By: Andrea Moyer

So what is a “Personal Umbrella” and why do I need one?  In today’s culture you could easily find yourself being sued for just about anything you can imagine.  You’ll want to protect your assets!

Basically, a Personal Umbrella policy covers what all of your other typical policies – Homeowner’s, Auto, Life – do not cover.  It is inexpensive and when you think of how many things could go wrong in a day, do you really want to be liable for millions of dollars because your neighbor tripped over your backyard fence and broke her ankle?  Auto injuries are the front runners, but what about injuries, damages or emotional trauma that could occur as a result of a kink in your normal everyday life? Think of a Personal Umbrella policy as the final piece to your insurance puzzle.

Still unsure? Let’s look at some examples of actual claims:

• A babysitter left an infant unattended in a walker.  The infant toppled the walker, struck its head and suffered brain damage.  The parents sued the teenaged babysitter and her parents and were awarded $11,000,000
• An engineer becomes a quadriplegic after diving into a friend’s above ground pool, sues both the homeowner and the pool manufacturer and is awarded $10,000,000
• A college student sustains facial fractures and blindness in his left eye after a fraternity initiation injury, sues the fellow fraternity members and their families and is awarded $1,300,000
• After hitting a tree and injuring his girlfriend, an 18-year-old told the police that another car cut him off, but there were no witnesses and the girlfriend could recall nothing.  She sustained multiple fractures and internal injuries and received extensive physical therapy.  The Personal Umbrella insurer settled with her for the policy limit.
• An insured customer hosted a party and unknowingly served poisoned water to one of his guests to give to his infant to mix with formula.  The infant died as a result and the Personal Umbrella liability limit was paid.
• A couple hosting a pool party for teenagers unknowingly had alcohol available at the party.  Afterwards, one of the guests, a minor, was severely injured in an auto accident as a result of alcohol consumption.  This case went to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which held the opinion that the homeowners should have prevented the consumption of alcohol by minors on their premises.  Both the Homeowners’ and Personal Umbrella policies responded to this claim.

Frightening!  So how can you avoid this?  Believe it or not, what you’d pay for a cup of coffee each day would cover the cost of a Personal Umbrella policy with a limit of $1M, possibly $2M or even $5M. Don’t leave yourself at the mercy of one of life’s everyday accidents! Contact one of our agents today at 877.791.1707 and we’ll set you up.  And then enjoy your summer with peace of mind!