If someone gets hurt on your property, you may be liable for their medical bills or other necessary expenses as a result of possible property negligence. Common issues that can result in injury include unsecured pools, trampoline accidents, dog bites, loose handrails, a slip and fall on ice, or a trip and fall from uneven concrete. Sometimes a person that has been injured on someone’s property will sue that person’s homeowners’ insurance. (Businesses have a huge risk if a customer is injured on their property, which means they must be extra cautious of potential hazards.) If you don’t have homeowners’ insurance and you get sued, you may need to pay all fees out of your own pocket.
Personal liability coverage on a homeowners’ insurance policy can often come to your aid, helping with court or attorney fees, medical fees, and other injury-related expenses. The amount of coverage will depend on your insurance provider, the type of coverage you have, and any restrictions on your policy. Some ways to avoid this risk is to secure your home as best you can. Our suggestions include:
- Fence in your trampoline and ensure neighbor kids can’t get in without your approval. You may also want to get permission slips for neighbors and friends when they use your trampoline. Insurance companies estimate around 10,000 hospital-required trampoline accidents per year.
- Cover your swimming pool, childproof the area, and never allow kids in the pool unsupervised. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates about 390 deaths per year as a result of drowning at a swimming pool or spa.
- Use non-slip rugs to prevent slips and falls. This is especially important if you have elderly residents or visitors at your home.
- Make sure walkways and steps are clear of snow and ice during the winter months. The CDC estimates almost one million slips and falls from ice each year.
- Place “no trespassing” signs around your property if necessary. This may seem extreme, but if you are a corner property on a busy road, it may save you from potential liability.
- Fix uneven concrete to avoid a trip and fall, and repair crumbling, soft, or sunken concrete, especially along curbs and steps. If you have a tree with a root system lifting the concrete, address the tree’s needs as well as the concrete repairs.
- Address broken branches or trees that could fall on the property. OSHA estimates over 100 landscape and tree fatalities each year.
- Make sure you have the appropriate handrails on all steps and that decks are secure. If you’re unsure about your property’s codes, you can have a home inspector check it out.
Even if you have homeowners’ insurance, you want your family and visitors to be safe on your property. Lift Right Concrete is your professional concrete source for repairs and replacements. Concrete walkways and steps must be safe at all times. Contact our professionals to get an estimate on your property. You’ll be surprised at what we can do to sunken, lifting, and uneven concrete. You don’t always have to replace it!
