Insurance for hiring a minibus?

ljonski

I am going to hire a minibus with a driver for a party of 16 as a private individual.
I am sure the reputable company that i use will have public liability insurance but obviously i will check this.

The hire consists of 2 trips in a day. One to our destination and one later on to bring us back.

Would i need to get separate insurance as well to cover me if for example someone falls off the bus whilst getting on or off?

thenudeone

The hiring company will insist that you have RTA insurance cover (either through themselves or possibly your own).
This cover automatically includes any injuries involving the vehicle which are the driver's or owner's fault, and also most or all circumstances when it's a passenger's fault - for example, if a passenger opens a car door into the side of a passing vehicle.

If injuries aren't either the driver or the owner's fault, neither can be sued for compensation, so there is no need to worry about them.

Dangermac

thenudeone wrote: »

The hiring company will insist that you have RTA insurance cover (either through themselves or possibly your own).
This cover automatically includes any injuries involving the vehicle which are the driver's or owner's fault, and also most or all circumstances when it's a passenger's fault - for example, if a passenger opens a car door into the side of a passing vehicle.

If injuries aren't either the driver or the owner's fault, neither can be sued for compensation, so there is no need to worry about them.

But the OP is asking: what if someone is injured, but the cause of accident is outside of the scope of the RTA (and therefore the RTA cover) - who is covering the Public Liability risk?

Anyone can be sued, regardless of fault - it's a question of whether they will be successful or not. The claim still needs defending

In summary, it would be advisable to also have Public Liability cover in place, because RTA cover will not cover events which arent connected with the RTA.

DM

Andy_L

What is the party of 16?

bunch of Family/Friends?
A club outing?
A works social?

ljonski

Its a group of walkers who are not members of any particular walking club

antrobus

ljonski wrote: »

....Would i need to get separate insurance as well to cover me if for example someone falls off the bus whilst getting on or off?

I suppose that you could buy what is often known as 'event insurance' - the kind of insurance that is often taken out by people who organise parties and suchlike to cover themselves for any public liability issues.

ljonski

I suppose the trip is something akin to organising a hen party. There is no organised walk as such, so i can't be held responsible for someone tripping up whilst on the moors , nor in the case of a hen party if someone falls down dead after having drunk too much.

The only 2 scenarios that i am slightly concerned about is if what i said was in the op happened or someone missed the return journey and sued me for any additional costs.

I intend to give out a sheet of instructions on the day , on where and when to meet the bus, as the minibus is on a tight schedule to connect with a more long distance bus in the early evening

Do people organising hen parties usually get additional "event insurance"?

thenudeone

Life is full of risks.
That doesn't mean you should buy insurance to cover them all.

Suppose you are texting whilst walking, knock into someone, who falls over and breaks an arm. You are clearly at fault and could be sued.

How many of us have an insurance policy which would cover such an eventuality? Probably None.

I'd like to know what sort of incident the OP has in mind.

If you are going out with a group of people and don't trust them not to try to sue you for damages at the drop of a hat, perhaps you should re-consider who you go out with.

ljonski

I'd like to know what sort of incident the OP has in mind.

I have already described the 2 types of incidents that i have in mind.

Secondly, i am providing an opportunity for those who use public transport to get walking on footpaths that they wouldn't have an opportunity ordinarily to use. The vast majority of those that i expect will be on board,are only faces that i know by sight at the moment and at the moment only 3 of those who have expressed an interest in going do i know their full names!

I want to do the whole thing legally right and hence my initial enquiry on this particulary section of MSE!

vaio

Are you doing this as a business venture? charging?

thenudeone

Re: Your two examples

If someone slips getting on or off the bus, and thinks the driver or owner is responsible, the normal motor insurance policy would cover it.

If someone trips up whilst walking on the moors, that's nothing to do with you hiring a minibus.

If you really are that worried, then you probably ought to form a properly constituted club, and use the membership funds to buy insurance.

Personally, I'd just get on with enjoying life and stop worrying about it.