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Civil Liability Technical Insurance
In a sector where rapid innovation is the norm, technology companies must face many risks and are likely to see their civil liability engaged.
What are the risks in the tech sector ?
In a sector where rapid innovation is the norm, tech companies face numerous specific risks. They are likely to incur civil liability if they cause harm to their employees or third parties due to the operation of their business, the provision of a product, or due to professional negligence.
Operational Civil Liability: Companies can be held liable for damages caused to their employees or third parties (customers, suppliers, visitors, etc.) during the operation of their business. This includes damages caused by their employees, premises, facilities, machinery, equipment, materials, or products in the manufacturing process, up until delivery.
Post-Delivery/Product Civil Liability: Companies can be held liable for damages caused to third parties (customers, partners, etc.) in connection with the provision of a product. This liability may arise after the product is delivered or during its use by a customer or partner.
Professional Civil Liability: Companies can be held liable for damages caused to third parties (customers, partners, etc.) due to a fault or error committed during the execution of a service or professional activity.
Errors, omissions, delays, and negligence can lead to client claims, threatening a company's financial stability and reputation. Under the general principles of civil liability law, companies are required to compensate for bodily, material, and immaterial damages caused by the goods and individuals for which they are responsible within the scope of their business activities.
- Liability insurance coverage
- Liability guarantees after delivery/product
- Professional liability insurance
- Financial consequences of the civil liability of the company due to the operation of its activities. : Defense costs / damages / settlement indemnities, previously approved by the insurer.
- Inexcusable fault committed by the insured company or by a person who has been substituted in its management. Defense costs in the context of action seeking compensation for gross negligence / additional compensation due to the victim or their beneficiaries in accordance with articles L. 452-1 and following of the Social Security Code (amounts awarded for personal damages and increase in pension)
- The insurance covers the financial consequences of the company's civil liability arising from Damage caused to property entrusted to him in the context of activities defined in the contract.
- The insurance covers the pecuniary consequences from the civil liability of the company because of damages.
- Financial consequences of the company's civil liability for supplying a product: Defense costs / damages / transactional indemnities previously validated by the insurer
- Withdrawal fees: covers the expenses incurred by the insured company in the event of the withdrawal of a product from the market due to a safety defect (optional guarantee)
- Deposit-replacement fees: covers the costs incurred by the insured company for the removal of a product with a safety defect and the re-installation of a defect-free product (optional cover)
The warranty "Professional civil liability" covers the financial consequences of the company's civil liability due to a professional mistake (error, breach, omission, inaccuracy, negligence, etc.) committed within the scope of activities defined in the contract:
covers the financial consequences of the company's civil liability due to a professional mistake (error, breach, omission, inaccuracy, negligence, etc.) committed within the scope of activities defined in the contract:
- Defense costs
- Damages or compensation
- Settlement indemnities previously validated by the insurer.
Our clients
- The policyholder and its subsidiaries
- The employees
- The legal representatives or the persons they have substituted in the general management
- The works council, the central committee or the establishment committees
Why choose Howden?
Our Professional Liability insurance is designed to cover a wide range of risks. Thanks to its expertise and an all-risk except wording, we offer technology companies the peace of mind necessary to focus on development and growth.
- Understanding your challenges : precise knowledge of your business sector and the risks to which companies are exposed
- Global approach: an approach integrating advice, investment, management, and support in case of claims
- Expertise: a team of civil liability specialists integrated into our customers' service teams at all times
- Responsiveness & Availability: Teams who are experts in their respective fields. The individual experience of each is at your disposal to manage your exposures and optimise your insurance cover.
- Support at all stages of your development: From launching to your international development, all the way to going public on a French or foreign market.
- Adaptation & Network: local expertise through our regional offices and access to our integrated international Howden One network present in over 100 countries
- Defense of your interests: a commitment to short settlement times, a solid legal approach to guarantee the protection of your rights and interests, a network of specialised claims managers in France and abroad
Examples of claims
Faits : Un salarié employé au sein de l’équipe des services généraux d’une entreprise a fait une chute dans les escaliers de service qu’il empruntait pour livrer des cartons de fournitures à ses collègues. La porte de l’escalier principal habituellement utilisé était endommagée depuis plusieurs semaines, ce qui l’a contraint a utilisé l’escalier de service en colimaçon et mal éclairé.
Postes couverts :
- Frais de défense de la société dans le cadre de l’action en reconnaissance de la faute inexcusable introduite par le salarié
- Montant des dettes sociales mises à la charge des dirigeants pour combler l’insuffisance d’actif de la société
Faits : Une société spécialisée dans le marketing digital a réalisé des campagnes publicitaires pour promouvoir un produit commercialisé par l’un de ses clients. Une erreur dans le paramétrage du budget alloué par le client pour ces campagnes a entraîné des surdépenses. Le client a adressé un courrier de réclamation pour obtenir le remboursement du montant des surdépenses qu’il a dû régler en raison de l’erreur commise par la société.
Postes couverts :
- L’assureur a pris en charge le montant des surdépenses (après déduction de la franchise contractuelle)
Faits : Un éditeur de logiciel a concédé à un client, spécialisé dans la vente de vêtements sur internet, les droits d’utilisation d’un logiciel permettant l’animation du site internet. Une erreur dans le script du logiciel a entraîné une grave dégradation du référencement naturel du client sur GOOGLE et une augmentation du coût de ses campagnes publicitaires.
Postes couverts :
- Honoraires d’avocat de la société
- Frais d’expert informatique
- Montant des indemnités transactionnelles versées au client
Contact
Jean-Guibert Ciavaldini
Jean-Guibert Ciavaldini
Director of the Tech Sector
Jean-Guibert is the Director of the Tech Sector within the Howden France team. Before joining Howden, Jean-Guibert worked for over 7 years at Aon France, as the Client Director for the Tech sector, assisting both listed and non-listed companies in their risk management operations. He specializes in insurance for software publishers, IT service companies, and electronic component manufacturers. Integrated into the French Tech ecosystem, he has supported numerous start-ups and international unicorns.
