&A.
What does the insurance pay for?
The policy states: "We will pay for those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of "Bodily Injury" or "Property Damage" to which this insurance applies. We will have the right and duty to defend the insured against any "suit" seeking those damages."
What is Bodily Injury?
The policy defines Bodily Injury as: "bodily injury, sickness or disease sustained by a person, including death resulting form any of these at any time."
Bodily injury liability is designed to pay for injury you cause to someone else. Example, if you were walking someone's dog and that dog bit someone we would be for any liability you would be legally liable to pay. The Bodily Injury limit is : $1,000,000 per occurrence with a $2,000,000 aggregate.
What is Property Damage?
The policy defines Property Damage as:
a. Physical Injury to tangible property, including all resulting loss of use of that property. All such loss of use shall be deemed to occur at the time of the physical injury that caused it; or
b. Loss of use of tangible property that is not physically injured. All such loss of use shall be deemed to occur at the time of the "occurrence" that caused it.
Property damage liability is designed to pay for damage to property of others. This coverage contains a special exclusion for property in your care, custody and control. This is why we have designed the special coverage parts for pets and the option to purchase personal property of others coverage.
What is an occurrence?
An occurrence is a single claim or loss. The limit we provide is the most we will pay for a single loss. Liability is at $1,000,000 for "Bodily Injury" or "Property Damage". Loss to pets is $10,000. Loss to personal property other than pets is $10,000 (if purchased)
What is an aggregate?
An aggregate is the most we will pay for all losses that occur during the policy period. The policy period is one year from the date the pet sitter joins the association. Liability is at $2,000,000 for "Bodily Injury" or "Property Damage" . Loss to pets is $25,000. Loss to personal property other than pets is $25,000 (if purchased)
What is Products and Completed Operations?
The policy states: "Includes "Bodily Injury" or "Property Damage" occurring away from premises you own or rent and arising out of "your product" or "your work." There are many items not covered under this, you should review pages 12 & 13 of form CG 0001 Section 16 paragraph's "a" and "b".
This is coverage for anything that you sell or give to your clients.
What is fire legal damage?
This covers liability for damage to a premises that the pet sitter leases or rents. This does not provide any coverage for property you own. Example, if you rented an office from someone and there was a fire that you caused we would pay for the damage to that part of the building you rented. If the damage spread beyond your area, the liability policy would pay that under property damage liability.
What are the special features of this program?
• $10,000 per occurrence / $25,000 annual aggregate for loss to pets in your care, custody and control. This coverage is very important and protects you should a pet you are responsible for be lost, stolen or accidentally injured or killed. This also covers the pet while being transported.
• $2,000 Lost Key Coverage. This would pay for the cost of having new keys and locks installed in a customer's home should you lose their keys. This does not cover the cost of having a locksmith open a door or damage caused to open a door by force.
• $1,000 per occurrence / $5000 annual aggregate for Veterinarian Expense for animals accidentally injured while in your care when there is not negligence on your part.
• You may also purchase our Special Personal Property of Others endorsement. This provides you with protection for customer's property in your care, custody or control. Coverage is for $10,000 per occurrence and $25,000 annual aggregate. Cost is a flat $95. This also protects you from negligent acts of your employees that result in loss or damage to property of your customers. This is broader than most bonds as bonds cover only dishonest acts.
What about bonds?
Bonds usually require that the person be convicted of the crime before the bonding company would make a payment. The bond further requires that the individual make full restitution to the bond company for the payment. Our special personal property endorsement provides broader coverage and includes losses such as breakage, destruction, mysterious disappearance and loss caused by an employee theft from your customer's premises.
What does the special care, custody and control endorsement for $95 include?
The special property coverage provides $10,000 per occurrence or $25,000 of coverage annually for the loss of the personal property of the pet owner while in your care. This does not include the loss of the pet itself as that is covered elsewhere in the policy. Coverage is included for theft, breakage and mysterious disappearance of the personal property of the pet owner. Please note that if you do not purchase this optional coverage, there is no coverage under the policy for loss or damage to the owner's personal property.
What is the program territory?
The program territory is the United States of America and Canada, which means that PSA members can work in either of these locations. However, the member's main location and mailing address must be within the United States. Therefore if we have a member that lives in the US and works in Canada, that is fine, but we cannot write someone that lives in Canada and works in the US. Please note that there is no coverage for anyone living in or working in Mexico.
Does the special pet coverage include transportation of pets in an automobile?
Yes, coverage is provided for transportation of pets in an automobile. However, the $500 off-leash deductible will apply if the animal is not confined in some fashion (either in a kennel/crate or on a leash). Please note that there is no coverage for any damage that the animal may cause to the vehicle.
What is lost key coverage?
This coverage pays for the cost of installing new locks at a customers premises because you lost their key. The lost key coverage does not cover a locksmith getting you into the house or any damage done to the house in an attempt to get inside.
Is there any coverage for injuries to the pet sitter or damage to the pet sitter's property?
No, there is no coverage for the pet sitters or their property. PSA does not cover injuries to the pet sitters, or their employees and/or independent contractors, as this is something that would be covered by workers compensation insurance not general liability insurance. Please note that there is NO coverage under this policy for injuries to the family members or pets of the pet sitters. PSA does not cover property damage to the pet sitter's property as general liability policies do not include this coverage. The bodily injury and property damage portions of this policy are for third party injuries and damages only.
