Play It Safe with a Personal Liability Policy

Every day, we hear about neighbors suing neighbors; accident victims suing those responsible; and people filing lawsuits for libel, slander and countless other reasons.  Think it can’t happen to you?  Think again. 

There are nearly 17 million civil lawsuits filed each year, according to the latest available data from the National Center for State Courts.  But you can protect your assets or future earnings from legal claims against you with a personal liability – or umbrella – policy, which will pick up where homeowners, automobile and watercraft policies leave off.  It’s an extra layer of protection against lawsuits stemming from a catastrophic accident or loss – whether someone slips on your front step or has a run-in with your car.

If your auto policy includes children under the age of 25 (the age group most likely to be involved in car accidents), a personal liability policy will offer a big dose of peace of mind.

Personal liability policies provide additional coverage for things not included in your home and auto insurance – such as false arrest, libel, slander and liability for owners of rental units and defense costs associated with groundless or fraudulent claims and lawsuits.  If you already have auto and home insurance from the same carrier, you likely won’t need big bucks to add this important safeguard.

For instance, the countrywide average annual premium for a $1 million Liberty Mutual personal liability policy is approximately $250, or just $21 a month.  Additional coverage also may be purchased for any recreational vehicle you own or operate.  Liberty Mutual’s LibertyGuard Personal Catastrophe Liability Policy also provides higher limits for bodily injury and property damage on your auto and home policies.  Check with your insurer to see what type of additional liability coverage they offer.

For more information, contact your local Liberty Mutual office by calling 1-800-835-0894 for a no-obligation quote.  To be eligible, you must maintain certain personal liability limits for all vehicles and properties.  Liberty Mutual is the nation’s eighth-largest provider of personal lines of insurance products in the U.S.  Special discounts on Auto, Home, Condo and Renters insurance are available for AIA members through the AIA Trust.