Home Insurance Forum

Nov. 29, 2007

My brother-in-law severely injured his ankle helping a friend move furniture in the friend's home. The doctor thinks it will take up to nine months to fully heal. Can he make any claim against his friend's homeowners insurance and will this cause the insurance premium to escalate?

Janine, Ohio

Dear Jeanine,

Yes, your brother-in-law can make a claim against his friend's home insurance. The friend should also check his policy to see what his limit is on medical payments coverage; with any luck, your brother-in-law's medical bills won't surpass his friend's policy limit.

It's highly unlikely that the friend would experience increased insurance rates due to this one claim. For more on when your home insurance rates go up, see One home insurance claim? Not a problem!