Why Understanding Career Risks is Critical for Fitness Professionals

Like any professional, fitness professionals face career risks, particularly risks that arise from malpractice claims. The consequences of a malpractice claim can damage your finances, reputation, and mental wellbeing.

To help safeguard against these risks, it is crucial for fitness trainers to implement sound risk management practices and maintain strong relationships with clients. However, even with the best precautions, unforeseen claims can still occur. That’s why investing in a Professional Liability insurance policy is a smart business decision.

Read on to learn more about the career risks fitness professionals face and steps you can take to protect yourself.

What Career Risks Do Fitness Professionals Face?  

Countless malpractice claims are made against fitness professionals every year. Some claims are brought against trainers for legitimate performance failures. Other claims have little merit, brought by displeased clients for not achieving a desired outcome, but are not actually the result of substandard fitness training or conduct.

It’s important to understand that for a malpractice claim to be justifiable, the acts as performed (whether poorly or not at all) must be the direct cause of an injury to a client and proven in a court of law.

Even with the most solid defense and confident counsel backing you, getting to the point of arbitration of a claim doesn’t happen quickly. And no matter the outcome, being involved in a claim against your work can have significant effects on your finances, reputation and even your psyche.

Fitness Professional Career Risk #1: Financial Effects

The costs of defending a malpractice claim can vary depending on the scope of the claim. But even if a trainer isn’t found at fault and owes no payment to the claimant, there are still expenses associated with defending a claim. The costs of hiring a reputable defense team, expert witnesses and researchers can be substantial, sometimes reaching the tens of thousands of dollars. If you’re found guilty and owe a settlement to the claimant, the overall cost of the ordeal can easily double or even triple. This can be devastating to your business and your personal finances.

The invaluable resource of time is another cost of managing a malpractice claim. No matter how firmly you insist you are innocent of any wrongdoing, it still takes hours to build a solid defense to support you in court. Time spent on preparation, deposition and trial all adds up to hours away from the gym or studio, not training other clients and not earning additional income.

Fitness Professional Career Risk #2: Reputation Effects

Financial implications are a definite concern, but you can recover from them over time. Your reputation is perhaps even more vulnerable if you are sued — especially if your training has allegedly caused serious injury to a client.

A malpractice claim against you can signify that you are less competent than your peers. If this allegation is made, and moreover, if it can be proven, there’s a real risk that your reputation will take a hit. A blow to your reputation can be quite damaging and difficult to counter. When your public reputation takes a hit, you run the real risk of losing clients and being unable to gain new ones, at least for a time.

Fitness Professional Career Risk #3: Mental Effects

An allegation against your performance as a personal trainer can be very unsettling. You may feel offended or even angry if you believe you are innocent. You may feel distressed that your client was injured, whether your training is to blame or not.

The stress of a claim and an impending lawsuit can have a negative effect on the level of performance you deliver to your other clients and can even affect how you manage your business. Whether a claim against you is an open-and-shut case or drags on for months, the stress can impact your day-to-day wellbeing.

Protection Against Career Risks Fitness Professionals Face

Proper risk management is your best defense when providing hands-on services like fitness training. Following proper procedures with every client, no matter how confident the client is, and forming honest and caring relationships with them are two very effective ways to help reduce the chances of being sued for malpractice.

It’s also a sound business practice to purchase a Professional Liability insurance policy to help offset the financial risks if you are ever sued.

IDEA® has partnered with Lockton Affinity to provide access to comprehensive liability insurance coverage for small business owners and fitness professionals at an affordable price.

Protect against the career risks you face as a fitness professional today!

The IDEA Health & Fitness Association Insurance program is administered by Lockton Affinity, LLC d/b/a Lockton Affinity Insurance Brokers LLC in California #0795478. Coverage is subject to actual policy terms and conditions. Policy benefits are the sole responsibility of the issuing insurance company. IDEA Health & Fitness Association will receive a royalty fee for the licensing of its name and trademarks as part of the insurance program offered to the extent permitted by applicable law.