Recent posts about the S2KCA mentioned that people can sue the organizer of a group drive and the insurance from S2KCA can handle that.

I "organized" (more like initiated) several group drives for the Bay Area group last year. Glad we didn't cause any liability issues in them. But will I in trouble if something happened?

Does this liability issue only apply to a registered/incorporated group like S2KCA?Bay Area group is an informal group. I don't think we are incorporated or registered in any sense. Usually, someone post events and then people come out. Much like how it works among friends.

In the same token, if I suggested my friends to go out and have a drive together and then something bad happened. Will I be liable?

I really want to know more about how this thing works because we might have other drives in the near future.

Thanks for your time.

 

S2KCA guys can explain the details of the policy and what it takes to get coverage for an event.

It is good you are looking into it, a mistake can turn into a lawsuit or even a tragedy of personal injury. I have seen antics that an organizer cannot control like speeding on residential streets, passing on hills and blind corners, and competitions on public roads.

An accident could turn into a serious problem for not only those involved but for the organizers of the event. I leave it to the lawyers to tell you what situations are the largest risk and what kind of liability insurance you would need to cover yourself, but I can assure you it is not the kind you buy for your car.

 

On the other hand, relax. Life is full of bad stuff that might happen but probably won't.

 

Can someone in S2KCA shed some light in this subject?

It might give me incentives to join S2KCA btw.

 

You have tapped into one of the reasons a national/incorporated entity that carries this kind of policy is such a valuable thing for local clubs and affiliates.

The nature of the liability policy is this. If an accident occurs on a drive, autox, track day or any other kind of S2KCA sponsored activity, and someone decides to try to sue you as a result, as an organizer of said event, you are covered. If you are a participant, it's likely that you would be covered, but it's not a given. There are criteria, that I don't have in front of me, that need to be met before particpants are covered by this policy. In our case, the carrier is K&K Insurance...they carry many national club's insurance and really know their stuff. Our policy is a 1 million dollar one.

EDIT...it's a 1 million dollar policy, not 2.

It's going to be more expensive this year, due to a a number of factors, we will have to see how this affects us. And this is not to be confused with your garden variety insurance...it doesn't cover any damage to anyone's car. That is the responsibility of the driver...not this policy.

I have always thought this was a very important aspect of the organization, as yea, something like this won't happen often...but it sure adds a huge measure of confidence and the way that I have seen some of the drives take place, there is a lot of risk out there (something that we don't encourage) and thereby only increases the chances that something bad would happen and then someone tries to sue you...people in this country sue others at the drop of a hat, protecting yourself is your first line of defense.

To me, at least, it's great thing to have. And hopefully, will never be used...

 

Can a lawyer please jump in here and explain this. It is my understanding that if a group of people make arrangements to spontaneously meet and participate in a group activity that the only one liable for damages caused as a result (assuming the activity is a legal one, otherwise it's conspiracy) would be the participant responsible for the damage and not the organizer or other participants.

Please help clarify this.

 

That would be great. And also how does the issue of whether a fee or transaction was involved affect liability?

 

umvue, the next time you orgainze a group drive, tell people that you are going to go a particular route and if someone wants to follow, it's their decision. And if you are meeting people at a starting point, make sure you let them know you are going "this" direction, and if they can follow if they want, but you are not leading.

 

I am contacting our carrier and asking about where the "line" is between a bunch of people going for a drive and an event where organizers could be held liable for "bad things."

I suspect that it lies somewhere in the "formality" of the drive and the organization (planning) behind it.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gilcwong
[B]umvue,