Insurance???

[Micsoar]

My question is, has anyone every been sued for negligence involving a non commercial glider accident? I am newer to the sport, mostly powered time, and I know that has problems. I know we all are paying tons for insurance, just in case we're the 1st, but it seems to me that paying as much for insurance as I will for tows next year is a bit ridiculous.

[Eric Greenwell[_4_]]

Micsoar wrote on 7/25/2015 2:55 PM:
> My question is, has anyone every been sued for negligence involving a
> non commercial glider accident? I am newer to the sport, mostly
> powered time, and I know that has problems. I know we all are paying
> tons for insurance, just in case we're the 1st, but it seems to me
> that paying as much for insurance as I will for tows next year is a
> bit ridiculous.

Are you asking about liability insurance for recreational pilots? That
is usually very cheap, typically less the $200. It's the hull insurance
that is costly. It costs me $1600 to insure my ASH 26E motorglider (hull
+ liability), and that does not seem like "tons"!

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"

https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications/download-the-guide-1
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Dec 2014a" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm

http://soaringsafety.org/prevention/Guide-to-transponders-in-sailplanes-2014A.pdf

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

On Saturday, July 25, 2015 at 5:56:02 PM UTC-4, Micsoar wrote:
> My question is, has anyone every been sued for negligence involving a non commercial glider accident? I am newer to the sport, mostly powered time, and I know that has problems. I know we all are paying tons for insurance, just in case we're the 1st, but it seems to me that paying as much for insurance as I will for tows next year is a bit ridiculous.

I will echo EG a bit...... are you talking for yourself/your sailplane, or doing commercial rides and/or instruction (assuming all are gliders/sailplanes), rental/leaseback?

For a "low timer" in a "owned, not loaned/leased back" low performance sailplane, it can be sorta cheap (it's insurance, what is it worth to you?).
As the hull and/or options go up, the risk goes up.
Let's say you have a $250,000 US sailplane that you rent/lease back to a club/commercial operation, the insurance goes up due to:
-Potential hull loss/damage
-Who is flying

[[email protected]]

I was asking how many times a glider pilot has been sued because of an accident?

[joesimmers[_2_]]

Eric, who is your carrier?

That sounds like a great deal for a ship
with the value of yours.

[Bill T]

Anyone can be sued, even if you are not there. The insurance serves two purposes, to pay the bill if needed, and to fight to not pay the bill if you are not at fault. They are saving their own dollars. No insurance, no representation in court unless you are paying your own way.

[Eric Greenwell[_4_]]

joesimmers wrote on 7/25/2015 6:20 PM:
> Eric, who is your carrier?
>
> That sounds like a great deal for a ship
> with the value of yours.

Costello, and the glider is insured for $110,000, $1 million liability.
Premiums are $1440 and $160, respectively.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"

https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications/download-the-guide-1
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Dec 2014a" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm

http://soaringsafety.org/prevention/Guide-to-transponders-in-sailplanes-2014A.pdf

[Chris Rollings[_2_]]

Not sure about the USA, in the UK it is not unusual for non-profit member
owned clubs to be sued for negligence by one of their members following an
accident in which he/she was injured. I'm sure there must have been cases
of negligence brought by third parties on the ground and by passengers in
privately owned and operated gliders but I can't actually name such
instances. British Gliding Association rules have always required
liability insurance, more recently (about 10 years ago) EASA legislation
made it a legal requirement.

At 21:55 25 July 2015, Micsoar wrote:
>My question is, has anyone every been sued for negligence involving a non
>c=
>ommercial glider accident? I am newer to the sport, mostly powered time,
>a=
>nd I know that has problems. I know we all are paying tons for
insurance,
>=
>just in case we're the 1st, but it seems to me that paying as much for
>insu=
>rance as I will for tows next year is a bit ridiculous.
>

[Andy Blackburn[_3_]]

I am only aware of lawsuits involving manufacturers. Generally they are the more attractive targets for torts due to a perception of deeper pockets and an inclination to settle in order to protect the firm's reputation.

I remember being peripherally involved in a case where a fellow got drunk and decided (despite zero piloting experience) that he wanted to fly his friend's single seat ultralight. He ended up dead. The lawyer for his widow was mostly interested in whether there might be some defect in the aircraft that made it dangerous for non-pilots to fly. (I'm not making this up).

Of course that doesn't mean a lawsuit against an individual hasn't happened - or can't happen. If there is injury or property damage, expect that someone will be asked to pay. The deeper your pockets the more likely that someone will be you.

I recommend carrying insurance if you have any assets you care about keeping.

Andy
9B