Does the PMC Have Insurance Coverage?
Yes. Our Club maintains several types of insurance coverage intended to protect the Club, its volunteers, and members in different circumstances.
The club currently maintains four primary insurance coverages:
- General Liability Insurance
- Directors & Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance
- Participant Accident Insurance
Each type of insurance serves a different purpose and applies in different situations. More detailed information about the policies can be provided to members upon request.
Who Benefits from the Club’s Insurance Coverage?
Different policies benefit different groups.
General Liability Insurance
This policy protects the Club as an organization if it is sued by a third party (for example, a landowner, venue, or member of the public) for bodily injury or property damage related to Club activities.
Directors & Officers (D&O) Insurance
This policy protects Club officers, board members, coordinators, and volunteers in the event a claim is made regarding how the Club is managed. This could include allegations involving governance, discrimination, or similar matters.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPL)
This coverage applies to claims related to employment-type issues, such as harassment or discrimination claims involving volunteers or officers.
Participant Accident Insurance
This coverage provides limited medical benefits to a Club member who is injured while participating in an official Club activity.
Do Members Pay Extra for this Insurance?
No. The cost of the Club’s insurance program is included in membership dues. Members do not need to purchase any additional coverage to participate in Club activities.
Does the Club’s Insurance Protect a Trip Leader if a Member is Injured During a Club Activity?
The answer depends on the situation.
The Participant Accident Insurance provides limited medical coverage for a member who is injured during a Club activity. This coverage may help pay certain medical expenses resulting from an accident.
However, the Club’s insurance generally does not provide coverage for lawsuits brought by one member against the Club or against volunteer leaders.
It is also important to understand that all members are required to sign the Club’s Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Agreement before participating in Club activities.
Under that agreement:
- Members acknowledge that climbing and mountaineering activities involve inherent risks.
- Members release and waive the Potomac Mountain Club, its officers, volunteers, instructors, and members from liability arising from participation in Club activities.
- Members agree not to sue the Club or its representatives for injuries or losses related to participation.
This waiver is intended to protect the Club and its volunteers from legal claims arising from the inherent risks of climbing and mountaineering activities.
Should Club Volunteers Consider Obtaining their own Liability Insurance?
Possibly.
While the Club maintains several types of insurance and requires a liability waiver from participants, no insurance program can cover every possible situation, particularly for activities such as climbing and mountaineering.
Trip leaders, coordinators, and officers who would like additional protection may wish to consider purchasing personal liability coverage (for example, through professional guiding associations or personal umbrella policies).
Obtaining personal coverage is entirely optional, but some volunteers choose to do so for additional peace of mind.
Why does the Club require a Liability Waiver?
Climbing, mountaineering, and related activities involve inherent risks that cannot be completely eliminated.
The Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Agreement that members sign:
- Confirms that participants understand the risks involved in these activities
- Requires participants to take responsibility for their own decisions and safety
- Releases the Club and its volunteers from liability related to participation in Club activities
- Includes a covenant not to sue the Club or its representatives for injuries arising from participation.
Liability waivers are standard practice for climbing organizations, guiding services, and outdoor clubs, and they are an important part of protecting volunteer-run organizations like PMC.