The Real Scare of Halloween: Why You Need Homeowners Insurance with Liability
When considering a homeowners’ insurance policy, it is imperative to consider personal and family liability protection as part of the policy. Accidents happen, and you need to be proactive about your coverage before it’s too late. With Halloween being right around the corner and increased liability and property damage risks, not having a comprehensive insurance policy can be scarier than Halloween and here’s why:
Trick-or-Treaters on Your Property
According to the National Retail Federation, 69% of Americans plan to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween to celebrate. If you have your porch lights on, you are welcoming people onto your property, and this can pose a number of risks. While giving out candy and complimenting kids on their costumes is a fun tradition, if a trick-or-treater hurts themselves on your property, you could face serious consequences such as legal fees, medical fees, and more. Some common liability incidents that occur each year include, but are not limited to: trick-or-treaters tripping on homeowners’ sidewalks or falling because of bulky costumes, children having allergic reactions to candy or other sweet treats, and pets getting spooked by the unfamiliar visitors and causing harm. Hand out candy worry-free this year knowing you’re covered if a mishap occurs.
Accidents at Parties
Pumpkin carving contests and alcohol are popular elements at any Halloween party, but are also accident-prone elements. Sharp tools used to carve pumpkins and burning candles to light up jack-o’-lanterns are obvious risks for party participants, but did you know that you could be held responsible and face serious consequences if one of your alcohol-infused guests causes harm to someone else’s property or to another person? In addition, without liability insurance, you could face serious consequences if an underaged party guest gets a hold of alcohol. Host Halloween parties with confidence knowing you won’t have to face haunting repercussions.
Spooky Season Pranks
It is undeniable that the number of pranks and damage to personal property spike during spooky season. In fact, there are 17% more insurance claims for theft and vandalism on Halloween versus any other day of the year. If your personal property is not protected, you could be fronting the costs of fixing car vandalism, repairing damage to your home, replacing smashed mailboxes, and more. In addition, if you plan on decorating your home or dressing up to surprise trick-or-treaters, be sure to keep it reasonable as motion-sensored decorations and scary costumes can easily frighten children, causing them to run away or hurt themselves and suffer from physical or mental distress at your expense. It’s spooky out there– make sure you’re covered.
Consider these risks this season and don’t let a liability mishap haunt you. Make sure your homeowner’s insurance policy includes liability coverage to protect you and your family. We want you to have an enjoyable fall season with a peace of mind knowing that if something happens, we’ve got you covered. If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, don’t call the Ghostbusters, call Penny Insurance Agency! We’re here to help.
https://nrf.com/insights/holiday-and-seasonal-trends/halloween/halloween-data-center
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2016/10/31/430898.htm
https://www.esurance.com/info/homeowners/family-liability-protection-and-homeowners-insurance