Homeowners’ insurance policies cover damage to the home’s exterior and interior caused by vandalism, weather events, and fire. However, accidents can also occur at someone else’s property, resulting in lost wages, pain and suffering, and physical injuries.
Thus, most standard home insurance policies cover personal liability for unintentional injuries at a policy holder’s property. Learn more about this coverage below.
Do Homeowners’ Insurance Policies Cover Personal Injury Claims?
Most homeowners’ insurance policies cover personal injury claims. This coverage meets the lawsuit costs if someone sues you after they incur injuries on your property. Insurance companies limit personal liability coverage to a specific dollar value. You can check your limit with your provider and purchase additional coverage if you have many personal assets. Also, check the injuries covered by the coverage.
Your homeowner’s policy may also cover personal liability for accidents your family member, or pets cause off your property. For instance, your policy covers you if your pet ruins your neighbor’s expensive rug.
What Claims Does the Homeowner Insurance Policy Cover?
Under your homeowners’ insurance, your personal liability coverage may cover:
Dog bites
Exposure to toxic chemicals
Falling on unsafe staircases, such as those without handrails. Poorly-placed rugs or foreign items can also cause staircase accidents.
Leaking ceilings
Wet floors
Assault that occurs due to negligent security
Slips and falls as a result of insufficient lighting
Which Are the Exempted Claims in Home Liability Policies?
Homeowners’ insurance policies don’t cover injuries that result from intentional actions on your part. So, if you push someone down the stairs or assault a visitor on your property, your liability coverage doesn’t protect you if they sue. Also, personal injury coverage doesn’t cover any injuries to you or your family members in the home.
What to Do After Someone Gets Injured on Your Property?
If someone gets injured on your property, assess the situation to determine if they’re in the emergency room. If the injury is severe, such as broken bones or lots of blood, call ambulance services. If they hit themselves on the head but remain conscious, drive to the ER to rule out head or spine injuries.
Ensure that you don’t admit guilt, although you can show concern. Then, take pictures of the accident scene, and include the objects that caused the injury. Take written witness accounts if there are other people at the scene.
You need to contact a lawyer, even if the injured party hasn’t expressed an intention to sue. Consult an attorney who specializes in personal injury claims for the best defense. You should also contact your insurance agent to inform them of the situation.
What If You Get Injured at Someone Else’s Property?
Invitees can sue for damages if they get injured due to dangerous conditions on another individual’s property. Such conditions include wet floors, missing handrails, or broken doors. Seek medical service immediately after the injury and tell the healthcare provider how the accident happened.
If you can, take snaps of the accident location with your phone. Also, note the names of any witnesses to give your lawyer. Don’t make any statement to the property owner or discuss the case with anyone who contacts you. Instead, consult a personal injury attorney for appropriate advice.
What Happens If the Owner Is Hesitant to Make a Homeowners’ Insurance Claim?
You need someone’s full name, insurance provider, and policy number to file a liability claim against their homeowners’ policy. However, some homeowners are reluctant to give this information or file the claim themselves. Some insurers cancel a homeowners’ policy or raise premiums if injured parties file a liability claim. So, many people try to deal with liability claims on their own.
If you believe that a reluctant property owner has liability coverage under their homeowners’ policy, you can sue them and demand their insurance information. A personal liability attorney can help you file a lawsuit against the insurance company and homeowner. You can also seek a court order to compel these parties to pay for damages.
What Damages Can You Recover Under a Home Liability Claim?
Home liability insurance helps pay the medical bills of the injured invitee, even if they have health benefits. You can also pursue compensation for the pain and suffering caused by the injury. A personal injury lawyer can help you recover lost wages if the injuries affect your ability to resume work.
Most standard home liability policies also cover death benefits in case of fatal accidents at someone’s property.
Are Property Owners Liable for Trespassers’ Injuries?
Property owners owe no duty to safeguard trespassers who wander their property. However, you cannot willfully harm trespassers. Generally, the law requires property owners to maintain their property as any reasonable person would.
If you get hurt on someone’s property during a social visit, the property owner’s liability coverage can cover your damages. However, you need to prove negligence on the homeowner’s part. Call our seasoned personal injury lawyers at Garrison Law Firm today to get the damages you deserve.