What Type of Insurance Does an Interpreter Need?

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Lost in Translation: What Liability Risks Do Interpreters Face?

In a word, many. Here are a few common liability risks interpreters and translators face daily:

• Errors, mistakes, and oversights: An interpreter’s mistakes and omissions can lead to financial losses, misunderstandings, or adverse consequences for their customers. 

• Inaccurate translations: Misinterpretation or inaccurate translations of information can result in misunderstandings, miscommunications, or harm to individuals or companies involved.

• Privacy violations: Unauthorized disclosure of confidential or sensitive information shared during interpretation sessions, even accidentally, is a violation of your customer’s privacy and security.

• Legal and regulatory compliance: An interpreter who fails to adhere to industry, provincial, or federal regulations, ethical standards, or legal requirements governing the practice of interpretation can result in significant financial and professional damages.

• Data breaches: Using technology means there’s always a risk of data breaches, cyber-attacks leading to unauthorized access by others to confidential discussions, or disruptions during remote interpretation sessions.

Should any of the above happen, the interpreter will likely be sued for damages. To offset that risk, interpreters and translators should have a comprehensive errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy.

What Does an Interpreter’s or Translator’s Insurance Policy Include?

Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is essential for interpreters and translators. Also called professional liability insurance, E&O insurance covers professional negligence related to translation services, mistakes in your work, and failing to deliver a service as promised.

However, a comprehensive policy might include other types of insurance to provide an interpreter with well-rounded protection. For example:

• Cyber liability insurance helps cover the costs of dealing with and recovering from a data breach or cyber-attack that exposes your and your customers’ confidential data.

• General liability insurance covers third-party bodily injury or property damage claims if a customer is injured or their property is damaged while visiting your office or while you are visiting theirs.

• Commercial property insurance covers the cost of damages and losses to your business property and its contents if damaged by fire, water, a natural disaster, vandalism or if stolen following a break-and-enter.

• Business interruption insurance pays for your translation business’s overhead costs if you’re forced to close temporarily for repairs following an insurable loss, like a fire. Business interruption insurance may be included in commercial property. If it isn’t, you can add it to your policy.

• Commercial auto insurance covers the cost of damages to your business’s vehicle or any vehicle used for business purposes if involved in a car accident.

How to Get Affordable Interpreter Insurance Quickly

Here’s some straight talk: get the customized low-cost E&O insurance coverage your interpretation and translation company needs quickly and easily from Zensurance.

Take a few minutes to complete our online application for a free quote. We’ll shop the market to get the affordable policy you need, tailor it to suit your requirements and ensure you have the right coverage to address your liability risks.