A Personal Accident policy is in place for all types of individual membership of the BDA, except registered users. More information on what is covered is available on the Personal Accident section of this website.
Insurance covers included
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- Liability Insurance
- Personal Accident Benefits
The liability insurance you receive protects you if you are held responsible and are negligent for causing injury to a third party or have caused damage to a third party’s property. Cover applies during official, recognised and approved training, competitions and related events of the BDA.
If you wish to race and be covered by the Liability Insurance you will need to be a BDA individual member.
With effect from 1 January 2024 the insurance policy is placed with Hiscox Underwriting Ltd.
Policy Number: PSC10003389286
Cover provided includes:
- Public Liability £10,000,000 limit – each and every claim or loss, excluding defence costs and criminal proceedings costs. Accidental bodily injury to third parties and/or damage to third party property arising out of the insured activities.
- Employers Liability £10,000,000 limit – Protection for damages and legal costs arising out of death or bodily injury caused to employees or volunteers in the course of their engagement with the club.
- Professional Indemnity £10,000,000 limit – cover for negligent acts, errors or omissions in respect of a professional opinion, including injury following tuition, advice, coaching or instruction, against claims made during the period of insurance.
- Directors and Officers (Management Liability) £10,000,000 limit – Protects an individual’s personal liability arising from actions in their capacity as a director, officer or trustee, against claims made during the period of insurance for a wrongful act.
- Abuse £2,500,000 limit – Protection for damages awarded against the club committee for physical or mental abuse allegations, made during the period of insurance.
Please note a Third Party Property Damage Excess of £500, Professional indemnity excess of £500 and Products Liability excess of £250 applies.
The BDA has arranged personal accident cover for its BDA individual members which includes the following benefits:
- Accidental death £10,000
- Permanent total disablement £50,000
- Temporary total disablement £50 per week, max 52 weeks, 7 days excess period
- Temporary partial disablement £25 per week, max 52 weeks, 7 days excess period
- Broken Bones: Arm (Humerus, Radius & Ulna) or Wrist (Carpals) - £250. Leg (Femur, Tibia, Fibula), Ankle (Tarsals) or Kneecap (Patella) - £250. Skull (excluding jaw and nose), Collar bone (Clavicle), Shoulder Blade (Scapula) - £250. Up to a maximum of £500 any one claim.
- Medical expenses up to £10,000
- Coma £50 per day max 730 days
- Hospitalisation £50 per day up to £750
- Dental expenses £50 per day up to £750.
About Marsh Sport
Marsh Sport is a specialist division of Marsh Ltd with dedicated teams across the UK offering insurance broking and risk management advice to the world of sport.
Our clients' activities extend across the world of sport from the largest professional organisations in the UK, including some of the best known names, right through to grassroots level.
If you have any queries about the insurance arranged for the British Dragon Boat Racing Association or require additional insurance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Need to make a claim?
It is important that all incidents that may give rise to a claim, however minor, are reported to Marsh Sport as soon as possible after the event.
Frequently asked questions
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- Individuals FAQs
- Coaches FAQs
- Clubs FAQs
If you are taking part as an individual in an event that isn't a BDA event and isn't with your club then you will need to confirm with the BDA first.
The Public Liability insurance covers Members whilst they are participating for their clubs at club/BDA sanctioned events, whether these are abroad or in the UK. However this is not a travel policy and does not cover medical expenses while abroad, lost baggage etc. A separate travel insurance policy will be required, which can be purchased via Marsh Sport on 0345 872 5060.
No. Unless you are taking part in a BDA sanctioned club or GB team event.
Public Liability Insurance is provided for Day Membership, but only for that specific event.
Activities that are organised by the club for training for the sport are covered. That includes team gym or 01 sessions. It also includes training in an O1 outside of a club session. For more details go to the Membership section of the BDA website.
No, the insurance in place for the BDA and affiliated clubs does not include cover for equipment. You can purchase additional insurance to cover equipment via our insurance brokers, Marsh Sport on 0345 872 5060.
The Personal Accident policy offers some benefits to all membership types, except "registered users", in the event medical treatment is needed. Please review the Personal Accident section on this website. If you have been injured and would like find out if you are entitled to any benefits please contact Marsh Sport on 0345 872 5060.
Yes. If you are resident in the UK and take part in training and events as a GB paddler with the GB team then you are covered. If you are not resident in the UK the insurance doesn't apply. It should be noted that if you are travelling abroad the insurance does not cover travel or personal belongings so you will need to consider insurance for that.
The BDA policy includes Public Liability cover for coaching launches accompanying club training sessions.
The insurance cover isn't location specific, i.e. a club is insured if they are participating at their own location, or for example at another club's premises.
If Coaches are operating before they have taken out their BDA membership then there's no insurance cover in place, as they have not affiliated.
Coaches are provided with Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance whilst coaching within the remit of their qualifications for the BDA and affiliated clubs. The BDA Water Policy outlines the level of coaching qualifications required.
Coaches are only covered whilst coaching for clubs or within the BDA and must be a valid BDA member. They will automatically be a coaching BDA member. If you require more details please go to the BDA website membership section.
GB coaches running sessions as part of the BDA entries to international competitions are insured in the same manner as club coaches.
No. The BDA has cyber insurance to protect our website and membership database from any cyber-attacks, but that does not extend to clubs. If clubs wish to take out a cyber policy, they can do so by contacting our insurance brokers, Marsh Sport on 0345 872 5060.
Clubs are advised if and when they undertake to train, instruct or familiarise non BDA crews that they should do so in accordance with the guidelines set in BDA Policies. When carrying out said activity they will be covered by the Combined Liability insurance up to a £10m limit of indemnity.
Clubs should always be mindful that they are dealing with novices and maybe some children or vulnerable adults, and therefore all recognised safety procedures must be strictly adhered to.
The crews under instruction should be asked to sign a disclaimer to acknowledge that they have received a safety briefing and understand the explained rules given. Any deviation from the BDA safety procedures may result in prejudicing an insurance claim should an accident occur during a training session. All training must be under the supervision of a suitably qualified BDA coach.
The BDA insurance policy includes Public Liability cover up to a £10m limit of indemnity for coaching launches accompanying club training sessions.
Yes, the BDA Directors and Officers insurance protects the individual club committee members' personal liability if they are sued in their own name. It is important the BDA are aware of your current committee members through the BDA membership platform or the insurance may be invalid.
If clubs do not follow the rules, regulations and policies set out by the BDA potential claims may be rejected.
Clubs are insured for running taster sessions, up to a maximum of 4 per prospective member is permitted. By the 4th session they should have a good idea whether they wish to join, and be encouraged to join the BDA and therefore be insured going forwards. We ask that records be kept of who the participants are that attend the taster sessions and the dates attended.
The Combined Liability policy covers the BDA and affiliated clubs in respect of accusations of safeguarding issues. The policy does not cover individuals/the accused.
The Combined Liability policy will extend to cover the BDA and BDA affiliated clubs for your legal liability worldwide (apart from Management Liability which excludes USA/Canada) so long as the participation is agreed by the BDA. However, this is not a travel policy and does not provide cover for medical expenses while abroad, lost baggage etc. A separate travel insurance policy will be required. If you require travel insurance please contact Marsh Sport on 0345 872 5060.
No. Clubs need to source their own insurance for their equipment. You can discuss your requirements with our insurance broker, Marsh Sport on 0345 872 5060.