Throwing a party on Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s most enduring social traditions. According to a report from Statista, it is the second-largest day for food and alcohol consumption behind Thanksgiving. But what happens when your partygoers have a little too much fun? The combination of food, alcohol, and fan passion can sometimes lead to unintended calamities, which can include everything from damaged personal possessions to drunk-driving accidents. In addition to knowing the legal ins and outs of throwing a Super Bowl party, hosts should also know what their insurance may or may not cover in the event of an accident, either in the home or after someone leaves.
What about accidents caused by those who are legally allowed to drink alcohol? In an interview with InsuranceQuotes, Partner P.J. Miller said this is where things “get a little stickier.”
“The first thing a host needs to check are his or her homeowner insurance liability limits, which typically fall between $100,000 and $300,000, although I would strongly urge all homeowners to carry $500,000 at a minimum,” he commented. “After considering the value of your home and other assets, consider increasing the liability limit well before hosting a large event like a Super Bowl party.
What’s more, homeowners can also purchase an umbrella policy, which offers additional financial protection if the host maxes out his or her standard liability limit.
“Homeowner policies—and hopefully the personal umbrella that you have—should provide ‘Host Liquor Liability,’ which means you didn’t sell the beer to your guests, you merely provided it,” said Miller. “Keep in mind that gross negligence can not only be an insurance claim, it can also carry with it some civil and criminal implications. A personal umbrella policy would offer broader coverage and would also give you coverage for renting a location to hold a party where the homeowner’s policy coverage would be very limited.”
Of course, there are myriad non-alcohol-related accidents that may arise before, during, or after a Super Bowl party, in which case Miller says a typical homeowner policy should provide adequate coverage.
“For example, someone might trip and fall on an icy sidewalk leading to your house, guests might choke on food, or there might be fights between guests resulting in broken items. Typically, homeowner policies offer some protection for these types of non-alcohol induced accidents, but you might want to carefully review your policy just to be sure.”
He added: “None of this should scare you off from hosting a party, but be sure to review your homeowner’s policy to understand what it will and will not cover in the instance of an accident.”
Read the full article at InsuranceQuotes.
Questions about your insurance liability when hosting a party? Contact Wallace & Turner at (937) 324-8492 or info@wtins.com.