How much will homeowners insurance cover for an accidental fall injury?

If someone is hurt at your home, your main question is likely going to be- will homeowner liability insurance cover you in case of a lawsuit? You'll also want to know just how much coverage you have. For example, if a visitor to your house falls accidentally and you are worried you may be liable because you had dangerous conditions at your home (like a broken down step that fell through, for example), then you may fear that you'll be sued for a large sum of money. If the victim sues you for $10,000, or $100,000 or even a million dollars for the injuries he sustained in an accidental fall at your house, you'll need to know if your insurer will cover it.

The answer depends on your insurance. As a general matter, when you bought a policy, that policy had a limit. You may, for example, have purchased $50,000 in liability coverage. If so, the insurance will cover up to $50,000 of liability for the accident and will typically also cover legal fees for the lawsuit and for negotiations. If your policy coverage is for more, more will be covered. The insurance company will also assess the appropriate value to offer for the victim's injuries and usually will offer that amount as a settlement.

If you find yourself dealing with an injury at home, or the victim of an injury at someone else's house, you should strongly consider getting a lawyer. Your attorney can explain to you both your rights and obligations under the law and can help you to protect yourself after the fall.