What Is Personal Liability Insurance?
Get coverage to help protect you in the event of mishaps for which you are ultimately responsible.
Personal liability coverage can help protect you in the event of mishaps for which you are ultimately responsible. If you’re at fault for someone’s injury or loss, you could rack up some serious expenses in paying medical bills or repairing or replacing damaged property. (And, if you end up in court, you may need to pay legal fees as well.) Personal liability insurance is your safety net: It can cover damage caused by you or members of your household, including kids and pets.
How does personal liability coverage work?
Personal liability coverage may be included as part of your homeowners insurance, condominium insurance, or renters insurance policy. It protects you (as the policyholder) and the members of your household from paying large sums of money out-of-pocket for damage or injury resulting from an accident in your home. Of course, as with most insurance policies, personal liability coverage has limits, but the limits are typically high enough ($50,000 minimum, on average) to cover most claims.
What does personal liability insurance cover—and not cover?
Personal liability insurance generally covers:
- an unintentional injury you cause;
- an injury a visitor sustains at your home;
- damage you cause to someone else’s property;
- an injury or property damage caused by a member of your household;
- attorney fees, in the event if you need to defend yourself in court.
Liability insurance generally does not pay for damages you cause in a car crash, which are typically covered by your auto insurance policy. Some situations, such as damage caused by a boat you own, may be subject to restrictions. Your policy also only covers dollar amounts up to your policy’s limits.
How much does personal liability insurance cost—and where do I get it?
Basic personal liability insurance costs only a few dollars a month and may help protect your bank account (and other financial assets) in the event of an accident. Learn more by talking about homeowners insurance with an expert AAA Insurance agent.
More Home Insurance Definitions
The availability, qualifications, and amounts of coverages, costs and discounts may vary from state to state and there may be coverages and discounts not listed here. In addition, other terms, conditions, and exclusions not described above may apply, and total savings may vary depending on the coverages purchased. For more information regarding your eligibility for certain coverages and savings opportunities, please contact your AAA agent. Insurance products in California offered by AAA Northern California Insurance Agency. License #0175868, in Nevada by AAA Nevada and in Utah by AAA Utah. Insurance provided by CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer.