Personal liability insurance is essential coverage for homeowners and renters. It helps to pay for medical bills, property damage, legal costs, and other expenses when your household is held liable for injuries or damage to someone else.
Personal liability isn’t required by law—but forgoing it could leave you with significant out-of-pocket expenses if you’re liable for damages or injuries to someone else. Your specific mortgage agreement may require it. It’s typically included as part of your homeowners’ or renter’s insurance coverage, with varying protection depending on your specific policy.
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What Is Personal Liability Insurance?
Personal liability insurance is coverage that protects homeowners, renters, and condo owners when they’re legally responsible for injuries or property damage involving someone outside their household. Among other things, it can help to pay:
- Medical expenses
- Property repairs
- Legal fees
- Court costs
- Settlements
For example, if a guest attending a gathering at your home slips on a loose tile and breaks an arm, personal liability insurance may help cover the resulting medical bills.
This coverage can also apply outside your home. If you accidentally damage another person’s property while traveling, such as breaking a friend’s smartphone, your personal liability coverage may help you pay for the loss.
How Does Personal Liability Insurance Work?
Personal liability insurance is often packaged as part of your homeowners’, renters’, condominium insurance policies. Again, it kicks in when you (or someone in your household) is held liable for injuries or property damage against a third party. Just make a personal liability claim to cover the costs associated with the incident, including resulting legal fees.
Unlike many other forms of insurance, there’s often no deductible for personal liability coverage. But it’ll only protect up to your unique coverage limit. Most policies provide at least $100,000.
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What Personal Liability Insurance Covers
Common personal liability claims fall into three primary categories: bodily injury, property damage, and legal defense costs. Here’s what you can expect with each.
Bodily Injury Claims
Bodily injury claims are useful when you’re found responsible for injuring someone else, either on and off your property. If someone slips and falls down your stairs, personal liability insurance could cover their medical care. Even if the injured party has their own health coverage, you could still be financially responsible if the injury resulted from your negligence (think failing to fix a broken hand railing).
If the injured individual is left unable to work, personal liability insurance can also cover their lost wages. In the tragic event that you’re found responsible for a fatal accident, personal liability insurance may also cover a death benefit to the person’s family.
Property Damage Claims
Personal liability coverage protects you when you’re responsible for someone else’s property damage. For example, if your child is playing outside and accidentally throws a ball through a neighbor’s window, personal liability insurance could cover the cost of repairs.
Legal Defence Costs
If you’re sued over a covered injury or property damage you allegedly caused to another person, your legal fees may be covered—often in addition to your coverage limit, which covers any settlement costs. Even if you’re found not to be liable in court, personal liability insurance may still cover legal expenses.
What Isn’t Covered by Personal Liability Insurance
Personal liability insurance typically features a few common coverage exclusions:
- Intentional injuries and damages
- Business-related claims
- Injuries and damages to you and your household
- Injuries and damages as a result of a car accident
- Libel and slander
How Much Personal Liability Insurance Do Homeowners Need?
Many insurance professionals recommend that you carry at least $300,000 to $500,000 in personal liability coverage. If you’ve got significant assets or a higher net worth, you may want to opt for an umbrella insurance policy, which can increase your liability protection.
A good rule of thumb is to carry enough liability coverage to protect your assets and future earnings in the event of a lawsuit. A licensed insurance agent can help you evaluate your risks and determine the right coverage amount for your situation.
Personal Liability Insurance vs. Medical Payments Coverage
Personal liability insurance and MedPay can both protect you from the costs related to someone else’s injuries on your property. But they differ in scope:
- Personal liability insurance covers you when you’re liable for third-party injuries and property damage, alongside related lawsuits, regardless of where they occur.
- MedPay coverage typically features smaller coverage amounts to cover more minor injuries that occur on your property—regardless of who’s at fault.
The table below highlights the key differences between personal liability insurance and medical payments coverage.
How Much Does Personal Liability Insurance Cost?
Personal liability insurance tends to cost around $10 per year for every $100,000 in protection. Your individual homeowners’ insurance premium can depend on various factors, such as your home’s location, replacement value, coverage limits, deductibles, claims history, and overall risk of making a claim.
Who Needs Personal Liability Insurance?
Every homeowner, renter, or condo owner should consider personal liability insurance to help protect them from high financial costs if they’re responsible for damages or injuries to others. Even if you never have guests come to your home, personal liability insurance can protect you from accidents that occur elsewhere—whether you’re traveling or just running errands around town.
Personal Liability Insurance at a Glance
Below, we’ll break down the essential information you should know about personal liability coverage:
- Personal liability insurance helps cover third-party bodily injuries and property damage you’re liable for causing, both at home and elsewhere, alongside related legal costs.
- Insurers typically offer a minimum of $100,000 in personal liability coverage, although it’s generally recommended to have $300,000 or more, depending on your risk and net worth.
- Personal liability coverage isn’t required by law, although it may be required as part of homeowners’ insurance if you take out a mortgage.
- Alongside bodily injury coverage, personal liability insurance can also offer coverage for lost wages if the injured person can’t work or for covered wrongful death-related claims.
- Personal liability insurance generally excludes claims involving auto accidents, intentional acts, business activities, libel, and slander. It also doesn’t cover injuries to you or members of your household, or damage to your own property.
How To Choose the Right Personal Liability Insurance Limit
To choose the right personal liability insurance limit for your situation, consider what assets you own that could be at risk if you’re sued for an injury or damages. For example:
- Savings
- Investments
- Home equity
- Real estate
- Personal property
The ideal personal liability coverage limits will have enough coverage to meet or exceed the value of your assets. If you’re unsure how to calculate your ideal personal liability insurance limits, you can reach out to a licensed insurance agent.
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Frequently asked questions
Does personal liability insurance cover dog bites?
Personal liability insurance often covers dog bites to another person, whether they occur in your home or elsewhere. Just note that not all policies cover dog bites, and others may exclude certain dog breeds or dogs with a history of biting.
What’s the difference between umbrella and personal liability insurance?
Personal liability insurance covers you for third-party injuries and property damage you’re held liable for, up to your coverage limits. Umbrella insurance can provide extra coverage once you’ve exceeded your coverage limits on a personal or other type of liability claim.
Does personal liability insurance cover family members living in my home?
Personal liability insurance generally extends liability protection to household members who are insured under your policy.
Is personal liability insurance required by law?
No, you are not required by law to purchase personal liability coverage. However, mortgage lenders often require homeowners insurance, which typically includes personal liability coverage.
Can personal liability insurance protect my savings from a lawsuit?
Yes, personal liability insurance can protect your savings by covering legal fees and settlement costs if you’re sued for injuries or damages to a third party, up to your coverage limits.