
Summertime brings longer days and more time outside, whether spent boating, exploring, or having fun.
Additionally, it may indicate a higher chance of expensive mishaps. According to the CDC, there are around 12 million more visits to emergency rooms in the spring and summer than in the autumn and winter. During the summer, you can’t take a break from dangers.
But you may lessen your risk exposure by ensuring you have the right insurance coverage. You may protect your finances while participating in some of the most well-liked summertime pastimes.
Examples Summer Activities
Travel by Car
Getting in the vehicle along with pals might be a cheap form of transportation. However, it is a good idea to verify your vehicle insurance before you drive. The chance of an accident increases dramatically when you’re traveling someplace new. If you get into an accident while traveling, the minimal vehicle insurance needed by your state may not be sufficient to cover your losses. Costs associated with the collision, such as repairs and medical bills, are within your purview.
Recommends purchasing additional liability auto insurance than what is legally necessary. The additional protection against a lawsuit for injuries is inexpensive and essential. Additionally, you may want comprehensive collision insurance. You may choose not to get this coverage, but if your automobile is damaged, you could have to pay for the repairs yourself. The only harm you cause to other people and their property is covered by liability insurance.
Swimming Pool
Your home’s policy’s liability coverage should be increased to between $200,000 and $400,000. Because “a $100 loan” won’t help you in such cases, you should think about the possible consequences in advance. If you want to increase your coverage, you can think about getting a second umbrella liability insurance if you have considerable assets to safeguard ($600,000 or more).
Having a self-latching gate and a fence surrounding the pool (sometimes mandated by law) are two examples of what may be done to reduce the likelihood of accidents occurring. Use a pool cover when you’re not using the pool, install alarms that go off if someone gets in the water, and learn how to help someone in the water.
Hiring a Vehicle
Always keep in mind that your existing auto insurance may have an impact on the insurance for the vehicle you are renting.
A rented automobile is normally covered by your auto insurance, but only to the same extent. Therefore, if you damage that brand-new rental automobile and don’t have collision coverage on your car, you may be responsible for paying for the repairs.
You may buy a loss-damage waiver at the location where you rent the automobile if you’d prefer not to extend your existing auto policy’s collision and comprehensive coverage. By signing this waiver, you agree that if your rental automobile is damaged or stolen, you won’t be responsible for covering the costs of repairs.
You may be able to get rental vehicle insurance via your credit card, and another choice is to purchase a separate policy.
Check the advantages of your credit card and your existing vehicle insurance policy before renting a car. If your current motor policy just covers liability or has limited coverage limits, think about purchasing extra insurance.
Outdoor Games
One of your guests may be wounded while using your trampoline or bounce house.
Make sure your insurance policy covers trampolines, and take some simple safety measures like constructing a fence and preventing young children from using the trampoline unaccompanied.
The same regulations that govern having a pool apply to trampolines as well. You could wish to increase the liability or property damage limitations, and you should also examine whether there is an individual limit that applies to the trampoline.
Dirt Bikes and ATVs
Your car, house, or renters insurance may not cover small motorized vehicles like ATVs or dirt motorcycles. If coverage does apply to these cars, it will probably cease at your property boundary.
Since insurance is not required by law, many cheap “toys” go uninsured at the request of their owners. It poses a significant danger. ATVs are the subject of several legal disputes and injuries. Purchasing a separate coverage for your little motorized vehicles is the wisest course of action.
Vessel
According to the statistics provided by the United States Coast Guard, there were close to 4,300 incidents involving recreational boats in 2017. These accidents resulted in around $46 million worth of damage.
Your home’s insurance may include coverage for small watercraft like kayaks and canoes. Because specific coverage varies, check your insurance or see your agent.
For big boats or personal watercraft like jet skis, you’ll likely need separate coverage. Liability insurance, the boat’s market worth, and where you plan to store it all play a role in determining how much you may expect to pay. Coverage options for boats may include everything from market value to replacement cost, and policyholders should be familiar with their liability limitations before buying insurance.
Renovations to Homes
On your premises, a contractor gets hurt while working. Do not allow anybody to work in your house unless they are properly licensed and have workers’ compensation and liability insurance for both themselves and their staff. Verify the insurance coverage of any contracted subcontractors.
Sports
Check your insurance coverage for health care. Go to an emergency department or urgent care facility that is in your insurance network if you need rapid medical attention and have the option to choose where you get it. Shop around for non-acute therapy to reduce your expenditures.
If you need to take time out of work to heal from a sports injury, disability insurance might be useful. If you become disabled, short-term disability insurance, which is often included in a benefits package from your company, will replace a portion of your income for up to a year.
Bottom Line
You must understand that your life and those around you can be in danger when you just relax. In addition, accidents may be safe for life, but not for your finances. It is for these reasons that it is important to know how to get around these dangers.