Recreational Vehicles: "Insuring" Safety

As much fun as recreational vehicles can be, they come with their own set of motor vehicle insurance issues. For many of them, there are no standard insurance coverages. Here are some of the concerns you might encounter:

All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), Snowmobiles, and Go-Carts. Depending on your state of residence, these vehicles may or may not be covered under an automobile insurance policy. You may be able to obtain separate liability coverage if a vehicle is used on your property. Your homeowners policy may also provide liability coverage if your vehicle is used on your property. However, property damage (to the vehicle) is usually not included in either of the coverage possibilities. Most likely, if you are a frequent user of these vehicles, you will want to inquire about a separate policy to help protect you from property and liability exposures.

Towable Camper Trailers. All trailers require considerable skill to tow, usually because of their size. If an insured vehicle tows the trailer, your personal liability is usually covered automatically. However, you may want to add comprehensive or collision coverage to cover your trailer’s value.

Motorized RVs. In some states, policies insure only newer vehicles, while others require a surcharge on older models. Permanently installed furnishings may be covered by an auto policy. If you lease your motor home as a means to recoup your investment, a higher insurance rate may apply.

Recreational vehicles can be fun, but they can also pose unique risks. Protect your property and personal liability before an accident or injury occurs. Remember, these coverages can vary by state. Give us a call and we’ll be happy to discuss your needs in detail.

Safety Tips for
Scooter Riders

Riding foot-propelled scooters may be a fun activity. But serious injury may result without the proper safety precautions and equipment.

To reduce scooter-related injuries, here are a few safety guidelines for children recommended by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC, 2006):

• Always wear safety gear, such as a helmet, kneepads, and elbow pads.
• Always ride scooters on smooth surfaces, such as sidewalks or paved, off-road paths. Children should avoid traffic, streets, and other surfaces with water, sand, gravel, or dirt.
• Always ride during daylight hours and with adult supervision.
  

Wearing safety gear can help prevent injuries for children riding scooters; thus, they spend less time in the emergency room and more time enjoying the ride!

Home Sweet Home: The Power
of Your Homeowners Policy

If you’re like most homeowners, the importance of homeowners insurance is clear. That is, if your home were to suffer any damage as a result of fire, theft, lightning, heavy snow, or high winds, your homeowners policy would likely cover the cost of any damage. But, did you know that your homeowners policy may also protect you from property damage or injury for which you are legally held responsible? To understand the full scope of a typical homeowners policy, consider a few hypothetical situations in which personal liability could become an issue:

1. Your daughter is away at college and leaves some objects on the floor of her dorm room. A dorm counselor comes into the room, trips over the objects, and is injured in a fall. The counselor decides to sue you or your daughter for injuries.
2. Your son lets a friend walk his dog while he stops to help a neighbor. At the end of the block, the dog gets upset and bites a young child playing on the sidewalk. The parents of the young child initiate legal action against you as the dog’s owner.
3. You send your housekeeper to the grocery store. In the parking lot, she loses control of a shopping cart that strikes an elderly man, causing him to fall and break his hip. The man seeks legal action against you for the recovery of medical expenses.
4. You are cutting down a tree on your property. The tree falls the wrong way and lands on the roof of your neighbor’s house. The neighbor moves to a motel while the roof is being repaired and sues you for property damage and motel expenses.

Unwrapping the Package

Part I of a typical homeowners policy covers damage to your property. However, you may be surprised to learn that Part II of the standard homeowners policy includes comprehensive personal liability insurance. This coverage can help protect you and your family in the case that a family member’s negligence causes injuries to others. The policy provides protection up to a stated limit for bodily injury to others and property damages for which you are legally liable, as well as for legal defense expenses in the event of a lawsuit.

Now, let’s revisit each of the four scenarios:

1. In the first situation, under the definition of “insured location,” a family member is covered for negligence in a temporary residence. Under most policies, a dorm room is considered the temporary residence of a college student.
2. In situation two, liability protection extends to individuals legally responsible for (having your permission to use or control) your animals or watercraft. Consequently, you and your son’s friend would be covered in the second situation. However, if your son’s friend took the dog for a walk without a family member’s permission, your policy’s liability coverage may not provide coverage for the friend.
3. The third scenario is a covered event because the injury was caused by a “residence employee” (your housekeeper) in the course of being employed by you, the insured. Coverage extends to such persons away from the insured location (the covered residence).
4. In situation four, you would be covered for damage you caused to someone else’s property, including any loss of use arising from that damage.
   

Ultimately, although it may contain some exclusions and limitations, the personal liability section of your homeowners policy provides important protection for your “home sweet home.” To review your current homeowners coverage, or if you expect to purchase a home in the near future, give us a call. We would be happy to assist you with all your insurance questions and needs.