Liability insurance at skeet club

Grouse Man

Grouse Man

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What sort of liability insurance, or AD&D coverage is there at most trap/skeet clubs? I take people from work out shooting occassionally - NOT A COMPANY SPONSORED EVENT - just people I work with, to show them clay shooting.

The question arose, could somebody sue the company we work for (if someone were injured) in this arrangement? Do shooting clubs carry insurance, or is it like golf courses where they say that your fee payment is considered waiving your right to sue, or whatever. What are the legal and insurance issues involved here?

I know shooting ranges are safer than golf courses, but you know what people are like, they think going shooting is somehow far more dangerous than going to a golf course or go-kart track.
 
You're best off asking the club directly rather than assuming anything with regards to legal matters.

If you aren't already a CSSA member, I would suggest that you look into it as it provides you with some nice personal insurance for these matters.

http://www.cdnshootingsports.org/membership.html

Just like you, I will be introducing 12 co-workers to skeet shooting on Saturday :)

Grouse Man said:
What sort of liability insurance, or AD&D coverage is there at most trap/skeet clubs? I take people from work out shooting occassionally - NOT A COMPANY SPONSORED EVENT - just people I work with, to show them clay shooting.

The question arose, could somebody sue the company we work for (if someone were injured) in this arrangement? Do shooting clubs carry insurance, or is it like golf courses where they say that your fee payment is considered waiving your right to sue, or whatever. What are the legal and insurance issues involved here?

I know shooting ranges are safer than golf courses, but you know what people are like, they think going shooting is somehow far more dangerous than going to a golf course or go-kart track.
Click to expand...
 
As someone mentioned it would be best to check with the club to be sure.

And as also mentioned you should have your own liability insurance for shooting related activities (as your co-workers under the scenario mentioned may sue you as well as the club) which you get with your membership as mentioned in CSSA as well as many other shooting associations as well as some of the the provincial outdoors associations such as in Ontario the OFAH.

Most clubs I know carry regular insurance policies for liability as well as coverage for fire, etc. but I have heard of some that do not.
 
Our Club has provided CSSA liability Insurance which extends to Individual members as well.

Could sonmebody sue ... just ask any lawyer ... you betcha ! Even with s0-called separate Insurance. No mutual exclusivity, and waiver/disclaimers don't seem to weigh too heavily. Suits can and would likely be brought begining with you, your Company, and the Club, the Company's owners/directors, Club Directors, and likely everyone else on the field or who was in close proximity at the time, the gun and ammunition facturer .... well, you get the idea. Bring a suit against everone and anybody involved ... one may successfully prove negligence or culpability somewhere in the process where it results in a settlement being won! If they miss you, they get the Company, if not them then the Club, or a combination thereof ... why miss out on an option...
 
Grouse Man said:
What sort of liability insurance, or AD&D coverage is there at most trap/skeet clubs? I take people from work out shooting occassionally - NOT A COMPANY SPONSORED EVENT - just people I work with, to show them clay shooting.

The question arose, could somebody sue the company we work for (if someone were injured) in this arrangement? Do shooting clubs carry insurance, or is it like golf courses where they say that your fee payment is considered waiving your right to sue, or whatever. What are the legal and insurance issues involved here?

I know shooting ranges are safer than golf courses, but you know what people are like, they think going shooting is somehow far more dangerous than going to a golf course or go-kart track.
Click to expand...

you can sue anyone, for pretty much anything. but you might not be successful with some claims.
whether shooting ranges carry insurance or not, if someone were injured at the range, the injured individual could sue the range, the person who brought them there, the employer, and even the authority responsible for auditing the ranges to ensure compliance with the reg's. It is then up to the court to decide which claims have merit. My opinion is that of the 4 potential defendants mentioned, the employer & the party who brought them to the range (you) would be the least likely to lose (unless of course there were many people from your work and your boss is, or you are, the one that shot them in the face or something!). Golf course waivers and other similar ones are not surefire ways for org's to cover themselves and do not stand up in court a lot of the time.
 
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Reminds me of a somewhat local case. Seems a young lady went to an
X-mas celebration organized by her employer at a local pub, with some co-workers & imbibed a bit to much at the local establishment where the office folks were gathered. Of course, the enevitable occurred ... she crashed into someone while driving home ... inury & property damage. Of course everyone was sued. Paraphrasing the decision, - her "employer" was held jointly responsible for damages by the court for not providing her with a taxi home ... reasonably knowing that staff would be consuming alcohol !!! ( So much for being responsible & your own liquor control board )
 
By Federal law all gun clubs must have two million dollars primary liabilty insurance.

Wether the directors are cover by primary or secondary coverage depends on the insurance policy. The CSSA offers primary coverage, wich is what you want before even considering becoming a director or executive. Ask your club to see the actual policy, they are required to show the policy to the membership.

The CSSA is the least expensive insurance around for any club. Contact Larry at the CSSA for addional info. Supervised guest are covered under their policy. I beleive Cowan is the insurance company, but I'm not 100% sure.
 
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Grouseman :

Ask the hard question at the Club you shoot at ... do they in fact have the sort of coverage "happiness... " is talking about. Does your Club ask your guests to sign a waiver ???

Are you taking these people out shooting on company time ? As part of their employment ? Paying for their rounds & targets with the Company plastic ???

If you're (collectively) just there on your own, after business hours, on your own hook, what's it got to do with where you all work ???
 
It is after work hours, not part of employment, I'm not their boss, it's their own dollar, it was their decision to come, etc. Nothing could construe this as related to the company, other than the single common denominator that we all work together.

But I did email the club directly for an answer. Will post when they respond.
 
GM:

Don't think I'd be too worried about it, but would feel more comfortable if the Club did have something like the CSSA package and used a waiver for members guests.

Read many of your posts before ... I would guess a modicum of safe gun handling always goes with the clay shooting instruction for your guests.
I know it does with mine. Also been known to buy blaze orange for my upland gunning companions on occassion too ! Those little patches of blaze on some shirts and vests just ain't enough sometimes when you're in the early season thick stuff !
 
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