Personal Liability when Hosting Parties

written by: Lou Albini; article published: year 2009, month 12;

In: Root » Legal and finance » Insurance

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New "Dram Shop Liability" laws in some states could make you liable for the actions of people who leave a party you host. This can include underage drinkers or people who drink and drive.

Hosting a party can be a lot of fun but also a lot of hassle. But did you know that it could also put you at risk for significant insurance liability through your home owner insurance? According to the Insurance Information Institute, several states have passed "Dram Shop Liability" laws which could make homeowners liable for the actions of their guests once they leave their party. This could mean that a homeowner would be liable for a partygoer who has too much to drink and crashes into another car on the way home through their insurance for the home.

Although the "Dram Shop Liability" laws were originally intended for businesses such as bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, several states have extended the liability to include home insurance for people who host parties. This means that a party giver could be liable for serving alcohol to underage people to letting someone drive home who has had too much to drink.

If you are hosting a holiday party, it's important to check with your home insurance provider to see if your state has "Dram Shop Liability" laws and how that might apply to private parties. You might need to search online in order to get free home insurance quotes for additional coverage depending on the laws of your state.

Regardless of your current insurance situation, it's always a good idea to make sure that you are providing for the safety of your guests. Collect keys of people who are going to be drinking as soon as they arrive, and don't let them retrieve the keys unless they are sober or have a designated driver. In addition, any accident that occurs at your house could leave you liable for damages. If you need additional liability coverage, now is a great time to get home insurance quotes for free from a reputable site such as HomeInsuranceQuotes.us.

Lou Albini is a freelance writer specializing in financial services and insurance. His work has been published in major print and online news sites. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.

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