Tag Archives: home insurance

Home Insurance and Your Pets

Pets bring so much joy to a home. Still, many Colorado homeowners are surprised to learn how pets can factor into their home insurance through Colling Insurance Services, Inc., serving Lakewood, CO. Whether you have a playful puppy or a laid-back older cat, it’s worth understanding how your furry friends might impact your coverage.

Liability Protection for Pet Incidents

Most standard home insurance policies include liability coverage, which can help pay for injuries or property damage if your pet causes harm to someone else. This often arises in situations involving dog bites or when a pet knocks someone over. If a guest trips over your energetic dog and needs medical care, your liability insurance could help cover the bills and even legal fees if there’s a lawsuit.

Breed and Animal Restrictions

It’s essential to note that not all pets are treated equally by insurance companies. Some insurers place restrictions or higher premiums on certain dog breeds they consider higher risk. Exotic pets, such as large snakes or certain types of birds, may not be covered at all under typical pet insurance policies. If you have a pet that’s on a restricted list, your agent can help you explore options, such as specialty liability policies.

Damage to Your Own Property

Homeowners’ insurance generally won’t pay for damage your pet causes to your own belongings or house. For instance, if your dog scratches up the hardwood floors or your cat tears the curtains, that’s usually something you’ll have to handle out of pocket. Home insurance is mainly there to protect you if your pet damages someone else’s property or causes injury.

Having pets is one of life’s greatest joys, but it’s wise to understand where your home insurance stands. A quick conversation with your agent at Colling Insurance Services, Inc., serving Lakewood, CO, can clarify what’s covered, what exclusions might apply, and how to make sure your home and your pets are both properly protected. Contact us today to learn more.

Home Insurance Personal Liability Coverage: What It May Cover

Home insurance does more than protect your house and belongings—it typically also includes personal liability coverage. This coverage may provide protection if you or a family member are sued. Here’s a look at what a typical home insurance policy’s personal liability coverage might protect against.

Injuries on Your Property

If someone injures themselves on your property, personal liability may cover a potential lawsuit related to the accident. Here are a few examples of what could happen:

  • A guest trips over laundry on the stairs, falls, and sustains serious injuries.
  • A visiting family’s toddler sticks their finger in an outlet and gets electrocuted.
  • A neighbor’s child is injured on your trampoline when unsupervised despite you taking appropriate safety measures.
  • A package delivery driver hits their head when slipping on ice in the driveway, a common concern during Lakewood, CO winters.

Injury coverage is often limited to those who don’t live with you, such as visiting family, friends, and delivery drivers.

Damage to Others’ Property

If you somehow cause significant damage to someone else’s property, personal liability may cover the cost of repairs.

This could theoretically involve a child breaking the neighbor’s window with a baseball, although a broken window probably doesn’t justify a home insurance claim. A much more serious situation would be if your house in Lakewood, CO, caught fire and spread to the neighbor’s roof or yard.

Defamation Claims

Defamation includes both libel (written) and slander (spoken). These are false statements that you make which significantly harm another party.

Personal liability often covers defamation lawsuits, including legal fees and any settlement. We at Colling Insurance Services Inc. can provide more details about this aspect (or any aspect) of personal liability coverage.

Ensure You’re Protected

In today’s litigious world, personal liability coverage is especially important. Contact Colling Insurance Services Inc. for help ensuring you’re adequately protected.