Buy Ambulance Services Insurance

Ambulance Services Insurance Policy Information

Ambulance Services Insurance. If you operate an ambulance service, the community you serve literally relies on you in life-and-death situations. That's a pretty major task and one that has to be handled properly and responsibly.

Despite making sure that everything is running smoothly and that your services are benefiting the community, there is always a chance that something could go wrong.

Ambulance services provide medical assistance and transportation services to ill or injured persons. The service may be part of an emergency response unit, such as a firefighting team, that provides immediate first aid at the site of an incident in addition to transportation. Other ambulance services provide patient transport between hospitals or other medical or convalescent facilities for non-urgent care.

Ambulances are equipped with sirens and flashing lights to alert other drivers of their presence on the road. Services may be municipally owned and funded through taxes, nonprofit organizations staffed by volunteers, or for-profit operations. The crew generally includes a driver and one or more emergency medical technicians (EMT) or paramedics.

Private services may provide a registered nurse (RN) or a doctor during patient transport. While ambulance services primarily transport patients by motor vehicles, some will have boats or helicopters available for situations that cannot be handled using public roads.

As the owner and operate as an ambulance service, you are responsible for any issues that may arise; be it an employee injury, a slip and fall accident, equipment breakdown, or an accident with one of your ambulances. In order to protect yourself from the unexpected, you need to invest in the right type of ambulance services insurance coverage.

Below, you'll find out why it's crucial for ambulance services to be insured - and what type of coverage you'll need to carry.

Ambulance services insurance protects your medical transport business from lawsuits with rates as low as $67/mo. Get a fast quote and your certificate of insurance now.

Below are some answers to commonly asked ambulance insurance questions:

• What Is Ambulance Services Insurance?
• How Much Does Ambulance Services Insurance Cost?
• Why Do Ambulance Services Need Insurance?
• What Type Of Insurance Do Ambulance Services Need?
• What Does Ambulance Services Insurance Cover & Pay For?

Why Do Ambulance Services Need Insurance?

Ambulance services are essential in providing emergency medical care to individuals in need. These services play a critical role in saving lives and ensuring that patients receive timely and appropriate care. As a result, ambulance services need insurance to protect themselves and their patients from financial and legal liability.

One of the main reasons that ambulance services need insurance is to protect against medical malpractice. Ambulance providers are responsible for ensuring that patients receive the best possible care, and if a mistake is made, they could be held liable for damages. Insurance can help cover the costs of legal fees, settlements, and judgments in the event of a lawsuit.

Another reason that ambulance services need insurance is to protect against property damage. Ambulance services often use specialized vehicles and equipment that can be costly to repair or replace in the event of an accident. Insurance can help cover these costs, allowing the ambulance service to continue providing care to patients without interruption.

Insurance can also help protect ambulance services from financial losses caused by natural disasters, such as floods, fires, or hurricanes. These events can cause significant damage to ambulance vehicles and equipment, and insurance can help cover the costs of repairs or replacement.

Overall, ambulance services need insurance to protect themselves from financial and legal liability. It helps to cover the costs of medical malpractice, property damage, and financial losses caused by natural disasters, ensuring that the ambulance service can continue providing vital care to patients.

Ambulance Service's Risks & Exposures

Premises liability exposure is limited due to the lack of public access to the office and garage. If fundraisers or other special events are held on premises, visitors may slip and fall. Visiting children should be supervised by parents or teachers. The off-premises exposure in working with patients is more severe but would normally be covered under professional or automobile liability.

Property damage claims may arise from patients or family members accusing workers of damaging property or stealing money, jewelry or other valuables, either at their homes or during transport. Workers should document all items found with a patient and obtain a signature from the patient or relative to verify its accuracy.

Personal injury exposures may include allegations of assault or battery, discrimination, and invasion of privacy.

Professional liability exposures are high for medical malpractice due to the services provided at the site of an emergency and during transport of patients to medical facilities. The exposure increases if the ambulance service fails to conduct thorough background checks to verify employees' credentials, education, and licensing. Certifications must be kept current.

Employees must treat patients only within the constraints of their training and certification. There must be regular training on the proper use of all medical equipment. Needles and other equipment must be sterilized and sanitized between uses to prevent the spread of blood-borne infectious diseases.

There should be a clear-cut chain of command in responding to emergencies. Response times should be monitored as the ambulance service may be sued for failing to administer emergency care in a timely manner.

