The private CL: the insurance that will save you some trouble!

Let’s talk frankly about private liability insurance. For many people, liability insurance is like an umbrella left at the bottom of a drawer: you don’t think about it until it starts raining. Even though it is not compulsory, civil liability insurance can be a discreet but crucial shield against everyday accidents. You may be wondering why you should take out such insurance if it is rarely used and its usefulness is sometimes unclear. However, in the event of an accident in which you are held liable for damage to others, the costs can be astronomical.

Why might this page be of more interest to you than you think? When it comes to renting a flat, liability insurance often becomes an “unofficial necessity” to secure your lease. Here, we demystify the costs, benefits and situations where civil liability insurance becomes more than just useful: it becomes your best ally in living peacefully.

Let’s get started!

What is the civil liability (CL) insurance?

Last Saturday, Zoé and I were invited at Michel et Michèle’s, friends of ours who prepared us a menu that was as delicious as it was hearty. Between cheese and desert, we started playing Time’s Up!

The two first rounds went very smoothly, I guessed almost all the words. Zoé was proud of me. Enthusiastic, I thought I would give it my all for the last round: mimes. 

We moved to the living room for the occasion. When my turn came, I started drawing waves with my arm to help Zoé guess the word « bow », she did not get it at all. So, I got more agitated, moved my arms more frantically than before, until I touched the TV, which crashed into the ground and shattered into a thousand pieces across the room. 

Zoé grew pale. Especially since that it was a state-of-the-art device, for which Michel et Michèle had saved up for months. 

I was cool as a cucumber. 

What Zoé did not know is that I had taken out a CL with a very low deductible a month earlier!

All I had to do was notify FBK Conseils, who informed my insurance of the damage. The television was refunded shortly after, at its new value. 

Basically, a CL insurance is an essential protection against bodily injuries, material and immaterial damages unintentionally caused to someone or someone’s belonging. 

Does the civil liability insurance cover damages caused to everyone?

When we say ‘someone’, we mean someone that is not yourself, nor a member of your household. If you break your child’s PlayStation because he or she spent the night playing, the private CL will not refund you.  

The contracts automatically exclude every member covered by the same insurance policy!

Five kinds of damages the private civil liability does not cover 

Nowadays, most contracts are established based on the insuree’s lifestyle and vary greatly from one another. That being said, a typical civil liability private insurance typically does not cover: 

• Wilful misconduct. 
• Accidents caused to oneself. 
• Accidents cause inside your household. 
• Accidents caused to persons insured by other persons who are insured on the same policy (for example, if you dog bites your child, if your child bites your dog or if one of your children bites another one). 
• All uncommon activities, which require a special private CL. 

The price of a private civil liability

The pricing of this kind of contract is quite standardised by most insurance companies and will most likely be the cheapest insurance you will take out, with the exception of the legal expenses insurance perhaps. 

In short, the civil liability insurance, commonly called the CL, protects you from physical, material and immaterial damage you may unintentionally cause to others.  

A broken smartphone, crushed glasses, an accidental jostle can happen all too easy and can be costly. This is why the CL exists.

The essential elements to check before taking out a private civil liability insurance 

• Are you a parent or responsible for minors? You should go for a family civil liability insurance. As you will be accountable for your children’s actions, if one of them break a classmate’s glasses, you will have to foot the bill. 
• If you are taking care of animals, you should specify it and, most importantly, include them accordingly. If your voluntarily bites a passer-by or involuntarily runs over a child, you will also be responsible for any damage caused. 
• Make sure your insurance’s cover is at least 5 million CHF. 
• Make sure you are covered in case of a serious error (mistakes are easily considered as « serious » by insurances). 
• Indicate every high-risk activity you do, such as extreme sports, hunting or any other activity than may result in a costly accident. 
• Check whether the « world cover » corresponds to your typical destinations. If you travel across the Horn of Africa for three months, your civil liability insurance must cover trips of minimum three months and include Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti.
• Find out about the amount of the deductible. A low deductible will inevitably raise your premiums. But the private civil liability insurance (just like the household insurance) being one of the most affordable insurances, while still covering pricy risks, it is always a good idea to have a low deductible.

Do I need to take out a civil liability insurance? 

Just like the household insurance, which is often taken out jointly, the civil liability insurance is not mandatory. However, it is strongly recommended. Indeed, not only is it inexpensive, but its cover is also very broad, I cannot think of a better combination for your peace of mind!

Furthermore, upon renting an apartment, the property management company or the landlord are highly likely to require you to have one, in order to make sure their property is in good hands no matter what. 

Should you have any doubts, we are here to assist you.

The grounds for termination of a private liability insurance 

Just like any other property insurance (household, car, legal expenses), contracts can be terminated for three reasons: 

1. The risk no longer exists. If you decide to move abroad, your contract can be cancelled starting from your departure date. Make sure you remember to notify the insurance.
2. The contract has a beginning and an end, it can thus be cancelled (or, not renewed) provided that you are within the deadline to notify your insurance of your desire to terminate this cover (three months).
3. In the event of damage, you can ask for your contract to be immediately terminated, if you have received compensation from the insurer. 

Be careful: insurers can also terminate a contract after damage occurs if they consider you to be a risk for their company!

Tips and tricks for your liability insurance

Tip no. 1

Don’t waste too much time comparing every penny of your liability insurance – the premiums are generally about the same and, overall, it’s not a very expensive type of insurance by definition. On the other hand, take the time to understand your needs (animals, children, gross negligence, deductible, amount covered, etc.).

Tip no. 2

When it comes to renting out your flat, there’s a 9 out of 10 chance that your future landlord will ask for guarantees, the most important of which is liability insurance. So before submitting your lease application, we recommend that you take out civil liability insurance.

Tip no. 3

Even though the law has changed in recent years and commitment periods can no longer exceed 3 years, we still advise you to remain vigilant and, above all, to take out your insurance policies for the shortest possible terms.