Renters insurance protects a policyholder’s personal possessions from covered events like fire, theft, and some natural disasters. It can also cover renters if a visitor at their house or apartment suffers injuries.
If you were injured in someone’s home, you have a right to be compensated for your losses when someone else was at fault for the accident. Under premises liability law, the liable party is typically the person who lives in and is responsible for the home. They have a duty to keep visitors safe by fixing or warning of any dangerous conditions they know about.
How Does Renters Insurance Work?
Most renters insurance policies protect policyholders against lawsuits when other people get hurt in their home because of their negligence. If you are injured at a friend’s or family member’s home, you may be reluctant to pursue legal action against them. However, you may feel more comfortable knowing their renters insurance policy may cover your losses and should even cover their legal fees.
When it comes to personal injuries, renters insurance provides the following coverage:
Liability Coverage for Injuries in the Home
When the policyholder is found at fault for an accident on their property, their renters insurance should cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.
Liability Coverage for Injuries Outside the Home
Some policies may even cover injuries the policyholder is responsible for that don’t happen in their home or apartment, depending on the circumstances.
Medical Payments to Others
A renters insurance policy may also have a limited amount of no-fault insurance coverage for a guest’s medical bills. This coverage applies when a visitor to a renter’s home is injured, whether or not the policyholder was at fault.
Insurance pays up to the limit of the coverage purchased. General liability coverage limits start at about $100,000. The Insurance Information Institute (III) says some experts recommend that renters buy at least $300,000 worth of protection.
A renter may also purchase what’s known as “umbrella coverage” or an “excess liability” policy for an additional level of coverage. Depending on the insurer, renters may be able to purchase umbrella insurance coverage worth $1 million or more.
A Few Specific Scenarios Covered by Renters Insurance
Renters insurance can cover multiple injury scenarios, including:
- Slip and falls: If you slip and fall in someone’s apartment because of a dangerous condition, their renters insurance should cover your medical expenses and other losses. However, you may have to file a claim against the landlord’s liability insurance instead if the injury occurred in a common area, like on an uneven sidewalk.
- Dog bites: If a dog bites you at someone’s rental property, they are responsible if they were negligent or knew (or should have known) the dog was dangerous. Their renters insurance should cover your damages. There are exceptions if they can show you provoked the dog or were trespassing, though.
- Swimming pool accidents: Rental insurance may cover damages from accidents like drowning, diving injuries, and falls. However, the insurance company may dispute the claim if a visitor is injured because of their own negligence, such as running or diving into shallow water.
- Propane gas explosions: Injuries such as concussions from a propane tank explosion, burns in a fire, or suffocation due to a propane tank leak should be covered by renters liability insurance when caused by the tenant’s negligence. However, if there is evidence that the propane tank manufacturer’s or gas supplier’s negligence led to the accident, filing a claim against them may be necessary.
Limitations of Renters Insurance
Insurance providers are for-profit companies, and insurance adjusters are obligated to limit payouts when possible. If an adjuster questions the actual cause of an accident, they may dispute the claim and deny payment. At this point, the injured party must file a lawsuit and demonstrate the home renter’s liability in court to get the compensation they are owed.
Identifying the cause of an injury is crucial to success when pursuing a personal injury or wrongful death claim. San Antonio personal injury lawyer Troy Brookover works with private investigators, accident reconstruction specialists, and other professionals to examine what caused the accident and your injuries. Troy and his legal team can then determine liability for an accident you have suffered at a rental home and calculate the full extent of your losses to seek maximum compensation for you.
Additional Coverage Options
If the renters insurance policy doesn’t cover all or any of your losses, you may have to seek compensation elsewhere. Your personal injury attorney can help identify these other sources, including:
- Third parties, such as a landlord or product manufacturer
- A personal injury lawsuit against the negligent renter directly
- Umbrella coverage if the tenant has a policy
- Your own health insurance
Talk to Our San Antonio Personal Attorneys
If you are injured at a home rented by a friend or acquaintance in San Antonio, get the medical care you need and ask whether renters insurance or other coverage is available. If an insurer refuses to cooperate with you or offers any push-back on your claim, contact our legal firm.
Determining who is responsible for an accident requires careful investigation and evidence. Our experienced San Antonio personal injury lawyer can establish liability for your injuries and aggressively seek maximum compensation for you. Attorney Troy A. Brookover has over 30 years of legal experience inside and outside the courtroom. Our firm has assisted thousands of clients over the years and has secured several six- and seven-figure awards for them. One former client says: “I did not have to do anything but get well.”
Let The Law Offices of Troy A. Brookover fight for the compensation you deserve. There’s no fee for our services unless we recover money for you. Contact us today for a free and confidential legal consultation.
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