When You Take an Abominable Snowman Hiking

Imagine booking a hiking guest with the manners and characteristics of a gigantic-furred yeti. It’s exactly what claims professionals fear most; the abominable snowman partaking in adventure sports. He has the best heart but unfortunately is one of the worst guests. Here are just a few incidents that recently happened while the abominable snowman headed down south for a guided hiking tour.

A hiking tour company in Arizona was in for a real surprise when one of its guests ended up being the abominable snowman. They never imagined that someone like him would come down south or want to go hiking…with a group. After a little hesitation and signed liability waivers, both the abominable snowman and the guide were ready for the hike.

Stolen merchandise. Before taking off, the abominable snowman realized he’d forgotten to eat his breakfast—Frosted Flakes of course. Fortunately for him, the hiking business had a few snacks at their counter, including a few boxes of Frosted Flakes cereal bars. He took all the boxes and didn’t mention it to the guide. At the end of the day, a team member who was restocking noticed all the bars were gone and there was no receipt to prove it.

A turn for the worst. The abominable snowman was listening to vanilla ice quite loudly through his headphones and noticed a squirrel on the other side of the road. He yelled at the top of his lungs, “SQUIRREL” leaving everyone on the bus flustered and concerned. The driver instantly overcorrected the wheel, ultimately putting the bus in a ditch. There were several major damages to the bus leaving it undrivable and towed. Thankfully the outfitter had a backup bus and purchased additional commercial auto insurance. This means they were able to receive limits from $1 to $5 million per occurrence and had umbrellas available for higher limits.

Caution: Branches Ahead. With any sport, game, or adventure, there is always a risk at stake. While on the lovely hike, the abominable snowman ran into a ginormous tree branch knocking him down. If he would have been keeping an eye on what was in front of him instead of just paying attention to the dessert creatures, he probably wouldn’t have ended up with a doctor’s visit and a concussion. He was in quite a bit of pain and filed a lawsuit to recover his medical costs, claiming that something during his experience caused his injuries. It was no issue for the outfitter because they had a strong liability policy on their side.

The right insurance policy for your adventure sports business will provide coverage if your business is sued or held legally responsible in the event of bodily injury or property damage, and usually covers most medical expenses, attorney fees, settlements and reimbursements.

We all know that no matter how well you plan, running an adventure sports business can be fraught with surprises. The only way to completely avoid liability is to shutter your business. Smart business owners do the next best thing ― protect their assets by carrying adequate  insurance  coverage.

Without the right coverage, you’re at risk of a financial loss if your property/gear is damaged or a guest is injured. Many outfitter owners are not sure if they’re compatible with this type of insurance. They may even question if they are a right fit or if they’re prepared for a guest like the abominable snowman. To learn more about protecting your business with comprehensive insurance coverage,  request a free quote  from CBIZ Adventure Sports Insurance.

This blog may contain scenarios that are provided as examples only. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy issued. The information provided is general in nature and may be affected by changes in law or the interpretation of such laws. The reader is advised to contact a professional prior to taking any action based upon this information.

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