Home Owners Insurance Claims for Injuries

Home owners insurance coverage is essential for all home owners, not only to provide for coverage if there is damages to your home, but also to protect you financially from liability if a guest is injured while at your home.  From slip and fall accidents to bodily injury to dog bites, home owners insurance can help you avoid the effects of liability for another’s injuries.

Liability for Injuries to Guests

You can be found civilly liable for a guest’s injuries sustained while at your home if a court finds you to be negligent, or careless, in some manner that directly contributed to the injuries.  Whether you have acted negligently may differ according to the laws of your state; the usual standard of negligence is whether you took reasonable care to maintain your property and warn guests of any hazards.  Additionally, many states have specific statutes relating to the liability of pet owners for their pets, which come into play when a pet harms a person while on your property, such as in the case of dog bites.  However, as a practical matter, your home owners insurance company may pay any insurance claims related to another’s injuries if the likelihood is that you will be found negligent with respect to the injuries in question.

Contact Home Owners Insurance

If a guest is injured at your home, you should contact authorities for medical assistance, if necessary, to treat the guest’s injuries.  However, you should be sure to avoid making any statements of liability for the guest’s injuries that might later be used against you in the context of a lawsuit.  Next, you should be sure to contact your home owner’s insurance company about the incident, both by telephone and in writing. 

When to Contact an Attorney

If any injuries are sustained by any person on your property, it is a good idea to contact an attorney so that you are aware of your rights, responsibilities, and potential liability in this situation.  For instance, if there is an allegation that you intentionally acted in such a manner so as to cause another’s injuries at your home, as opposed to injuries resulting from you unintentionally acting in a negligent manner, then you could be personally liable for those injuries.  In that case, your home owner’s insurance policy would not cover any claims, which could have devastating financial consequences for you.