Home insurance coverage will generally cover injuries sustained at a neighbor’s house. This will depend on the types of coverage on the homeowner’s insurance policy: homeowner’s personal injury liability and medical payments coverage may apply.
Home Insurance Coverage When Injured at Someone Else’s House
No one ever knows when an accident on someone else’s property will occur, for instance, a dog bite. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say 4.7 million dog bites occur each year, and more than half of the victims are children.
An accident could be a fall down the stairs, slipping on the walkway or getting struck by an object. Whatever the cause, the homeowner’s liability coverage typically pays for bodily injury up to the limits of the policy if the policyholder’s negligence is to blame for the injury.
This is assuming that the injuries were the result of negligence. When willful or malicious intent is involved, it’s unlikely an insurance company would cover those costs. Another type of coverage that may be available on a homeowner’s insurance policy is medical payments coverage.
This home insurance coverage pays for medical expenses related to the accident regardless of who is responsible for the accident, addressing costs such as:
- X-rays;
- surgery;
- hospitalization;
- rehabilitation; and
- medication.
When these types of coverage are available, the injured person can submit medical bills to the neighbor’s insurance company. But some injured parties may need to bring a lawsuit against a neighbor to recover the full extent of damages. In this case, liability homeowner’s insurance coverage could pay for the policyholder’s legal defense costs.
Health Insurance Coverage Could Help, Too
In the interim – before a settlement is reached – an injured person who was in an accident on a neighbor’s property could rely on his or her own health insurance coverage to pay medical bills. However, the health insurance company will likely place a lien on any future settlement recovered.
So in this case, once a settlement is recovered, the health insurance company may recover the money they pay for your medical care from the settlement.
Talking to an Attorney about Options When Injured at a Neighbor’s House
It can be difficult to know which way to go when injured at someone else’s house. It could be that initially the injuries appear to be minor, but if the recovery ends up being longer than expected, there can be a lot to lose.
This is why it’s a good idea to discuss the case with an attorney who can go over options for recovery from homeowner’s insurance coverage or via filing a claim against the neighbor.
Contact Bressman Law for legal help in these situations. We will evaluate the circumstances of the accident and injuries and determine if home insurance coverage would be enough to pay for personal injury-related costs or if other options should be explored.
Don’t delay learning what rights you have when the negligence of someone else results in physical harm. Call us now to set up your consultation to get started with your case: 877-538-1116.