Homeowners and Small Business Owners Need to Keep Property Safe from Dangers Posed by Snow and Ice, Warns The I.I.I.

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New York: 212-346-5500; media@iii.org
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NEW YORK, FEB. 4, 2004 -- Slips and falls may be the mainstays of slapstick comedy, but in real life tumbling on snow or ice can cause serious injuries, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.)

Severe winter conditions have created dangerous build-ups of snow and ice making it hazardous to walk across many driveways and sidewalks.

If you own a home or small business, it's your responsibility to keep your property safe, warns Jeanne M. Salvatore, I.I.I.'s vice president for consumer affairs. Removing snow and ice from your property as soon as possible will help prevent visitors from injuring themselves on slippery walkways, stairs or entryways. If someone is injured, you may be held liable for their medical expenses, lost wages and even pain and suffering."

According to Jury Verdict Research(R), a litigation-tracking firm based in Pennsylvania, the average jury award was $578,234 for individuals injured on a residential property and $220,730 for those injured at a retail store (based on cases that were tried between 1995 and 2003). The most common injuries were to knees, legs, ankles and backs.

Standard home insurance and business owner's policies (BOP) include liability protection, which pays for both the cost of claim (up to the limits of your policy) as well as defense costs should you be sued.

Home insurance policies generally include $100,000 worth of liability protection, but limits of $300,000 or $500,000 are also available.

An often-overlooked part of a homeowners policy is no-fault medical coverage, according to Salvatore. This provides reimbursement for medical expenses if someone (other than a family member) is injured on your property. The injured person submits their medical bill to your home insurance company. They would not have to sue you to be reimbursed. Most homeowners policies include $1,000 worth of this coverage. Some insurers, however, provide coverage up to $10,000.

Homeowners can get more liability protection by purchasing an umbrella liability policy. This would provide an additional one million dollars or more of liability protection.

Business owners, such as retail stores, will generally have a BOP. This type of policy provides a minimum of $500,000 worth of liability protection with an increasing number of policies providing one million dollars worth of coverage. Additional liability coverage may be purchased in the form of an excess liability policy.

To keep your home or business safe this winter, the I.I.I. suggests:

• Clear snow and ice from sidewalks, walkways and driveways.
• Check handrails to make sure they are sturdy and not loose.
• Keep stairs free of ice.
• Trim tree branches on your property to prevent them from falling due to the weight of ice or snow.

If someone is injured on your property, see if they need help. Call for emergency medical assistance or offer to take them to a local hospital, if necessary. For more information on insurance, you should contact your insurance agent, broker or company representative. You can also access the I.I.I.'s website at www.iii.org.