consult
X

Request a Free Consultation

Please fill out the form below and we will be in touch soon.

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY

Blog Home

Types of Insurance Every FL Helicopter Should Carry
Posted By:

Types of Insurance Every FL Helicopter Should Carry

 

Flying a helicopter is fun and takes a lot of skill, but it’s also risky. That’s why it’s essential to have the right kinds of insurance policy coverage.

 

Take a helicopter that went down in Miami recently. The crash injured the pilot — luckily he wasn’t killed. This is the type of risk you take each time you strap into a helicopter, though, whether it’s for business or pleasure.

 

If you’re not sure what is needed when it comes to insurance for Florida helicopters, or what optional insurance policies best suit your need, then you’re not alone. Insurance is complex but it’s also necessary.

 

Understand the risks that riding in a helicopter poses, and read on to learn the different types of insurance every Florida helicopter pilot should carry.

 

Common Causes of Florida Helicopter Accidents

 

There are three major categories of causes when it comes to most helicopter accidents. Crashes and subsequent injuries are typically caused by an operational error, a mechanical malfunction, or an electrical malfunction. Let’s take a closer look at what each of those means.

 

Operational Error

 

Operational error is an issue of human error. These errors can impact the flight planning, training, maintenance, or conduct of the flight. This includes actions such as failing to operate the helicopter in accordance with its operational limitation, failing to properly plan the flight, and the improper training of maintenance and flight personnel.

 

Mechanical Malfunction

 

This is when a part of the helicopter fails to function as it should or fails altogether. This can happen at any point due to issues such as faulty manufacture, improper design, or improper use.

 

Electrical Malfunction

 

This occurs when an electrical source in the helicopter stops working. It can also happen when one of the components of the electrical system suffers a malfunction such as an electrical short, inadequate design, and inadequate monitoring during operation.

 

Insurance Policies FL Helicopter Pilots Should Consider

 

Insurance Policies FL Helicopter Pilots Should Consider

 

Helicopters are popular because they can take you places other forms of transportation simply cannot. If you run a business with your helicopter in a starring role, then it’s vital to have the right type of insurance to protect your assets as well as your investments.

 

General Liability Insurance

 

All businesses face risks, which is why all businesses must have insurance. One of the most common types of insurance you’ll read about is general liability insurance, a type of comprehensive policy business owners invest in.

 

General liability insurance covers items such as:

 

  • Property damage
  • Legal defense
  • Bodily injury
  • Medical payments
  • Personal and advertising injury

It’s not required in Florida to have general liability insurance on an aircraft, but it’s a good idea to invest in it because of the risks associated with helicopters.

 

If you are ever sued and do not have general liability insurance, then you could end up facing the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees. When sufficient general liability insurance is carried, then it can help you to avoid financial ruin.

 

Commercial Property Insurance

 

Another type of insurance helicopter owner and operator should carry is commercial property insurance. This type of insurance helps to protect your investments in equipment, such as helicopters.

 

If there is a theft, a fire, or even a natural disaster and your insured property is covered, then your belongings will be replaced or repaired – including structural damage to any buildings or ground you have for your helicopters.

 

Hull Insurance

 

Hull insurance is sort of like car insurance, but for helicopters. Hull insurance is meant to help protect the owners of helicopters from damage or loss of the craft.

 

The only thing to be mindful of when it comes to hull insurance is that there are often policy limits attached that will pay out an agreed value. You should be careful never to under- or overvalue your craft.

 

Commercial Umbrella Insurance

 

A general liability policy will help to cover most claims, lawsuits, and accidents that occur, but some actions can be so devastating that they can exhaust the limits of a general liability policy. This is where commercial umbrella insurance comes into play.

 

This type of insurance protects you from out-of-pocket costs that can be associated with an accident or claim against you if they exceed your primary policy.

 

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

 

If you run a business associated with your helicopter and have employees, then you should get workers’ compensation insurance. This type of insurance can help to protect your employees if they injure themselves at work.

 

It covers lost wages, medical bills, and disability and death benefits that may be associated with an accident in the workplace.

 

South Florida Helicopter Accident Attorney

 

Protecting what’s yours is important. After all, you invest your money in the things you own and should be covered in case of an accident or other catastrophic event. Always make sure your insurance provides the coverage you need.

