How To Prevent Your Home From Becoming a Legal Liability

November 12, 2010

Your homeowners insurance policy provides liability insurance in the event that someone (a friend, a contractor, or even a trespasser) suffers injury while on your property. It covers legal fees and other expenses of a lawsuit. However, as a responsible homeowner, you can do more to prevent your home from becoming a legal liability.

Here are some safety precautions you can take that could prevent an accident:

Fire

Residential fire kills more people than all natural disasters combined, and it is usually caused by cooking, smoking cigarettes, and malfunctioning heating fixtures. Install smoke alarms throughout your home and change batteries on a schedule. Make sure that your fire extinguishers are fresh (check the expiration date) and easily accessible. Place them strategically in places where fires often start, like the kitchen, laundry room, and garage. Prepare an evacuation plan for your family in case of fire.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that causes fatigue, headache, weakness, disorientation, nausea, dizziness, unconsciousness, and even death. The symptoms are often mistaken for the flu or food poisoning. The gas can be emitted by kerosene and gas space heaters, furnaces, wood or gas stoves, fireplaces and water heaters. Have these appliances serviced regularly, and install carbon monoxide alarms to monitor any emissions. And have your chimneys professionally cleaned every year.

Swimming pools

Drowning is another cause of unintentional injury and/or death, especially to children. The lack of proper supervision is usually the culprit; however, you can take a few other safety measures to further reduce the potential liability that a swimming pool brings. You can build a fence surrounding the pool with a self-closing gate that cannot be opened by children. You can install a pool safety cover and take it off only when constant supervision of swimmers is possible. In addition, you can install a door alarm on every door leading to the swimming pool that can be deactivated only by an authorized person.

Electrical wiring

Avoid plugging too many electrical fixtures into a single circuit. Improperly used multiple outlets and extension cords can be hazardous and can cause an electric shock and even fire.

General maintenance

Regular home maintenance can help in preventing your home from becoming a potential liability, as well. Provide adequate lighting in all living areas, including your driveway. Make sure that all railings or balustrades are properly secured so that no one falls down the stairs or off a porch or balcony. Avoid slippery area rugs. Keep your furniture in good condition; repair or replace broken chairs, secure wobbly bookshelves, etc. Outside, repair a swaying fence, clear the yard of garden hoses, tools, or children's toys. Keep the sidewalk around your home clear of any obstacles, such as broken tree branches, overgrown bushes, or snow and ice in wintertime.

There are many circumstances, conditions and items that may be unsafe or dangerous in your home. That's why it is important to have homeowners insurance that covers your liability. However, you can greatly reduce and even prevent your home from becoming a legal liability by taking some safety precautions and simple maintenance steps.