If you either in a home or an apartment complex, it's good to have renters insurance coverage to protect your personal items from being damaged, lost, or stolen.
Standard policies for renter's typically include some sort of personal liability protection to cover any injuries that occur to someone while visiting your home.
Like other insurance, coverage for renters is important because life is full of unexpected events and you might not have the funds to pay for everything. Having personal property protection should give you peace of mind.
Your renter's insurance company should have you covered if they make a personal injury claim.
In the article below, we will find out if renters insurance covers slip and fall injuries.
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Renters insurance will cover what you own.
For the most part, the property owner will have landlord insurance to cover the building and any damages due to negligence.
What's up to you is a standard renters insurance policy to cover things like property damage and loss, like theft, vandalism, and fire.
If you don't have a renters insurance policy, you likely won't have any financial protection and will have to bear the burden of a loss on your own.
You could cover losses from accidents, including impacts from vehicles, falling objects that hit your property, fire, smoke, and water damage from plumbing or appliances.
It can also cover weather impacts, like the weight of snow, sleet, or ice.
Renters liability coverage should also handle lightning, windstorms, hail, and water damage or overflow of water from the freezing of plumbing systems.
Malicious mischief like vandalism, theft, riots or civil commotion, and aircraft and vehicle damage should be covered as well.
And if your home is deemed uninhabitable from a covered loss, renters insurance coverage provides additional living expenses for the shortest time needed to repair or replace the premises.
Or the people in your household can settle in another home for up to 24 months.
There are special coverage limits that apply to certain types of personal property, including:
Most renter's belongings cost more than you think to replace.
The average renter has over $35,000 worth of belongings that likely aren't covered by a landlord’s policy.
Every renter should take the time to add up the approximate cost of their valuables, like their computer, television, stereo, furniture, jewelry, and clothing.
Renter's insurance will also cover much more than personal property.
Most renter's insurance will act as liability insurance as well.
Having liability coverage means that in the event of a covered loss, your insurer will help cover the additional costs if you’re held responsible for injuring another person or damaging their property, including your landlord.
Some coverage types also include paying for legal expenses after an accident.
This coverage applies whether the incident occurred within your residence or elsewhere.
Slip and fall accidents in a house or apartment due to an unsafe condition are typically a type of claim that's covered by renter's insurance.
Below are a few examples of types of accidents where the renter will likely be held liable:
Slip and falls are typically caused by dangerous conditions inside a tenant’s unit or by conditions present in common areas of the property.
Slippery floors, insufficient lighting on walkways, damaged stairs and railings, and other unsafe conditions can easily cause bodily injury.
Weather can also contribute to a slip and fall.
Snow, ice, and rain increase the risk of a slip and fall in entryways and common areas that aren't cleared properly.
If landlords neglect to maintain these areas and it causes an accident, the landlord is liable for the injured person.
Proving negligence on behalf of the landlord requires an investigation and sufficient evidence.
Your actions immediately after a fall will have a massive impact on the future legal action you decide to take.
Even if an accident occurred in your rental home or apartment building, the landlord could still be held accountable depending on the circumstances.
If the landlord is found negligent for a visitor's injury, the landlord would be accountable for the visitor's injuries and resulting medical treatment.
Let's say the floor in the rental property is uneven and a visitor slips and trips, resulting in an injury that needs medical care and time off from work.
If the landlord was aware of the uneven floor, promised to correct it, but failed to do so within a reasonable time, they could be liable as the responsible party for the injured person's injuries, lost earnings, and other damages.
Most residential leases require the landlord to at least maintain the structural portions of the property.
Many states have habitability regulations that require the owner to keep the rental unit in excellent condition.
Your landlord will likely be held liable for the accident if they are responsible for the defective area, were aware of the issue, but failed to correct it within a reasonable time.
Always notify your landlord right away if any repairs need to be addressed to the rental property, and take note of the date you informed them.
Proving negligence is essential in any personal injury case, including slip and falls and premises liability.
Residential slips, trips, and falls can be caused by various maintenance problems like broken handrails or uneven floors.
If a guest files a lawsuit or insurance claim and the court rules in their favor, the individual or entity found liable for the accident is accountable for their medical bills and other damages.
A typical renters insurance policy will cover these damages, but uninsured renters may be on the hook.
Property owners have a duty to maintain their premises to a reasonable standard and fix any dangers promptly.
Proving fault or negligence can be difficult.
Property managers will argue that you had some or all of the fault in your accident.
To prove a property owner’s negligence, you will have to prove that either:
Timing is a critical factor in slip and fall cases.
For example, you may have a claim if a dangerous condition was present for an extended period, and the property owner didn't do anything to remedy or warn of the hazardous condition.
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, you should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.
An experienced and dedicated personal injury attorney with Helping The Hurt will do everything in their power to obtain compensation for you.
Proving negligence can be a challenge, but having an aggressive law firm on your side can make all the difference.
Contact the experienced slip and fall attorneys with Helping The Hurt today so they can help with your injury claim and get you the compensation you deserve.
References:
https://www.statefarm.com/insurance/home-and-property/renters/coverage-options
https://www.mcdonaldinjurylaw.com/blog/personal-injury/slip-and-fall-on-a-rental-property-who-is-at-fault/
https://pocketsense.com/renters-insurance-cover-insured-slip-fall-injury-7207.html
https://bencrump.com/slip-and-fall-lawyer/how-do-you-prove-negligence-in-a-slip-and-fall-case/