What Do I Do If Someone Gets Injured In My Home?
First, stay calm. Freaking out won’t help anyone. Whenever there’s an accident everyone gets hyper and tense; being calm will be a blessing to everyone. Plus; it’s your house. You’re supposed to lead. Calm everyone down, determine the injuries and or damage.
Second: call the police and medical assistance (if needed). While we said for you to determine the injuries and damage – and it’s nice if you can get pictures of it for future reference – you have to call the police to file an accident report and medical assistance to take care of it. If it’s something you can take care of with a first-aid kit, tell the victim the house has a first-aid kit (you better have it; it’s an essential home item) and, if they want, you can perform the first-aid or they can do it themselves if they prefer.
Step number 3 is politely limiting the discussion - especially if it’s something big. Talk only with the police or your insurance agent. Don't admit liability or fault on the scene of the accident. Try to resolve everything and take care of everyone but position yourself as a helpful person, not a guilty one. Calm everyone, say it’s not the time to discuss that, only to make sure everyone is safe and sound.
Step number 4 is getting the facts right. Write down names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance companies of the individuals involved and witnesses. This is important for when the liability insurance policy kicks in.
Lastly, call your insurance agent to report the accident and go over with him or her all the details of exactly what happened and how it happened.
From there on, everything will probably run independently from you. With a few calls from your insurance agency if you’re unlucky. If the victim calls you regarding anything related to the accident, refer them to your insurance agent and say you were advised to do that.
If it’s the other way around and you’re the one who gets injured in someone else’s home: stay calm, call the police and medical assistance - if you can’t do it yourself, ask someone to call it for you. Get all the info you can and contact your lawyer as soon as you can.
Now that you’ve read what to do if someone gets injured in your home: did you realize you don’t know that much home insurance? Read our home insurance guide to learn more!
Popular Insurance Questions
Popular Insurance Glossary Terms
Technique designed to permit the exchange of a life insurance policy that has an outstanding loan charged against it for another life insurance policy on a tax-free basis. The procedure is ...
Option under a participating life insurance policy by which the policy owner can elect to have the dividends purchase paid-up increments of permanent insurance. ...
Agreement concerning an insured individual, not the insured's property. A property and casualty insurance contract cannot be assigned, since it follows the insured, not the property. For ...
Rules stating that, under the tax EQUITY AND RESPONSIBILITY ACTS OF 1982 AND 1983 (TEFRA), a plan can not discriminate in favor of key employees regarding contributions and benefits if ...
Terms of a settlement of a life insurance or annuity contract under which monies are currently payable or used at least in part by the beneficiary to fund a new insurance policy. ...
Part of a business liability policy that covers an insured for bodily injury or property damage liability to members of the public while they are on his premises. This coverage is available ...
A form of assessment insurance for which a regular premium is charged. In addition to paying the regular stipulated premium, an insured and other members of a mutual assessment company may ...
Incidents covered under workers compensation benefit. ...
Insurance company whose premium rates are usually below that of other insurance companies and the rating bureau. ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.