Off-Premises Accident Insurance
Here's how insurance works when incidents occur away from home.
Written by
Christine Lacagnina has written thousands of insurance-based articles for TrustedChoice.com by authoring consumable, understandable content.
Reviewed by
Paul Martin is the Director of Education and Development for Myron Steves, one of the largest, most respected insurance wholesalers in the southern U.S.
When injuries or other accidents happen inside your home or on your property, you know that you’ll likely be covered under your homeowners insurance. But accidents that occur away from home blur this understanding for many people. It's critical for homeowners to know how their coverage works when a disaster happens away from home, too.
Fortunately, homeowners insurance still provides coverage for a long list of potential non-auto accidents, even if they happen somewhere outside of your property. An independent insurance agent can help you get set up with all the off-premises coverage you need. But first, let’s take a look at off-premises non-auto accident coverage.
What Is Off-Premises Non-Auto Accident Coverage?
Off-premises non-auto accident coverage is the aspect of homeowners insurance that covers accidents not involving vehicles that occur away from the home. To cover incidents involving vehicles away from the home, you'd go through your auto insurance. But for injuries, property damage, and other accidents that happen away from home, you'll still go through your homeowners insurance.
Honest mishaps that result in injury to you or others and property damage are often covered up to your policy's limits. However, the same exclusions that apply to your coverage for disasters that occur within the home or on your property, such as malicious actions against others, still apply if this kind of incident happens away from home. So be sure to review your home insurance policy with the help of your independent insurance agent to be familiar with what's excluded by your coverage, no matter where you are.
Does My Homeowners Insurance Policy Cover Off-Premises Non-Auto Accident Coverage?
Yes, homeowners insurance coverage extends to non-auto accidents that occur even away from the home. However, there are certain exclusions that vary depending on your state. You’ll need to double-check your policy with the help of your independent insurance agent to find out exactly what’s covered and what’s not in your specific location.
What's Included in Off-Premises Non-Auto Accident Coverage?
All kinds of things can go wrong in the home, but these potential hazards don't stay confined within your property lines, either. The trick is learning what kinds of non-auto mishaps homeowners insurance provides coverage for away from the home.
The main non-auto types of accidents covered off-premises include:
- Injuries: If you’re involved in a non-auto accident that results in injuries to others, even away from the home, your homeowners insurance can cover medical expenses and legal fees if you get sued.
- Property damage: If you accidentally cause damage to someone else’s property in a way that doesn’t involve a vehicle, your homeowners insurance can cover expenses required to repair the damage, as well as potential legal fees if they file a lawsuit against you.
- Negligent acts: The only accidents homeowners insurance covers must be caused by your negligence. So, if you cause injury or property damage while you’re distracted, the incident will most likely be covered. As long as you don’t intend harm, you should be covered.
Homeowners insurance does not provide coverage for:
- Intentional harm: Malicious acts against others are never covered by home insurance. If you intend harm or property damage towards a third party, you'll be on the hook for covering any damages out of your own pocket, including for lawsuits.
Knowing that your homeowners policy provides coverage for medical fees, legal fees, and property damage repair for honest non-auto accidents, even off-premises, can provide some peace of mind when you’re away from home.
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Why Would I Need Off-Premises Non-Auto Accident Coverage?
Because accidents can happen anywhere, anytime, this coverage is essential. Though accidents can't always be prevented, home insurance can step in to help reimburse some of the costs if the incident is covered. We’ll explore just a handful of covered scenarios.
These scenarios would be included under off-premises coverage:
- Sports-related injuries: Home insurance can provide reimbursement for injuries that occur during golf games, tennis matches, etc., including injuries or property damage caused by equipment like golf balls.
- Cooking-related illnesses: Accidental food-borne illnesses can be covered by home insurance if you bring a spoiled dish to someone else's gathering.
- Child bullying: If your child bullies another child and ends up causing bodily injury, homeowners insurance may provide coverage even though their actions may have been deliberate.
- Slander-related injuries: If you cause accidental harm to another person through false spoken words, potential legal fees may be covered.
- Non-bodily injury upsets: If you cause upset or harm other than bodily injury or property damage to someone, homeowners insurance can cover legal fees if they sue you. Non-business-related upsets caused by your negligence can be covered by your policy.
- Dog and other pet bites: If your pet dog, horse, snake, etc., bites or otherwise injures someone, you may be covered. Your insurance company may exclude coverage for specific dog breeds, however.
There are many ways we can accidentally cause injury or damage to others or their property, even without vehicles. Luckily, homeowners insurance provides coverage for a long list of potential mishaps and resulting costs.
How to Find the Best Homeowners Insurance Near You
In order to get the protection you need, you’ll want to work with a trusted expert. Independent insurance agents will not only know where to find the best coverage and price but also help you to make sense of the fine print. Consider your unique needs, then connect with an agent to help you take it from there. Have a list of your specific concerns and desires handy before you reach out, to help make the process even smoother.
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Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
Compare Homeowners Insurance Quotes with an Independent Insurance Agent
We all know how valuable your time is, so why spend it doing the hard work yourself? From homeowners insurance policies to special add-ons, our expert independent insurance agents will help you determine what type of coverage is right for you. Independent insurance agents stay on top of the insurance industry and all the latest discounts, so you don’t have to. That means they’ll help find the best coverage at the best price for you.
They’re not just there at the beginning, either. If disaster strikes, your agent will be there to help walk you through the claims process and ensure you get the benefits you’re entitled to. Now that’s thinking ahead.