Why You Should Add Liability Coverage
Make sure your insurance will pay if someone is injured on your property.
If your dog bites the mail carrier, or the neighbor's car is crushed by bricks falling from your crumbling chimney, this part of the policy has got you covered -- up to a point.
Use Our Tool: Is Your Home Fully Protected?
Comprehensive personal liability covers damage to property of others and medical payments to others for injuries or damage caused by you or by an accident around your home.
Personal-liability coverage kicks in when you are considered legally liable for an injury. It would even pay for legal bills if necessary. To get coverage for medical payments for others, you aren't required to be legally responsible for the injury. You would be covered, for instance, if a visitor tripped over a gap in your front walk and broke an ankle, or if you accidentally beaned someone on the golf course.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
A typical policy limits personal-liability coverage to $100,000 and medical payments to others to $1,000 per person. You can see that the coverage, though comforting, isn't exactly overwhelming.
Liability coverage typically extends to the policyholder and to family members who live in the house.
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
-
Struggling with How to Plan a Trip? These 7 Companies Will Help
A review of several of the best and most unique travel companies to help plan your next vacation.
-
The Best Places for LGBTQ People to Retire in the US
Though marriage equality and laws blocking employment discrimination are in effect across the land, some cities and states are havens for the LGBTQ community.
-
What To Know if You’re in the Market for a New Car This Year
The Kiplinger Letter Buying a new car will get a little easier, but don’t expect many deals.
-
Will Lower Mortgage Rates Bring Relief to the Housing Market?
The Kiplinger Letter As mortgage rates slowly come down here's what to expect in the housing market over the next year or so.
-
Car Prices Are Finally Coming Down
The Kiplinger Letter For the first time in years, it may be possible to snag a good deal on a new car.
-
New Graduates Navigate a Challenging Labor Market
The Kiplinger Letter Things are getting tough for new graduates. Job offers are drying up and the jobless rate is increasing. Are internships the answer?
-
When's the Best Time to Buy a Domestic Flight? The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter A new study by CheapAir.com has crunched the numbers.
-
Woes Continue for Banking Sector: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Regional bank stocks were hammered recently after news of New York Community Bank’s big fourth-quarter loss.
-
Anxious Flyers Take Note: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Whether it's the routes to avoid that have the most turbulence or the safest airline, we've got you covered.
-
The Auto Industry Outlook for 2024
The Kiplinger Letter Here's what to expect in the auto industry this year. If you’re in the market for a car it won’t be quite as daunting as it was during the pandemic and after.