Oxygen tank fires. Ventilator malfunctions. Improperly installed power mobility ramps. When equipment fails in a patient's home, the liability doesn't stop at the manufacturer. It stops with you.
You deliver, install, and maintain high-liability medical equipment in uncontrolled home environments. Your technicians cross thresholds every day, instructing patients and families on how to use life-sustaining devices.
Most DME programs we review have a catastrophic product liability gap or a professional liability gap tied to patient instruction. When an oxygen concentrator causes a fire, or a ventilator backup battery fails because a family member misunderstood the training, the plaintiff attorneys don't just sue the manufacturer. They sue the supplier who put it in the room.
These are the claim patterns we've seen across Texas DME programs. Each exposure requires a specific policy response.
| The Exposure | Coverage That Responds | What It Protects | Financial Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Severity Product Liability. An oxygen concentrator malfunctions and causes a fire in a patient's home, resulting in severe burns and property destruction. The family sues your DME business as the supplier. | Products & Completed Operations Liability | Bodily injury and property damage resulting from the equipment you supply, install, or maintain. | $1M–$2M+ |
| Improper Instruction Exposure. A patient alleges your technician failed to properly train them on a ventilator backup battery. The power goes out, the battery fails, and the patient suffers an anoxic brain injury. | Professional Liability (E&O) | Allegations of negligence in clinical instruction, equipment training, or setup protocols. | $500K–$1M+ |
| Installation Property Damage. Your technician installs a heavy stairlift, inadvertently damaging structural wall beams and causing a partial staircase collapse. | General Liability | Third-party property damage occurring during the active delivery and installation process. | $50K–$150K |
| Fleet Transit Liability. A delivery tech rear-ends a vehicle while transporting unsecured heavy equipment (hospital beds, oxygen tanks). The impact causes severe bodily injury to the other driver. | Commercial Auto with High Limits | Your delivery fleet, including the increased liability of driving heavy, equipment-loaded commercial vehicles. | $250K–$500K |
30-minute call. Walk us through your inventory, your delivery radius, and your installation protocols. We'll tell you exactly where your current policy breaks—and what a claim would actually cost.