If someone gets injured on your rental property, you could end up facing large legal fees, medical bills, or other costs. Thankfully, renters insurance may be able to help you out. Coverage often pays for injuries, damages, and losses to other people when you’re at fault. However, as with other types of insurance, there are limits and exclusions to renters insurance.
Key Points
• Renters insurance covers injuries to others when the policyholder is at fault, including medical expenses and legal fees.
• Coverage excludes the policyholder, family, and guests in common areas.
• Common scenarios include a guest’s trip and fall or pet bites.
• Prevent injuries by maintaining your rental, inspecting it regularly, and reporting issues.
• If an injury occurs, seek medical help, document the incident, notify the landlord, and contact insurance.
Understanding Injury Coverage and Renters Insurance
Renters insurance usually includes coverage for personal liability, personal property, and medical payments. Let’s take a closer look at each type.
Personal liability pays for injuries or property damage to someone else when you’re at fault. Typically, renters insurance won’t cover your medical expenses if you’re injured in your rental, nor will it cover those of your roommates.
Personal property is what you likely think of when you think about renters insurance. It covers the cost of your personal belongings if they get damaged, lost, or destroyed in certain situations, such as a fire, storm, or explosion.
Medical payments will usually foot the bill for small medical expenses if someone else gets injured in your rental dwelling.
Common Scenarios Where Injury Coverage Applies
Most people don’t think about personal liability coverage for a rental unit. However, there are multiple scenarios where it can come in handy.
Let’s say a friend is in your apartment and trips and falls on a wet floor. If that friend sues you for their medical expenses, renters insurance can help cover your legal expenses as well as any medical expenses that you might be responsible for, up to your policy’s limit. It may also extend to cover lost wages and even death benefits if the injury results in a fatality.
Another scenario: Your pet bites someone away from your home. Renters insurance will generally cover the cost of the damages up to the policy’s limit as part of your renters insurance pet liability coverage. But note that some insurers have restrictions on certain dog breeds, so check your policy to ensure that your four-legged friend is covered.
Injury Coverage Limits and Exclusions
As mentioned, liability coverage is included with most standard renters insurance policies, but there is a coverage limit — usually $100,000. You may be able to choose a higher coverage limit, but it will likely mean paying a higher monthly premium.
There are also situational exclusions to renters insurance injury coverage. Renters insurance generally doesn’t cover injuries from car accidents, for instance, nor will it cover guests who are injured in common areas of your rental unit. (If someone slips and falls outside of your apartment building, your landlord’s liability insurance would cover their expenses.)
If you or a family member who lives with you gets injured at home, rental insurance will not cover the costs. You’d need to use your own health insurance coverage to help pay for the cost of injuries.
In addition, renters insurance likely won’t cover injuries related to your home business, though you can purchase separate business insurance liability coverage for added protection.
Preventing Injuries and Liability Claims in Your Rental
While it’s impossible to prevent all accidents, there are some things that you can do to help prevent injuries and liability claims in your rental.
A good place to start is to keep your rental well maintained. Regularly conduct inspections around your home to make sure everything is safe for you and your guests. And if you spot any issues, be sure to report them to your landlord so they can address them promptly.
What to Do If Someone Is Injured (and Renters Insurance Might Apply)
If someone is injured on your rental property, your first order of business is to get the person necessary medical help. Next, document the incident by taking pictures and writing down details. Be sure to also notify your property manager or landlord.
It’s also a good idea to contact your renters insurance provider about the incident. Ask about any deadlines for reporting claims and find out your coverage does — and doesn’t — include.
The Takeaway
Does renters insurance cover injuries? In many cases, yes. Renters insurance should cover certain situations, like if someone is injured in your rental or if your dog bites someone on the street.
However, there are exceptions and limits to know about. A policy typically won’t cover any injuries you or a housemate sustain in your rental unit, for example. And renters insurance will also only cover costs up to your policy’s limit, so if the legal fees or medical bills are high, you may still be on the hook to pay the balance. Still, renters insurance can offer tenants a degree of protection and peace of mind.
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FAQ
If a guest gets hurt in my apartment, what does insurance cover?
If a guest gets hurt in your apartment, your renters insurance will likely cover their medical expenses, your legal fees, and perhaps other losses, such as lost wages, up to your policy’s limits.
Does renters insurance cover my injuries if I get hurt at home?
No, renters insurance generally does not cover injuries to the policyholder or their family members who live in the rental unit. If you are injured, your own health insurance would cover your injuries.
How much liability coverage should I have for potential injuries?
It’s up to each person to decide how much personal liability coverage to have in place for potential injuries. When weighing your options, consider factors like how risky your property is, your assets, and your net worth.
What if my pet injures someone away from my home?
If your pet injures someone away from your home, renters insurance will generally cover the cost of the injuries up to the policy’s limit. However, some policies have restrictions on certain dog breeds. Renters insurance also won’t cover damage a pet inflicts on your belongings or those of your housemates.
Are injuries related to a home business covered?
Renters insurance likely won’t cover injuries related to a home business.
Photo credit: iStock/Liubomyr Vorona
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