You can choose from several insurance coverages in your property insurance policy. Personal liability insurance protects you from injuries that may occur at your apartment or home. Personal liability insurance is often well-worth it, regardless of whether you own or rent.
What is personal liability insurance?
Many homeowners and condo renters insurance policies include personal responsibility coverage. This provides financial protection in the event that you are found to be negligent or at fault for injury to others or property damage on their premises.
If a guest falls on your floor and injures their arm, then your liability coverage would cover you. Your personal liability coverage may pay for the guest’s medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.
The price of personal liability insurance is usually purchased in dollars, typically between $100,000 and $500,000. You may be able to buy higher limits of coverage for your homeowners policy. If you feel you require additional coverage, but your insurance provider doesn’t offer it, you can ask about purchasing it. To increase your liability coverage, ask your insurer about an umbrella insurance.
What is personal liability insurance?
Personal liability covers incidents such as:
- You have a guest who injures their self on your premises.
- If your dog bites someone, such as a passerby or guest, some companies may not offer liability coverage.
- Your property is the victim of damage by guests.
- You may be injured or even killed by a trampoline or pool. Some companies have restrictions about who can cover these items.
- Your icy sidewalk or driveway can cause someone to slip and fall.
Important to remember that liability coverage will not be extended if you are found negligent in causing injuries or damages. Let’s say a tree falls on your property and causes damage to your neighbor’s garage. Your liability insurance won’t cover their damages if they are negligently caused by you. It would be necessary to prove that you knew that the tree was dying or dead and could cause damage on your neighbor’s property. Your neighbor’s insurance would cover the cost of repairs.
You can also have liability coverage if you are not at your home. Your liability coverage can still apply if your dog is walking and knocks someone to the floor or injures them.
What coverage do you require?
Standard homeowners policies typically include personal liability coverage of $100,000 to $500,000. Although it may seem difficult to believe that your homeowner’s policy will ever be exhausted, the cost of an injury can quickly spiral if you don’t have enough insurance. You also have other protections under your liability coverage. You could also be held responsible for personal injury and property damage if your child burns down someone else’s home. A lawsuit in such a case could result in your net worth being wiped out, along with your savings , your property’s equity , and all your assets.
Consider your future earnings and whether you have multiple homes. Also consider if you have children who could be at greater risk for damage. It may be beneficial to add excess liability or umbrella coverage depending on the assets that you wish to protect.
If you are unsure, speak to your agent and ask for a review of your renters or homeowners policy. To ensure that you get the personal liability coverage that you need, read the fine print of any quote.
What is the cost of personal liability insurance?
A homeowners insurance policy with a $250,000.00 dwelling value is at an average cost of $1,312 per annum in the United States. Your coverage limits and your location will determine the amount and percentage you pay for personal liability coverage. You will typically pay more for a policy that has $500,000 of liability coverage than for one with $100,000.
Who has personal liability insurance?
To protect your financial future, you may want to add personal liability insurance if you are responsible for your living expenses. Add up your net worth and determine the coverage amount. The homeowner’s insurance personal liability limits range from $100,000 to $500,000. Consider purchasing an umbrella policy or increasing your personal liability coverage if you have more assets and a high net-worth.
Personal liability insurance has many benefits
Personal injury coverage may help you cover legal fees, settlement costs, and litigation costs if you are sued for personal injury or property damage in your home. Your out-of-pocket costs could quickly mount if you don’t have personal liability coverage, or have a low coverage limit. If you don’t have adequate coverage to compensate the injured party, your savings, assets, and vehicles could be at risk.
Personal liability insurance helps to limit out-of pocket expenses if you are responsible for an accident, personal injury, or property damage. This could be an important part of your financial plan.
How to obtain personal liability insurance
Check your personal liability coverages. Your net worth and the value of your belongings increases, so make sure you contact your agent to ensure that you have sufficient coverage. If you don’t have a homeowners insurance policy, you may be able purchase an individual liability policy.
Questions frequently asked
What is personal liability?
If you or a relative are responsible for the injuries or property damage of someone else, personal liability insurance will protect you financially. Personal liability coverage is a common feature of many insurance policies. Check with your agent.
What personal liability insurance do I need?
Personal liability insurance is an excellent option if you have assets that you wish to protect. Personal liability insurance covers you for the costs of medical bills, damages to property, and any court judgements. You could lose your home and other assets if you don’t have personal liability coverage.
What is the cost of personal liability insurance?
Personal liability insurance costs are affected by many factors. The main factors that affect the cost of personal liability insurance are where you live, how much coverage you require and the history of claims. You might want to shop around for insurance quotes to ensure you get the best price and coverage.