Your home's value may have gone down, but the risk of your home creating a lawsuit for you has not. And renters, sorry, but you are certainly not risk free. Follow the steps outlined below and protect your home from ... me. 

• Buy homeowners/renters insurance. This is your first and a very effective line of defence.   Without a good homeowner's policy, all of your personal assets could be at risk. Your homeowner's liability insurance pays up to the amount of coverage you purchased for a variety of risks for which you may become liable. Reading the policy may be an overwhelming task, but at least take a look at what is covered and what is excluded. Otherwise, you may not learn until after you have a problem that pets, jet ski accidents and all sorts of other risks are not covered by your policy. Consider purchasing an umbrella policy which will provide liability coverage above what your regular policy covers. For the protection you get, umbrella liability coverage is not very expensive. Premiums are often $200 to $300 a year for $1 million worth of coverage. Renters insurance (which landlords increasingly require) is also appropriate and relatively inexpensive. To get more information on homeowners liability insurance as well as home owner tips to keep your home "Lawyer Proof" click here.
• Take a moment to consider your current risks. If someone slips on your doorstep and is injured, your child breaks the neighbor's window with a baseball, a tree or limb falls and crushes your neighbor's car or bike, the family dog bites the mail carrier or there's an accident involving your pool you are at risk of a lawsuit.
• Watch out for creating new risks: For example, remodeling can create all kinds of potential hazards. Make sure your contractor is licensed and the work permitted. When buying a new pet, make sure the appropriate signs are posted and insurance policies are updated (realize that insurance policies increasingly refuse to cover certain pets... see my Fox-13 interview on this subject here)

If you have any questions about your homeowners insurance or your risks, feel free to contact me at 813-877-DALE / 727-866-DALE or by e-mail at www.WeFightForJustice.com.

Did You Know?

This Memorial Day, let's not make drowning another cause for memorials. Each year, 2000 children are injured and another 260 children under five drown in swimming pools. These statistics are alarming, but there are ways to protect your children while allowing them to enjoy your pool this summer. Install an alarm on doors leading to the pool and use a pool alarm. Click here for more information on pool alarms. Never leave children unattended or unsupervised, put a fence around your pool and learn CPR. Click here to find a CPR class close to you.

Law Offices of Dale Appell, P.A. | 3001 North Rocky Point Drive, Suite 200 | Tampa, Florida 33607
PHONE: (813) 877-DALE | (727) 866-DALE

Disclaimer: This newsletter is designed for general information only. The contents should not be construed as formal legal advice nor should it be construed as the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experiences.