Survey Says Homeowners Unaware of Risk

Ho-ho-ho Holiday Parties? Survey says homeowners unaware of risk

“"The survey found that about one-third of homeowners did not think or did not know if they could be held responsible in the event of an alcohol-related accident. In fact, in many states, individuals hosting holiday parties can be held liable. Many courts have found hosts liable for the damages their party guests cause as a result of consuming alcohol at their social gatherings and then driving motor vehicles. Many states have also enacted statutes that can be interpreted as mandating non-commercial social host liability. In these situations, if a guest or third party is injured in an accident that is related to alcohol consumption and the drinking can be linked to the host, the host could be held responsible for the payment of medical bills, vehicle repair costs, lost time from work and — in the worst case — claims for wrongful death resulting in huge monetary settlements. …. Survey says homeowners unaware of risk

The survey found that almost 46 percent of homeowners thought they weren’t liable in the event that a guest became seriously ill from catered food consumed at the host’s home, and about 22 percent didn’t think they could be held responsible if a guest was injured on the sidewalk in front of their property. More than one-third of homeowners either didn’t think they could be held responsible or admitted they didn’t know if they destroyed another home with a careless act. The bottom line is that homeownerscould, in fact, be held responsible in any of these scenarios or accidental incidents”….from Insurance Journal