What is a liability certificate for?
The civil liability certificate is a document that proves that a person actually benefits from coverage in the event that they cause involuntary damage to others or their property. If necessary, it is up to his insurer to take charge of the compensation for the damage caused and to compensate the victim. Usually issued by an insurance company, this coverage can be useful in all situations where a person is liable. Enough to ensure his back in the event of an incident.
In addition, the wording of this document may vary according to the insurance companies. There is therefore no single, universal model. However, despite the disparity that may be observed, all documents of this type include the following information: the name and contact details of the insurer and the insured, the scope of the guarantees, the period of validity of the insurance, the nature and number of the contract.
What does civil liability cover?
Civil liability covers all harm and damage that the insured person may cause to a third party in everyday life. These can be the result of accidents, negligence, or carelessness. This is particularly the case for damage that may occur during the practice of an amateur sport or without your knowledge by your children who are still minors. The same is true for those caused by property that you own (a building, for example, which is occupied or not).
On the other hand, it would be illusory and dangerous to believe that this certificate covers a person against all damages. In many cases, civil liability cannot be activated.
These include, for example, damage caused intentionally. The same is true for damage caused by your vehicle (which comes under the car insurance contract), damage to loved ones, or damage caused in a professional setting. For these specific risks, other insurance contracts exist.
What are the different types of liability insurance?
The civil liability guarantee can cover individuals and professionals. These are different contracts each time.
Private life civil liability will, as its name suggests, cover individuals in their private lives as well as their families and sometimes their home workers and pets. For example, if a planter falls from a balcony onto a car, the individual may have to repair the damage. The warranty can then cover it. This type of guarantee can, depending on the contract, be covered under home insurance.
Car insurance is also liability insurance. It will guarantee the payment of damages caused to third parties in the event of the insured’s liability.
Another type of “RC”, school insurance will cover the liability of children in the context of their school or on their journey, as well as that of their parents.
These contracts are not the only ones, other more specific ones can be subscribed according to the needs: RC insurance when joining a sports club, winter sports, RC bicycle…
Professional civil liability will cover the subscriber in the context of his professional activity. For example, if a customer slips in a store and hurts himself, the insurance company may reimburse the damage suffered.
In which cases is the civil liability certificate required?
RC is optional in many situations. On the other hand, the certificate of civil liability insurance may be required on many occasions in everyday life. For example, when registering a child for the crèche, this may be required for the constitution of the file. In this case, it makes it possible to cover potential accidents that a child is likely to cause in his or her host establishment (material damage, injuries, etc.).
The certificate of civil liability is also required at the beginning of the year in most schools and high schools. Here again, its role consists in covering the involuntary damages that could be caused by the children of the insured.
Similarly, the certificate of civil liability is compulsory for students, particularly in the context of their professional internships in companies. Many schools also systematically require it at the start of the academic year. This document is also required upon entry of people residing in an EHPAD.
When renting a room for an event or vacation rental, the handing over of the keys is very often subject to the presentation of this document. Finally, many profiles may be affected by this certificate. This is particularly the case for people who:
wish to babysit (the employer may require this document),
carry out a guest room activity,
work in childcare,
own animals,
provide volunteer help, etc.
Certificate of civil liability: what do you risk if you are not insured?
The certificate of civil liability is not always compulsory. However, it is strongly recommended to sign a contract in order to dispose of it. And for good reason, an incident quickly happened: a child who breaks the glasses of one of his comrades, a dog who bites a passer-by, a gardener who injures a person while cutting a hedge…
Without this certificate and in the event of material damage, immaterial or tangible, you run the risk of compensating the victim entirely by your own means. Such a situation is far from being economically advantageous.
How to obtain a civil liability certificate?
Obtaining a certificate of civil liability is very easy for a person who has already taken out insurance. It can indeed be obtained by a variety of contracts such as multi-risk home insurance or private civil liability contract.
As soon as a subscription is effective, it is possible to obtain this document by contacting your insurer. Most issue a certificate in a few seconds by connecting to their personal space on the Internet.
The terms and conditions may vary depending on the internal organization of the insurance company. However, in general, a request can be made by telephone, email, post, to the agency, or via the customer area of its site or mobile application. What benefits from a significant saving of time. This downloaded digital version has the same legal value as the paper version.
