New York homeowners might want to be aware of laws governing premises liability before they invite their next house guests over. In general, they are responsible for the safety of their invited guests, and even some who may not have been invited, at all times.
When people are injured on someone else’s property, they have the right to seek compensation through the homeowner’s insurance policy as long as they had a legal right to be on the property at the time the injury occurred. This means that they were either an invited guest or allowed onto the premises for some other reason, such as a delivery person or a repairman.
Trespassers are not covered under homeowner’s policies, with at least one exception. If a young child drowns in a backyard swimming pool after wandering on to the property, the homeowner could be held financially responsible under the attractive nuisance doctrine.
Slip and fall accidents are among the most common types of accidents that occur at private homes. Also high on the list are drug overdoses. Swimming pools create a hazard, especially for young children, but sometimes adults who have been drinking too much wind up drowning after falling asleep in a pool. Homeowners are required to exercise proper caution to keep people who visit their property safe from harm.
Someone who is injured in an accident while visiting someone else’s home has a legal right to ask for the homeowner’s insurance information. The possibility is high in this type of case for emotions to run high, because the homeowner and the injured victim may be friends. As a result, having an attorney handle the matter might be preferable.
