Does My Homeowners Insurance Cover Personal Injury Claims On My Property?
Typical homeowners’ insurance policies do include personal liability coverage. This component of your policy coverage may help prevent you from paying out of pocket should the unexpected occur on your property. Should someone slip and fall on your property or experience any other type of common personal injury, you could be held responsible for their medical expenses if you are found to be legally liable for the accident. According to Allstate, here are some of the ways in which the personal liability coverage in a homeowners insurance policy may help protect you:
MEDICAL BILLS FOR VISITORS
Liability coverage may help pay for medical bills that result from a visitor’s accidental injury at your home — and help prevent you from paying those costs out of pocket. Even if that person has health benefits, you could be held responsible for the expenses if it’s determined that the injury happened as a result of your negligence — like if you failed to fix a broken porch step, for example.
PAIN AND SUFFERING
Medical bills are one thing, but beyond that lies the possibility that you could be held responsible for any pain and suffering endured by a person who is injured in your home. If you’re found legally responsible, liability coverage may help pay for the cost of a settlement against you.
LOST WAGES
If someone is injured while on your property and that injury results in their inability to return to work, you may be found legally liable for the wages they lose as a result. Liability coverage may help prevent you from paying out of pocket in a situation such as this.
DEATH BENEFITS
Nobody wants to think about the possibility of someone having a fatal accident in his or her home, but it’s something that you can’t exclude. The average home liability policy also may cover death benefits to the family of someone who passes away as the result of an accident in your house or on your property.
LEGAL COSTS
If you’re sued following an accident in your home, you may need a lawyer. Liability coverage may help cover your legal expenses, regardless of whether you’re found responsible for damages.
PERSONAL LIABILITY COVERAGE AWAY FROM HOME
Liability coverage also may help cover damages that stem from a covered loss that happens when you’re away from home. For instance, if you accidentally cause damage to your hotel’s lobby, this coverage may help protect you if the hotel company seeks reimbursement.
EXCLUSIONS: WHAT HOME LIABILITY DOESN’T COVER
Of course, there are some exclusions to home liability coverage. Purposefully inflicted injury typically isn’t covered. For example, you may be covered if someone accidentally trips and falls down your stairs — but if it’s intentional, it probably wouldn’t be covered by insurance. Personal liability coverage would also not provide coverage for an injury to you or family member who lives in the house.
CONCLUSION
Personal liability coverage may help prevent you from paying out of pocket should the unexpected occur on your property. However, it pays only to a set dollar limit that is determined by you when choosing your homeowners insurance policy. Choose this amount carefully, because if a liability judgment exceeds your coverage limit, you’ll most likely be financially responsible for the difference.
