Many people associate claims against homeowners insurance with a robbery, water, fire or other damage to a home. What you may not realize is that homeowners insurance often covers the cost (or some of the cost) of injuries sustained while at someone else’s home, especially if those injuries are a result of an accident caused by the homeowner’s negligence. In this blog post, we’ll review what to know about homeowners insurance and personal injury claims.
When Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Personal Injury Claims?
When a guest gets hurt on the property, suing homeowner’s insurance for injury can be a way to get compensation for medical care and other losses. Premises liability law states that a property owner has a legal obligation to inspect and keep their property safe and free from hazards. And, they must warn visitors and guests about hazards that may exist on the property. When the homeowner fails in their duty of care to guests and visitors, they may be liable for the cost of injuries that happen due to their negligence. In turn, homeowner’s insurance covers personal injury claims by providing accident liability coverage for the property owner.
Of note, homeowner’s insurance typically does not cover injuries suffered by the residents of the property. If you are injured and the homeowner is not liable for your injuries, there may be a small amount of compensation available for no-fault claims. Check with the insurance company and policy for more details,
Examples of Injury Claims Covered by Homeowner’s Insurance
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common reasons why an injury claim may be filed against a homeowner’s insurance policy. Other examples of injury claims covered by a property owner’s insurance policy may include:
- Falling on icy or wet stairs and walkways
- Falling due to a broken railing or deck stairs
- Swimming pool accidents
- Dog bites (sometimes including dog bites that occur off the property)
- Toxic chemicals
- Parking lot accidents
- Falling because of poor lighting
- Electrical accidents and fire
Policies can vary widely. It's important to check the homeowner’s policy before filing a claim to understand what may or may not be covered.
Compensation Available for Injuries Through Homeowner’s Insurance
In personal injury claims, victims may seek financial compensation for their losses suffered because of the injury. Compensation typically includes the cost of medical bills, lost income from missing work due to the injury as well as intangible losses, such as mental anguish or pain and suffering. Homeowner’s bodily injury insurance coverage varies greatly and typically has some limitation to the total amount of compensation available.
How to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim for Injury
If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property, it’s important to obtain the contact information for the homeowner as well as the name of their homeowner’s insurance company and contact details. If the homeowner is not forthcoming with insurance company information, you may need to consult a lawyer and compel the homeowner to provide information by filing a lawsuit.
Even if the homeowner is cooperative, it’s in your best interest to discuss your case with a skilled personal injury attorney. Insurance companies may try a number of tactics to devalue or deny your claim. A personal injury attorney can protect your rights, best interests and help to secure maximum compensation for your injuries.
Get Help with an Injury Claim from Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident that you believe was caused by a property owner's negligence, contact Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law and speak with a skilled personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Our firm has extensive experience in successfully representing a wide range of premises liability cases, and we pride ourselves in being able to provide clients with the passionate representation they deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.