Workers compensation exposure can be severe due to interactions with patients. Gloves and masks should be worn at all times when working around any bodily fluids to prevent the possible transmission of disease from a patient. Vaccinations should be current. Injuries from lifting patients are common.

Backup assistance should be required when lifting and transporting, particularly when patients are obese. Unruly or unpredictable patients can cause harm including strains, back injuries, and contusions. Cuts and puncture wounds may be caused by the use of sharp equipment such as scalpels or needles. Responding to emergency situations may expose workers to violence or toxic chemicals.

Workers should be trained to deal with uncooperative patients, relatives, and other bystanders. Workers may slip or fall on slick or icy surfaces. Safety equipment should be provided, and procedures in place for decontaminating soiled equipment and supplies.

Driving at high speeds through congested areas or on rugged terrains increases the exposure to injuries from accidents. Repair facilities can result in cuts from auto repair tools, burns from welding, and respiratory ailments from inhalation of fuels and other contaminants.

Proper safety equipment should be provided. Due to the high physical and emotional demands of the job, all workers should be examined periodically. Pre-employment physicals, including psychological evaluation, should be required.

Property exposures are limited to electrical, heating and cooling systems at the dispatching office. Garages used for storing ambulances increase the exposure, particularly if the vehicles are serviced and fueled on premises.

Oxygen tanks stored on premises or in vehicles must be regularly checked for leaks, and stored upright away from any heat source, such as heating or cooking equipment or the sun. Smoking should be prohibited.

Inland marine exposures include accounts receivables for billings to insurers and other guarantors, computers, mobile medical equipment, communication devices, and supplies needed to care for patients during transport, and valuable papers and records for patient and supplier information.

All data must be duplicated and kept off site for easy replication in the event of a loss. There may be a bailees exposure for property belonging to patients.

Crime exposure is from burglary, robbery, and employee dishonesty. Pharmaceuticals and other medical equipment are in high demand. If the ambulance service is not attended 24 hours each day, there must be appropriate protective systems including physical barriers to prevent entrance to the premises after hours and an alarm system that reports directly to a central station or the police department.

Background checks, including criminal history, should be performed on all employees handling medical supply inventories or money. There must be a separation of duties between persons handling deposits, billing, ordering, disbursements, and reconciling bank statements. Outside audits should be conducted on a regular basis.

Commercial auto exposure is very high as a timely response is critical in an emergency situation. Ambulance runs may require travel on congested streets to residential areas with children present. While drivers may legally exceed speed limits or drive through red lights in an effort to get an ill or injured patient to a hospital quickly, all vehicles should be equipped with proper signage, flashing lights, and sirens to warn other drivers of their presence.

Drivers must verify that other vehicles are stopped before driving through an intersection. Patients should be properly secured to prevent additional injury during transport. All drivers must have valid licenses for the vehicles being driven. MVRs must be checked on a regular basis. Drivers must participate in regular training activities in order to maintain skills.

Vehicles must be maintained, and records kept of the maintenance. Should a vehicle be damaged in an accident, obtaining a replacement vehicle outfitted with the proper medical equipment is expensive.

What Does Ambulance Services Insurance Cover & Pay For?

Ambulance services can be sued for a variety of reasons, some of which include:

Negligence: Ambulance services can be sued for negligence if they fail to provide the necessary medical attention or care to a patient. This could include errors in medication administration, misdiagnosis, or failing to provide timely treatment.
Insurance can protect ambulance services against negligence claims by providing professional liability coverage. This coverage can help pay for legal expenses, settlements, and judgments resulting from a negligence claim.

Wrongful death: If a patient dies while under the care of an ambulance service, the service may be sued for wrongful death. This could occur if the ambulance service is found to have provided inadequate care, made mistakes during transportation, or failed to respond promptly to a medical emergency.
Insurance can help protect ambulance services against wrongful death claims by providing coverage for legal expenses, settlements, and judgments. This coverage can help pay for the costs associated with defending against a wrongful death claim.

Motor vehicle accidents: Ambulance services may be sued if one of their vehicles is involved in a motor vehicle accident. This could occur if the ambulance driver is found to have been negligent, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, or texting while driving.
Insurance can help protect ambulance services against motor vehicle accident claims by providing coverage for property damage, bodily injury, and legal expenses. This coverage can help pay for the costs associated with repairing or replacing damaged vehicles, medical expenses for injured parties, and legal expenses associated with defending against a lawsuit.

