Types of Massage Liability (and the Insurance That Helps You Manage Them)
Malpractice for Massage Professionals
Those in the healthcare industry often have to deal with a type of liability known as malpractice, sometimes called, "professional liability" or "professional negligence." Though most often associated with doctors and surgeons, malpractice can be cause for a lawsuit against any practitioner in the allied health industry, including massage professionals.
Generally speaking, a plaintiff alleging malpractice is claiming that the practitioner failed to perform their duties according to the standard of care in their field and caused harm. This allegation is usually a civil matter, but it can become a criminal matter if laws were broken in the course of being negligent. (Note: insurance doesn't cover criminal cases.)
For massage practitioners, malpractice can happen when a client suffers an injury because of…
- The work you allegedly performed (e.g., bruising a client or causing internal damage).
- The work you allegedly failed to perform (e.g., neglecting to refer a client to the appropriate professional for a recognized injury).
A Malpractice Insurance policy has your back when you are accused of negligence or malpractice. It can help pay for your legal defense, court fees, and judgments if the case goes to court, and it can also cover the cost of a settlement if you settle out of court.
It's important to keep in mind that you can be sued for malpractice even when you've done nothing wrong. Luckily, your policy can still cover the associated legal costs, which can range from $2,000 to $5,000 
for meritless claims.
CALOUT: Frivolous lawsuits that are thrown out still cost $2,000 to $5,000 in legal defense fees.
Next: Types of Malpractice Claims