Does homeowners insurance cover personal injury to the homeowner?

When it comes to injuries at home, your homeowners insurance doesn’t work the way you might think. If you or someone in your household gets hurt inside your home, your policy won’t cover medical costs. That includes everything from slipping in the shower to tripping over a loose rug. Unfortunately, those expenses fall on you.

However, your policy does include liability coverage, which is designed to protect you financially if someone outside your household gets injured and you’re legally responsible. For example, if a guest falls down your stairs or your dog bites someone at the park, your liability coverage can help cover their medical bills and even legal fees if you’re sued.

Does homeowners insurance cover personal injury?

No, homeowners insurance does not cover the homeowner’s injuries. That means if you – or a member of your household – is injured in your home, you won’t be able to file a home insurance claim. 

However, the liability portion of your home insurance provides financial protection if someone else gets hurt and you’re legally responsible, like if a guest slips and falls on your patio.

Some policies also include medical payments coverage, which helps pay minor medical expenses for guests injured on your property, regardless of fault. But again, this does not extend to household members.

You may be able to add a personal injury endorsement to your policy, but it doesn’t cover bodily injuries. Instead, it covers costs associated with slander, libel, or false arrest and imprisonment. 

What types of injuries are covered under homeowners insurance?

Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover your injuries but will pay for someone else’s. Here’s how it works:

• Medical payments to others coverage helps pay for a guest’s injuries, no matter who was at fault. Most standard home insurance policies include this coverage, which is usually between $1,000 and $5,000.
• Liability coverage pays for someone else’s medical bills if you’re found responsible, like if your dog bites a neighbor. It can also help cover legal fees and settlements if the injured person sues you for lost wages or pain and suffering.

How much liability coverage you need will depend on personal factors, such as whether you own a dog, have a pool, and the overall value of your assets. 

“Standard home insurance policies typically include a personal liability coverage limit starting at $100,000. However, insurance professionals typically recommend their customers consider higher limits, like $300,000 or $500,000, depending on their assets and risk factors,” says Mark Friedlander, senior director of media relations at the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I). 

Friedlander also recommends a personal umbrella policy.

“[This] provides coverage limits starting at $1 million and offers additional protection for home and auto liability,” says Friedlander.

How can homeowners protect themselves against personal injury?

To reduce your risk of bodily injury at home, stay on top of routine maintenance, like fixing broken floorboards, loose railings, or unsafe stairwells. And since homeowners insurance won’t cover your injuries, it’s essential to have strong health insurance to handle any medical expenses that come your way.

Common injuries your homeowners insurance won’t cover

Common instances when home insurance won’t pay out for the homeowner’s bodily injury include:

• Slipping and falling down your stairs or outside on your driveway
• Injuring yourself on your trampoline or in your pool
• Your dog bites you or knocks you over
• Falling off a ladder

Your health insurance — not your home insurance — would be responsible for covering these types of injuries.

Tips for avoiding injury lawsuits as a homeowners 

You can lessen the chances of someone getting hurt inside your home by following these safety practices: 

• Keep your stairs and sidewalk up to code. 
• If freezing weather is forecasted, salt your driveway and walkway areas. Shovel if there is snow. 
• Keep an eye on children and other guests who are participating in a higher-risk activity, such as jumping on a trampoline or swimming in your pool. 
• Keep your dog in a fenced yard or on a leash when you are off your property. 

It’s also a good idea to have enough liability coverage in place to cover all your assets in the event of an expensive lawsuit. If your home insurance liability limits  — $300,000 to $500,000 — wouldn’t fully protect your assets in a worst-case scenario, consider adding umbrella coverage, which provides extra protection in $1 million increments.

What covers your medical bills if you’re hurt at home

When it comes to your own injuries, make sure you have a health insurance policy in place. This covers your medical bills if you get injured or sick. You may also want to consider disability insurance, which is offered by many employers. Disability insurance helps replace a portion of your income while you’re unable to work and recovering from an injury or illness.

Homeowners insurance offers important protection. But when it comes to injuries you or your household members sustain, it’s not the safety net many assume. To stay protected, make sure you have solid health insurance, consider disability coverage, and review your liability limits regularly. The right combination of coverage and preventative steps can help you avoid financial setbacks and protect your home and well-being.

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