Patient transport issues: Ambulance services can be sued for patient transport issues, such as dropping a patient or failing to secure them properly during transportation. This could result in injuries to the patient and a subsequent lawsuit.
Insurance can help protect ambulance services against patient transport claims by providing coverage for medical expenses, legal expenses, and settlements or judgments. This coverage can help pay for the costs associated with defending against a lawsuit and any damages awarded to the plaintiff.

In summary, insurance can help protect ambulance services against a variety of claims by providing coverage for legal expenses, settlements, and judgments. By having the right insurance coverage in place, ambulance services can be better prepared to respond to potential lawsuits and protect their financial interests.

Commercial Insurance And Business Industry Classification

• SIC CODE: 4119 Local Passenger Transportation, Not Elsewhere Classified
• NAICS CODE: 621910 Ambulance Services
• Suggested Workers Compensation Code(s): 7705 Ambulance Service Companies and EMS (Emergency Medical Service) Providers & Drivers, 8385 Automobile - Rental Co. - Garage Employees

4119: Local Passenger Transportation, Not Elsewhere Classified

Division E: Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services | Major Group 41: Local And Suburban Transit And Interurban Highway Passenger Transportation | Industry Group 411: Local And Suburban Passenger Transportation

4119 Local Passenger Transportation, Not Elsewhere Classified: Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing miscellaneous passenger transportation, where such operations are principally within a municipality, contiguous municipalities, or a municipality and its suburban areas. Establishments primarily engaged in renting passenger automobiles without drivers are classified in Services, Industry Group 751. Establishments primarily operating ski lifts, tows, and other recreational lifts are classified in Services, Industry 7999.

• Aerial tramways, except amusement and scenic
• Ambulance service, road
• Automobile rental with drivers
• Cable cars, aerial: except amusement and scenic
• Cog railways, except amusement and scenic
• Hearse rental with drivers
• Limousine rental with drivers
• Sight-seeing buses
• Vanpool operation

Ambulance Services Insurance - The Bottom Line

To find out more about the specific types of ambulance services insurance policies you'll need, how much coverage your business should carry - speak with a reputable commercial insurance broker.

Additional Resources For Commercial Auto Insurance

Learn about small business commercial auto insurance which includes liability and physical damage protection for vehicles that are used for business purposes.

• Insurance Automotive Terms Glossary
• Amazon Delivery Drivers
• Ambulance Services
• Big Rig Truck
• Bobtail Non-Trucking Liability
• Charter And Tour Bus
• Commercial Auto
• Commercial Auto Liability
• Commercial Electric Vehicle Insurance
• Commercial Van
• DoorDash, GrubHub & Uber Eats Drivers
• Dump Truck
• Food Truck
• Freight Forwarder
• Household Goods Moving
• Limousine
• Motor Truck Cargo
• Non-Owned And Hired Auto Liability
• Owner Operator
• Pizza Delivery
• Repossession
• Taxi
• Tow Truck
• Truck
• Specialty Automobiles, Trucks And Recreational Vehicles
• Specialty Physical Damage

Commercial auto insurance is a type of insurance that provides coverage for vehicles used for business purposes. This includes vehicles such as delivery trucks, company cars, and other vehicles that are used to transport goods or employees.

Commercial auto insurance is necessary for businesses that rely on their vehicles to conduct their operations. It helps to protect the business from financial losses due to accidents, theft, or other unexpected events. It also helps to protect the business from potential lawsuits that may arise from accidents involving their vehicles.

There are several types of coverage options available under business auto insurance policies. These include:

• Liability coverage, which covers damages or injuries that you or your employees cause to others while operating a business vehicle.
• Physical damage coverage, which covers damages to your own vehicle, is also available.
• Other coverage options may include medical payments, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, and rental reimbursement.

It is important for businesses to carefully consider their commercial auto insurance needs and to choose a policy that offers the right level of coverage. This can help to ensure that the business is protected in the event of an accident or other unexpected event.

Minimum recommended small business insurance coverage: Building, Business Personal Property, Business Income and Extra Expense, Accounts Receivables, Computers, Motor Truck Cargo, Valuable Papers and Records, Employee Dishonesty, Money and Securities, General Liability, Employee Benefits, Umbrella, Motor Carriers Liability and Physical Damage, Hired and Non-owned Auto & Workers Compensation.

Other commercial insurance policies to consider: Earthquake, Flood, Mobile Equipment, Signs, Warehouse Operators' Legal Liability, Cyber Liability, Employment-related Practices, Environmental Impairment, Underground Storage Tank, Stop Gap Liability and International Coverages.