Homeowner’s Insurance – What Does It Cover?

Maryland slip and fall lawyersMost people think of homeowner’s or renter’s insurance as being in place to cover losses to the property in case of fire, theft, or some other physical damage to their home or property. While homeowner’s and renter’s insurance does cover these losses, it also provides liability coverage.

What is liability coverage?

Liability coverage is insurance that will pay the claim of a person who is injured due to negligence, including their economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) and non-economic damages (pain, suffering, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life). If you get hurt on someone else’s property, and your injury occurred because of the property owner’s negligence, you can make a claim against their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance to cover your injuries.

If I get hurt on someone else's property, do I have a lawsuit?

People often think that if they are injured on someone else’s property, the property owner is automatically liable to them. However, this is incorrect. If you trip over your shoelace at someone else’s house and fall down and hurt yourself, then the property owner is not responsible because they did not cause your injury. Conversely, if you are at someone’s house and they know their stair railing is loose and don’t warn you about it, and then you fall because the railing came out of the wall when you grabbed it, the homeowner is responsible because they were negligent. In this scenario you could make a claim against the liability coverage on their homeowner or renters insurance policy.

Are dog bites covered by homeowner's and renter's insurance?

Liability for dog attacks is also covered by homeowner’s and renter’s insurance. In Maryland there is a presumption when a dog attacks someone that the owner knew the dog could be vicious. If you are attacked by someone’s dog you can potentially be compensated by the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.

If you were injured by the negligence of someone else or by their dog, please call the Baltimore personal injury attorneys at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. at 410-730-7737, or fill out our contact form. We have upheld the rights of Maryland injury victims for more than 35 years, and we may be able to help you, too.