As a homeowner, it’s essential to be prepared for the unexpected. One of the best ways to proactively protect yourself is by obtaining a robust homeowners insurance policy with liability coverage.
What Is Homeowners Liability Insurance?
Homeowners insurance typically includes personal liability insurance to financially protect you if you’re legally responsible for damaging someone else’s property or accidentally injuring someone at your home or away from it. Without homeowners liability insurance, you may be responsible for paying costly claims out of pocket. 
What Does Personal Liability Insurance Cover?
Personal liability insurance may help cover a wide range of incidents. The following are some examples of situations that may be covered by personal liability insurance as part of your homeowners policy:
- Someone is injured on your property. If someone is physically hurt on your property, your personal liability insurance may help pay their medical bills and other related costs. For example, if a guest falls due to a broken step, you may be sued for negligence. If you are found liable, your liability coverage may help protect your finances from legal expenses.
- A third party’s property is damaged. If your child or another resident of your home accidentally throws a ball through a neighbor’s window, the liability portion of your homeowners insurance may help cover the costs associated with the incident.
- A third party is bitten by a dog. If your dog bites another person or someone else’s pet, your personal liability coverage may help cover expenses related to the incident. If you have a pet, you should review your policy to know if incidents involving them are covered.
What Is Not Covered by Personal Liability Insurance?
Personal liability insurance may help cover a variety of situations related to bodily injury, but that does not mean it acts as health insurance. If a member of your household is injured on your property, medical bills will not be covered by personal liability insurance.
How Much Homeowners Liability Coverage Do I Need?
Most homeowners insurance policies provide a minimum of $100,000 for liability coverage, but you may want to increase that amount. Many insurance providers recommend purchasing at least $300,000 to $500,000 worth of liability coverage. You may also be able to extend your coverage by obtaining an umbrella or excess liability policy.
Contact Arbutina Insurance Group to discuss your homeowners insurance needs. We can work with you to ensure you have the right coverage for your situation.
This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.