 

 

About the Author:

 

Andrew Winston is a partner at the personal injury law firm of Winston Law. For over 20 years, he has successfully represented countless people in all kinds of personal injury cases, with a particular focus on child injury, legal malpractice, and premises liability. He has been recognized for excellence in the representation of injured clients by admission to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and named one of America’s Top 100 High-Stakes Litigators. Mr. Winston is AV Preeminent Rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, enjoys a 10.0 rating by AVVO as a Top Personal Injury Attorney, has been selected as a Florida “SuperLawyer” from 2011-2020 – an honor reserved for the top 5% of lawyers in the state – was voted to Florida Trend’s ”Legal Elite,” recognized by Expertise as one of the 20 Best Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys, named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the Miami area for 2015-2017, and one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Florida for 2015-2017 and 2019.

 

 

 

 

Categories
AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

SUPER LAWYERS 10 YEARS

TOP RATED PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER IN DAVIE FL
2011-2023

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

SUPER LAWYERS FLORIDA TOP 100

FLORIDA TOP 100 LAWYERS
2015-2017, 2019-2023

Super Lawyers magazine features the list and profiles of selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the state or region and the ABA-approved law school libraries.

AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

SUPER LAWYERS MIAMI TOP 100

MIAMI TOP 100 LAWYERS
2015-2017, 2019-2023

Super Lawyers magazine features the list and profiles of selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the state or region and the ABA-approved law school libraries.

AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

FLORIDA TREND’S

FLORIDA LEGAL ELITE
2011-2023

Now in its 13th year, Florida Legal Elite presents a prestigious roster of attorneys chosen for recognition by their peers.

AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

MILLION DOLLAR ADVOCATES FORUM
LIFETIME MEMBER

THE TOP TRIAL LAWYERS IN AMERICA ®

ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS GROUPS OF TRIAL LAWYERS IN THE UNITED STATES. MEMBERSHIP IS LIMITED TO ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE WON MILLION AND MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS.

AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

EXPERTISE BEST CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS 2023

BEST CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS IN FORT LAUDERDALE
2016-2023

Our goal is to be a hub where qualified experts can connect with people to share their knowledge, experience, and skills.

AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

EXPERTISE BEST PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS IN FORT LAUDERDALE 2023

BEST PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS IN FORT LAUDERDALE
2016-2023

Our goal is to be a hub where qualified experts can connect with people to share their knowledge, experience, and skills.

AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

MARTINDALE-HUBBELL AV PREEMINENT

AV PREEMINENT
2016-2023

For more than 130 years, Martindale-Hubbell has been evaluating attorneys for their strong legal ability and high ethical standards through a Peer Review Rating system. Prior to the 1887 edition of Martindale’s American Law Directory, which was the first publication to provide such ratings to attorneys, there was no way of truly knowing if the lawyer you were considering to do business with was trustworthy, ethical, or skilled in the legal field.

AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

AMERICAS TOP 100 HIGH STAKES LITIGATORS 2022

2018-2023

Selection to America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® is by invitation only and is comprised of the nation’s most exceptional trial lawyers for high stakes legal matters. For initial consideration, an attorney must have successfully litigated (for either plaintiff or defendant) a matter (1) with at least $2,000,000 in alleged damages at stake or (2) with the fate of a business worth at least $2,000,000 at stake (i.e. bet-the-company litigation valued in excess of $2,000,000).

AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

LAWYERS OF DISTINCTION

LAWYERS OF
DISTINCTION

Lawyers of Distinction members have been selected based upon a review and vetting process from our Selection Committee. After a thorough review of credentials, attorneys are nominated by our Selection Committee. Lawyers do not pay for this nomination. These potential candidates who meet the criteria of our screening process have demonstrated a high degree of peer recognition and professional competence

AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

AVVO

TOP ATTORNEY PERSONAL INJURY
10.00
SUPERB

Avvo was founded in Seattle, Washington by tech-savvy lawyer Mark Britton to make legal easier and help people find a lawyer.

AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

LEAD COUNSEL

LEAD COUNSEL
RATED

Since 1997, the Lead Counsel Rating has been available for free to attorneys who have demonstrated the following three requirements:

Professional Experience
Peer Recommendations
Spotless Record

See More Results