When the Sleepover Takes a Turn: What to Do When a Houseguest Gets Hurt
Your kid has been begging to have a friend over to stay the night for what they declare to be AGES. The idea of having someone else’s kid to look after sounds like a real chore, so naturally, you’ve been putting it off.
But, as part of their birthday wish, your child has asked that their best friend spends the night. You relent, and to your child’s utter delight, you finally agree to have their best friend stay over the weekend.
Leaving them to play in the bedroom, you hear a thud. You run down the hall and into your child’s bedroom and see that their buddy has fallen off the top bunk.
Crying and holding their arm, you see that you need to take them to the hospital. You pack the kids into the car and drive to the hospital, calling the child’s parents via Bluetooth.
Meeting you at the hospital, the other kid’s parents are livid and threatening to sue you for negligence. The kid hasn’t even been in to see a doctor yet and the parents are already calling a lawyer. Sigh, this is what happens when you try to make your kid happy.
Homeowners Insurance: Accident Protection
According to A Secure Life, 21 million Americans visit the hospital every year as a direct result of a household injury. To add salt to the wound, that costs a combined total of roughly $220 billion in medical fees a year.
The three top household injuries are falls, poisoning, and burns. No matter how careful we are around the house, accidents happen. It’s one thing if we get hurt, but it’s a whole other thing if a guest suffers an injury on our property. Here’s what to do if someone gets hurt in your home.
On a personal note – I just experienced a trip and fall in my own home! I slid on ice and tripped into my garage breaking my nose and badly injuring my knee! The statistics are true, most injuries happen at home. I’m still recovering and it will take weeks before I’m back on my feet again!
- Respond to the injury, but don’t admit guilt. If your guest tripped over a garden rake or just their own two feet, make sure to offer them ice, bandages or ibuprofen. If it’s a serious fall, call an ambulance or take them to the ER. Whatever you do, do not admit guilt. If your longtime friend should decide to sue you for their injuries, they will use your apology against you in court.
- Document the accident. To protect yourself against the threat of a lawsuit, take pictures of the home accident. Your guest may not appreciate it in the heat of the moment, but this will help to protect you should they decide to sue you later. Did they say they suffered a herniated disk after slipping on your porch when in fact they had hurt their back before the accident? Pictures will serve you in the court of law.
- Contact your homeowner’s insurance agent. If a houseguest is injured on your property, contact your insurance company. Your homeowner’s liability insurance policy will cover the medical fees of the person injured, and in some instances, (so long as you have a comprehensive package) will cover a loss of income to the injured party, too.
If you don’t think your current policy offers this coverage, you need to compare home insurance quotes and packages ASAP. The purpose of homeowners insurance is to protect the homeowner from accidents, acts of God and natural disasters. If your current insurance company selectively picks what they’ll cover, it’s time to get a new policy.
If you don’t think your current policy offers this coverage, you need to compare home insurance quotes and packages ASAP. The purpose of homeowners insurance is to protect the homeowner from accidents, acts of God and natural disasters. If your current insurance company selectively picks what they’ll cover, it’s time to get a new policy.
You’re probably running through your list of friends in your head and thinking that not one of them would sue you if they got hurt in your home. But you know what? There is always the potential that they will. A couple in the UK sued their friends because their children had been hurt jumping on the friends’ trampoline. Truthfully, you don’t know how a friend behaves at their worst, so it’s best to be prepared.
It’s so important to arm yourself with this valuable information. It’s always better to be prepared and fully knowledgeable of the facts.
And as always, thanks so much for stopping by! If you like this post, When the Sleepover Takes a Turn: What to Do When a Houseguest Gets Hurt, subscribe via email below and never miss a post again!
Oh Geesh Carolann. This is such important info, but not something we want to think about. Thanks for bringing it to mind and for providing such helpful tips. I’m sure I will refer back to this post as I get our policy under review.
Thanks much Susie, It really is. People don’t realize until it’s too late when a guest has an accident in your home or on your property. That’s why we always make sure we have good insurance for just this. I wish I could sue myself lol. This last accident was a nightmare! lol. Have a good weekend dear. xo thinking of you and hope all is well.