Homeowners Insurance Claims and the Holidays
By: Mary Thompson, Capstone Brokerage President, October 27, 2014
Halloween and the upcoming holidays bring many visitors to homes across the United States. Many people may not be aware of risks around the home that lead to homeowner’s insurance claims. Some may be surprising. As a homeowner, it is best to have knowledge and be prepared for these risks. These are some common homeowner’s insurance claims that spike during the holidays.
1. Home accidents: These are accidents that take place when a person is injured while at a home. A common home accident that correlates to this time of year is injuries while decorating for the holidays. As a homeowner, please be careful when hanging Christmas lights, and be aware of objects that may cause guests to trip in or around the home. This is especially important on Halloween. Please be sure that the path is clear for all the little ones coming to your door. See Happy Halloween for more tips on keeping your doorstep safe.
2. Falling trees: Often with colder weather older trees become a hazard to the home. Snow, wind and winter storms cause hundreds of trees are uprooted and damage homes all across the country. This is particularly a problem where there are large mature trees. As a homeowner it is smart to be sure to trim all branches and remove trees that pose a risk to the home or even a vehicle parked on or near the property.
3. Dog bites: Pets are also considered a member of your household, making homeowners liable for injuries they cause. In the event that a family pet attacks or bites a person on your property, liability insurance will cover damages and injuries on most homeowner’s insurance policies. Be aware that some insurance companies have made exclusions or have regulations on certain breeds of dogs. It is important to be sure your insurance company is aware of pets residing in the home to maintain proper coverage if something were to happen. With Halloween just days away, it is smart to put dogs away to help protect not only yourself but those knocking on your door.
4. Intoxicated guests: While we hope that most holiday parties don’t lead to injury due to intoxicated guests, it is important for homeowners to understand their liability for injuries caused by guests to other people or property. Many states have Social Host Liability Laws that will allow a person who is injured in a car accident due to drinking and driving to sue the people or business who served the liquor to the individual at fault. As a homeowner, don’t let your guests drink and drive. Be prepared to take away someone’s keys if they drink too much eggnog or wine at your dinner party.
5. Injured service workers preforming work on the home: While this may seem like something that should be covered by the company sending the individual to your home to provide a service, that is not always the case. The company’s workers compensation policy may cover the individual’s losses, however, if you are found to be at fault for the cause of the injury, you may be responsible. There is a risk that you can be found liable for the injuries and your homeowners insurance may be required to cover the cost of the claim.
6. Theft: Theft can occur while you are present so be sure to keep valuables in a safe place when anyone is in your home. Although it may not be a safety concern, homeowners still need to be safe and prepared in the event that items are stolen from the home. I once had a Christmas party at my home where my check book, and some jewelry was stolen, I was forced to file a claim due to the amount and nature of loss.
Homeowners should always take steps to prevent potential safety risks. If an injury occurs seek witnesses and statements to help the claims process run smoothly. Most importantly with if any injury occurs at your home please report it immediately to your insurance company and/or broker.
