General Casualty offers tips on how to keep families safe and properly insured during summer months
Now that the kids are out of school and families spend more time outside, General Casualty aims to raise awareness among homeowners about the potential for higher liability costs in the summer months. Because of the likelihood of injuries and severity of potential losses, many insurance companies do not insure or are very cautious about insuring homes with private swimming pools, trampolines and potentially vicious pets. These items may cost extra to insure or even be excluded from homeowners coverage.
“These are known as ‘attractive nuisances’ because they have the potential to be dangerous and attract other people onto your property,” explained Bill Fitzpatrick, senior vice president of personal lines at General Casualty. “Consumers could end up paying more for their property insurance or losing their coverage completely.”
This summer’s more common insurance dangers are highlighted below, followed by important tips for homeowners.
Swimming pools
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of 350 children less than five years of age drowns each year in swimming pools. In addition, another 2,600 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year following near-drowning incidents, some resulting in permanent brain damage.
“Swimming pools can be a danger if not properly equipped. Insurance companies, such as General Casualty, often require a number of safety standards to be met before insuring a pool,” said Fitzpatrick. Safety standards include—but are not limited to—the following:
- Pools must have a fence with a locking gate that meets state height requirements. An above-ground pool also requires a locking gate and lift-up stairs or removable ladder.
- Pool entrances must be locked when the pool is not in use and well-supervised when in use.
- Pools with diving boards and slides must be at least nine feet deep.
Trampolines
General Casualty, along with many other property and casualty insurance companies, does not insure trampolines. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that more than 100,000 children were injured on trampolines between 1991 and 2002. The resulting legal, medical, disability and insurance expenses exceeded $270 million.
“If an injury occurred involving an uninsured item, such as a trampoline, the policyholder may get stuck paying for related medical or liability costs. It may also be more costly for him or her to purchase insurance in the future,” said Fitzpatrick.
Dogs
Dogs may also prove a costly danger. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 4.5 million dog bites per year. Dog bites now account for almost one quarter of all homeowner’s insurance liability claims costing roughly $346 million annually. The Insurance Information Institute reports that 70 percent of the bites occur on the dog owner’s property, elevating this issue to a major source of concern for insurers. Dogs that raise a red flag with many insurance companies include American Stafford terrier (or pit bull), Rottweiler, German shepherd, Doberman pinscher and Akita.
Security for yourself and others
If homeowners already have or are thinking of purchasing any of the above items, General Casualty and the Insurance Information Institute have tips on how to keep families and others safe.
- Consult with your insurance agent or homeowners policy before making a purchase. If you already own these items, check in to ensure you have adequate coverage.
- Construct fencing around the pool area to keep people from using it without your knowledge.
- Never leave children unsupervised around the pool.
- Be sure all pool users know how to swim.
- Have your dog spayed or neutered—this helps reduce the likelihood the dog will bite.
- Socialize with your dog so it knows how to act around people and other animals.
- Play non-aggressive games, like “fetch” instead of tug-of-war.
| Stay safe all year long
In addition to these popular summertime activities, insurance companies like General Casualty consider other items high-risk. Consumers should check with their insurance agent before purchasing any of the following items that may not be insurable or may require extra coverage:
- High-performance personal watercraft, including jet skis
- High-performance motorcycles
- All-terrain vehicles
- Snowmobiles
- Homes or buildings with Exterior Insulation Finishing System synthetic stucco
- Log homes or buildings
- Wood-burning stoves
- Non-domesticated or wild animals kept as pets
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For more information please contact Anne M. Smith.