Homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies provide essential protection, offering liability coverage for accidents and injuries in or around your home. This coverage can be invaluable, as accidents and unexpected injuries may not only affect you and your family, but can happen to guests or neighbors, leading to potential lawsuits.
If you’re a Florida homeowner or renter, it’s essential to understand exactly what your policy covers, especially in situations like a slip and fall accident or a dog bite. Knowing your coverage can help protect your financial well-being if someone is injured on your property or due to your household’s actions.
Injuries Inside the Home: Slips, Falls, and More
Injuries inside the home can happen unexpectedly, especially when you have guests over. Fortunately, most homeowners’ insurance policies include coverage for injuries to other people on your property, helping protect you from legal liability and needing to pay their medical expenses out of your own pocket. Common incidents that are often covered include:
- Slips and Falls: Slippery or uneven walking surfaces can cause guests to slip and hurt themselves.
- Trips and Falls: Loose rugs, cluttered walkways, or exposed cords can lead to trips and resulting injuries.
- Falling Objects: Unsecured items like picture frames, hanging shelves, or decorations may fall unexpectedly and injure someone.
- Burns or Electrical Shocks: Faulty appliances, exposed wiring, or hot surfaces can result in burns or shocks.
- Cuts from Sharp Objects: Guests may accidentally cut themselves on sharp items, such as broken glass.
- Furniture-Related Injuries: Guests can be hurt by collapsing chairs, unstable furniture, or tripping over low-lying furniture.
Covered Injuries Outside the Home
Homeowners’ insurance can also extend coverage to accidents outside the home caused by the policyholder’s household members. This often includes incidents involving pets, such as dog bites, which is a common homeowners’ insurance claim. If your dog bites someone on a walk or at a park, your policy may help cover medical or legal costs.
Your coverage may also protect against injuries on your property but outside the house, such as:
- A guest tripping on your driveway
- Someone slipping on a wet patio or deck
- A visitor falling down poorly lit stairs outside your home
- A child getting hurt while using your trampoline or pool
- A delivery person being injured by a loose step or uneven walkway
Renters’ insurance can offer similar protection. If a guest is hurt due to negligence, like slipping in the bathroom because no bathmat was placed down, your policy can potentially help with the cost of their medical bills and any legal costs you incur.
Situations That Might Not Be Covered
While homeowners’ or renters’ insurance covers many types of accidents, there are some situations it doesn’t cover. For example, car accidents aren’t typically included. Your auto insurance handles the liability and medical coverage in those cases, not your homeowners’ or renters’ policy.
Also, if someone is hurt due to intentional harm, your insurance likely won’t cover it. Deliberate actions that cause injury usually lead to the insurer denying any claims related to the incident.
Umbrella Policies: Extra Protection for Major Accidents
An umbrella policy can provide extra protection when the liability costs exceed the limits of your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance. Umbrella insurance offers additional liability coverage for serious accidents, often kicking in after your primary insurance limits have been exhausted.
Umbrella policies are helpful if you own high-risk items like swimming pools or trampolines, which can lead to severe injuries and expensive lawsuits. If a guest is injured while using features like these on your property, the added coverage can help cover resulting medical costs and legal fees.
Injured on Someone’s Property in Miami? Contact an Attorney Today
Even the most well-intentioned homeowner’s property can pose a danger to visitors and guests. When harm occurs, victims have the right to seek damages from the homeowner’s insurer to help cover the cost of their injury.
If you were hurt in a slip and fall or other accident on someone’s property, speak with our qualified attorneys at Aigen Injury Law. Our Florida slip-and-fall accident lawyers can help you recover compensation for your injuries.
Likewise, our experienced Miami dog bite lawyers can help you hold pet owners accountable when their animals are poorly trained or restrained, and seek a damage award to help pay for medical bills and associated costs after an animal attack.
We understand the complexities of personal injury cases like these, and have the local knowledge and resources to protect your interests and pursue maximum compensation from every available source. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you secure the financial recovery you deserve.