INDUSTRY INSIGHT
HOMEOWNER’ S LIABILITY INSURANCE
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Homeowner’ s Liability Goes Beyond Your Home
One misconception about homeowner’ s liability insurance coverage is that it only covers incidents in the home. In fact, the coverage under the comprehensive personal liability portion of your homeowner’ s policy is not limited by location. It is, however, limited by the liability caps on your policy. Here are some examples of what likely would be covered by the personal liability portion of your policy:
• Sports incidents. For example, you are playing golf and hit a ball that hits someone in the head. They require immediate medical attention, which results in them missing weeks of work. If you are found liable, your policy will likely cover the claim.
• After shopping at your local market, you accidentally drop a bottle of olive oil in the parking lot, and it shatters, spilling oil onto the pavement. Another shopper comes long, slips, and seriously injures themselves on the pavement.
While the assumption is that the injured party will take action against the market, the typical practice of attorneys is to go after everyone associated with the incident, including you. Your policy should provide coverage if you are deemed liable.
• You are on vacation at a hotel, and you are so excited to leave the room to enjoy a sightseeing tour that you forget to turn off the faucet. The running water causes significant damage to the hotel structure. The hotel decides to go after you for damages. Your policy will defend you and may pay out damages if you are found liable.
• Your kid lends his skateboard to a friend, and the friend, who may not be experienced with the board, gets seriously injured trying to make a maneuver. Parents can be held liable for this injury, but there is a very good chance the personal liability portion of your policy will cover this.
• If your dog bites a stranger at the park, your policy will cover you as the owner and responsible party for the dog, as long as the policy does not exclude coverage for its breed. Some homeowner’ s policies exclude coverage for breeds deemed“ dangerous,” such as pit bulls.
Additionally, the liability portion will usually extend coverage for the following items, even if an incident happens away from the insured premises:
• Trailers that are not attached to a motor vehicle.
• Motorized golf carts.
• Watercraft that do not have a motor or are not more than a specified horsepower.
• Sailboats below a certain length.
• A vacation residence; however, certain conditions may apply, and the property may need to be added to the policy.
• Non-motorized bikes.
What isn’ t covered Here are examples where coverage does not exist and is excluded by nearly every homeowner’ s insurance policy:
• Cars are clearly excluded.
• Motorized recreational vehicles, most especially if they are off-premises.
• Any incident related to business. Almost all homeowner’ s policies exclude business incidents.
• Intentional acts. Most policies have language against such acts.
Policies vary, so it is important to review yours to see what is and is not covered. Additionally, some policies allow you to endorse a coverage that may not be on the policy. This is why it is so important to contact your insurance agent to review your policy and identify any risks you may have, and to ensure coverage for those risks are addressed.
The takeaway
Liability coverage is perhaps the most important coverage you should have, simply because most of these cases involve attorneys and, if coverage exists, the insurers provide for your defense, as well as any settlement for up to the limits of your policy.
If you are concerned about any potential liability issues and would like to review your Homeowners policy, give us a call.
Cusumano Insurance, a local family-owned business, has been serving the Pittsburgh area since 1958. The agency represents several insurance companies offering various options for your personal and business insurance needs. Its experienced staff are creative problem solvers who help find the suitable insurance companies, products and discounts to meet your specific needs. Give them a call today for a free insurance review.
This Industry Insight was provided by:
Joann Cusumano Sciulli, AAI Agency Principal
Rosann Cusumano Elinsky, AAI, LUTCF Agency Principal
Cusumano Insurance Agency, Inc. • 178 Clairton Blvd • Pleasant Hills, PA 15236
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