Running a business has many risks, so having the right coverage is essential. Veterinary professional liability helps protect your practice or veterinary group from the unique risks you face caring for animals. Our agency was designed to help animal hospitals recover from everyday issues that can cause financial hardship or damage to their reputations.
Whether you own a single vet hospital or manage a large corporate veterinary group, we have the right solutions for your business.
A business-owner policy (BOP) provides general liability to protect your hospital from most third-party injuries, such as those sustained by pet owners. These typically include a slip and fall while waiting, walking to an exam room, or tripping over a scale.
However, once you conduct an exam or procedure and the pet owner is participating or just getting in the way, any injuries they sustain would fall under your veterinary professional liability. While most veterinarians would not be concerned at the onset, not all professional liability programs are built the same. Some, even well-known veterinary professional liability programs, sub-limit what their program pays per hour for attorney fees to defend you, which can quickly result in substandard protection.
The best risk mitigation tactic is to avoid client participation during an exam or procedure. However, even in FearFree hospitals, the pet is typically not separated from the pet owner, which can leave you exposed during euthanasias, for example. Because it can be emotional for everyone, a pet owner suffering a bite to the face as they kiss their loved one goodbye can be a costly problem. Being vigilant at all times to prevent an injury can keep you out of court or waste precious time that could be spent growing your veterinary hospital.