Don't Let Your Bonfire Night Fizzle Into an Insurance Nightmare
CHESTER, England, November 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
- Ensure your home insurance policy covers personal liability against damage and accidents
- Look out for your canine and feline friends too, says MoneySupermarket.com
With households across the country gearing up for this year's Bonfire Night celebrations, MoneySupermarket.com urges people to make sure their home insurance policy includes adequate personal liability protection to insure them for any accidents, as otherwise the evening could go off with a costly bang.
Britain's number one comparison site warns homeowners to check the small print of their home insurance policy for personal liability protection. Most insurers will provide cover for personal liability of £2,000,000, however this does vary across providers.[1] According to statistics from BIS, over 6,600 people are injured in firework accidents each year, with half of these injuries happening to children under 16 [2]. If any accidents occur on your property, you could be liable for a personal injury claim, and not having enough personal liability cover in place, could leave you severely out of pocket.
Peter Harrison, home insurance expert at MoneySupermarket.com, said: "Bonfire Night is always an exciting event, with people across the UK hosting their own fireworks parties or attending public displays. To ensure these events run smoothly, it is important for people to remember that safety has to come first.
"For those hosting a fireworks party at home, it is essential to ensure your home insurance policy is up to date and that you have adequate personal liability cover. In the event of an accident such as someone getting burnt on the bonfire, you could find yourself liable for any injury or damage if you are not covered by insurance. In addition, you could find yourself facing a hefty payout. The same applies if you are at a friend's party and are injured by a firework, as they will need to have adequate insurance to cover any claims."
Protecting man's best friend
Pet owners should also think about protecting their furry friends on Bonfire Night. Cover for pets is available from £73 a year for dogs and £40 for cats. Checking the small print of the insurance policy is crucial as levels of cover for vets fees and third party liability will vary.[3]
Peter Harrison continued: "In the fun of firework season it is also important for pet owners to think carefully about ensuring their four-legged friends are protected from any potential dangers. This time of year is particularly traumatic and dangerous for animals, and owners should take steps to protect them. Fireworks can cause distress, disorientation and panic, which can in turn lead to accidents and animals going astray. Insuring your pet gives you the peace of mind alone they will be protected if they come into harm."
MoneySupermarket's top tips for staying safe this Bonfire Night:
- Keep a close eye on children. Ensure that they wear appropriate clothing, especially gloves, when near bonfires or sparklers
- If you have a Bonfire party, ensure that there is sufficient space between the fireworks and the guests. It is also advisable to not drink in excess, and to ensure that outside areas are well lit.
- Keep pets indoors. Close windows and curtains, and switch on music to drown out the noise of fireworks, and don't forget smaller pets living outside, like rabbits and guinea pigs, can be brought inside for extra protection.
Notes to Editors:
Further safety advice and tips can be found at:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/fireworks/index.htm
[1]Home insurance policies - personal liability cover:
Maximum
Insurer Cover Details Claim
Churchill Property owners liability - Churchill will pay GBP2,000,000
all amounts you become legally responsible for as
a result of an accident which happens during the
period of cover if someone is injured, falls or
dies or if property is lost or damaged. The most
Churchill will pay for all claims arising from
one incident is GBP2,000,000. They will also pay
all costs and legal fees for defending you as
long as this has been agreed in writing.
The AA Legal Liability - The AA will insure you for all GBP2,000,000
amounts which you have legal liability to pay as
owner but not occupier for accidents which happen
in or around the property which result in
physical injury to or illness of any person or
loss of or damage to the property. There is a
limit of GBP2 million for all claims arising from
any one accident plus costs and expenses that The
AA agree to in writing.
Halifax Property owners liability - Your liability to pay GBP1,000,000
damages and costs for accidental death, disease,
illness, or personal injury to anyone other than
you or a member of your family or accidental
damage to physical property other than your
property or that of a member of your family. The
most Halifax will pay for any single event that
happens during any insurance period is
GBP1,000,000.
Barclays Your Liability to the Public - Barclays will GBP2,000,000
cover your legal liability as owner of the
buildings for damages, costs and expenses if
anyone is accidentally injured or falls ill or
property is accidentally lost or damaged.
Barclays will also pay for any defence costs and
expenses if agreed in advance.
Budget Buildings Liability - Budget will pay up to GBP2,000,000
GBP2,000,000 with regards to your legal
responsibility to others as a property owner for:
Which you are legally responsible as the owner of
your property to pay to others in respect of
damages or costs as the result of accidental
death, disease, illness, or accidental physical
injury to anyone other than the members of your
Household. Accidental damage to physical
property.
[2]Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file52770.pdf
[3]Top five pet insurance policies for dogs and cats:
Pet Insurance for Dogs (1-2 Years)
3rd Party
Insurer Policy Premium Vet Fees* Liability*
E&L Silver GBP73.43 GBP3,500 GBP1,250,000
Argos Silver GBP94.77 GBP2,500 GBP1,000,000
Animal Friends Basic GBP80.64 GBP3,000 GBP1,000,000
Marks &
Spencer Standard GBP89.28 GBP4,000 GBP1,000,000
PetPlan Essential GBP161.28 GBP3,000 GBP1,000,000
Average GBP99.88
*Benefit subject to excess
Sourced by http://www.moneysupermarket.com on 27.10.2011
Pet Insurance for Cats (1-2 Years)
3rd Party
Insurer Policy Premium Vet Fees* Liability*
E&L Silver GBP40.35 GBP3,500 None
Argos Silver GBP57.91 GBP2,500 None
Animal Friends Basic GBP57.24 GBP3,000 None
Marks &
Spencer Standard GBP79.08 GBP4,000 None
PetPlan Essential GBP96.36 GBP3,000 None
Average GBP66.19
*Benefit subject to excess
Sourced by http://www.moneysupermarket.com on 27.10.2011
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SOURCE MoneySupermarket.com
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