It could be you
Legal claims involving inflatable equipment can take years to resolve.
Even when an operator is fully insured, the process can be stressful, time-consuming, and emotionally draining.
Recently, the IIHF supported an operator who received notification of a potential claim following an alleged incident.
The legal process continued for seven years, with the case finally settling on the steps of the court for €50,000, fully paid by the insurer.
The important point is this: insurance worked.
The operator did not have to pay the €50,000.
The insurer handled the solicitors, the correspondence, the negotiations, and the final settlement.
However, the experience still took a significant toll on the operator.
Running a business while dealing with years of legal letters, uncertainty, and worry is extremely challenging — and in this case, the business eventually closed due to the ongoing stress.
**Seven years of pressure would break anyone — and this was with full insurance in place.
If the operator had not been insured, the financial and personal consequences would have been unimaginable.**
Imagine the Same Situation With No Insurance
Had the operator been uninsured, the outcome would have been devastating:
- All legal defence costs paid out of pocket
- Possibly endless legal costs over many years
- Full personal responsibility for any settlement or award
- Risk to personal assets, including home and savings
- Life-changing financial consequences
This real example demonstrates a simple truth:
**Being insured protects you.
Being uninsured can ruin you.**
Why Inflatable Operators MUST Be Properly Insured
Insurance is not a legal requirement,
but it is the only protection that prevents a legal claim from turning into a personal financial disaster.
Proper inflatable-hire insurance:
- appoints solicitors to defend you
- handles every legal letter
- pays settlements and court awards
- shields your home, savings, and business
- gives you professional backing when something goes wrong
Insurance cannot remove the stress of being involved in a long claim — but it prevents that stress from becoming financial ruin.
A Message to All Operators
If you operate without valid inflatable-hire insurance — or with a policy that does not explicitly include inflatable amusement devices — you are taking an enormous personal and financial risk.
One incident can follow you for years.
Insurance protects you.
No insurance leaves you completely exposed.
Need Advice?
If you’re unsure whether your policy truly covers inflatable hire, or if you want guidance, the IIHF offers confidential help:
📩 info@iihf.ie
Protect your business.
Protect your family.
Protect your future.
