Average quote turnaround time is 12 to 24 business hours.
We can also quote skateboard events, camps, and instructors.
General Liability
- Limits from $1million to $5 million
- Occurrence Policy Form
- Coverage for Athletic Participants
- Non-owned and Hired Auto option
- Sex Abuse & Molestation option
Accident
- Medical limits up to $25,000
- Deductible options
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment up to $10,000
Skateboard Park Insurance and Risk Management
There are approximately 10 million active skateboarders in the U.S. and skateboarding is the third most popular sport among youth ages 6 to 18. Most skateboarding injuries occur in an unsupervised setting in driveways, streets, and public places. By comparison, skateboard parks are relatively safe due to superior design and risk management controls. The most common types of skateboarding injuries include abrasions, sprains/strains, contusions, and fractures. The most common reasons for injuries include improper design, improper construction, lack of maintenance, lack of safety equipment, lack of supervision, surface problems (seams, gaps, rough areas, slippery spots), and collisions with other skaters.
Skateboard parks are considered a high risk hazard for participant and spectator injury and resulting lawsuits and General Liability claims. Risk management controls and programs can greatly reduce these hazards. Participants will be exposed to the obvious risks while engaging in skateboarding activities in the park. Spectators will be exposed to slips/trips/falls in the spectator areas as well as collision with participants who may fly out of the participant areas or flying skateboards.
Waiver/Release Agreements and Assumption of Risk and Signage to Reduce Skateboard Park Liability
Waiver/release agreements signed by all participants and parents/guardians of minors is a must. The waiver/release agreement must include an acknowledgment of risk and acceptance of risk section that can be introduced into evidence for an assumption of risk defense even if the waiver/release does not result in an immediate lawsuit dismissal. In addition, it is critical that warning signage and rules signage be displayed at entrance and throughout the park and even on admission ticket.
Facility Exposure Concerns for Skateboard Park General Liability Coverages
Skateboard parks can either be outdoors or indoors and they include many design elements. The common categories include modular parks, ramp parks, and concrete parks. Concrete parks are considered by skateboarders to be the best parks because of the smooth rides with longer runs. Common design elements include height, transition, and spacing. Skateboarding parks may include flat areas for freestyle skating, slalom runs, vertical ramps, bowls, pipes, and various obstacles.
Most skateboard parks include a ticket booth, concession area, equipment rentals and sales counter, amusement machine area, restrooms, changing area, management areas, and storage areas.
Checklist of critical risk management facility controls:
- Facility should be designed by a design firm specializing in skateboard parks as negligent design is a major cause of injuries.
- Design should accommodate the flow of participants for the capacity of the park with bottlenecks being avoided
- Separate areas for different skill levels
- Runs color coded based on level of difficulty
- Must comply with all local building codes and ordinances.
- Avoid negligent construction. Quality materials should be used. Avoid seams that aren’t flush, gaps that are too wide, lumpy and kinked transitions, areas that are slippery due to slick paint surfaces, inadequate bracing.
- Yellow warning color monitoring for lips, top of ramps and sharp/runs edges marked with alternating black/yellow.
- Monthly facility inspections for surfaces and structure defects including documentation.
- Regular cleaning and maintenance including morning sweeping and sweeping as needed throughout day including documentation.
- Signage and warnings posted.
- Adequate drainage after rain. Close park on rainy days.
- Spectator areas protected by adequate distance from skating edge areas as well as fencing or netting.
- Spectator bleachers adequate for usage, seating capacity not exceeded, free of defects, and inspected regularly.
- Public address system for communications to skaters.
Equipment Exposure Concerns for Skateboard Facility General Liability Carriers
Equipment in skateboard parks include skateboards (sales and rentals), personal protective equipment (helmets, elbow and knee pads, gloves and wrist supports, padded clothing, and nonslip shoes), concession equipment and supplies, skateboard repair and maintenance equipment, facility maintenance equipment, tables and benches, fencing and nets, lights, public address system, and first aid equipment and supplies.
Checklist of critical equipment risk management controls:
- Personal safety equipment must be worn by all skaters including helmets, elbow and knee pads, and gloves/wrist guards.
- Inspection of all rental equipment for defects including wear, broken parts, sharp edges, and properly operating
Supervision Exposures for Skateboard Park General Liability Insurance
Checklist of critical supervision controls:
- Adequate number of skate guards to monitor and enforce rules, break up fights, evict rule breakers
- Employees trained in safety rules and procedures and park operation rules
- Park must be run according to established rules
- Rules must be enforced at all times
- First aid training for staff
Even if all of the above risk management steps are taken, injuries and related lawsuits will still occur. Therefore, both Accident and General Liability coverage should be mandatory for skateboard parks.