Personal Liability for Renters Insurance (2024)

Personal liability coverage on your renters policy may cover you if a claim or lawsuit is brought against you for damages due to bodily injury or property damage, up to the limits of your coverage. It may also pay for legal costs resulting from lawsuits.

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What does personal liability insurance for renters insurance cover?

Personal liability coverage may cover you, including legal fees and settlement costs, if you cause bodily injury to someone or damage their property, up to the limits of your policy. Review your renters insurance policy with your insurance agent to see how personal liability coverage may cover you in the event of a loss..

Example:While visiting your apartment, your friend hands you their laptop and you accidentally drop it, causing damage to the appearance and functionality. In this case, you're liable for damage to the laptop, and your personal liability coverage on your renters insurance policy may pay for the repairs or replacement, up to your policy's limits.

What isn't covered by personal liability insurance for renters?

Personal liability coverage on your renters insurance policy won't cover the following:

  • Damage and injuries resulting from car accidents
  • Bodily injuries that you sustain
  • Property damage to property owned by you
  • Business-related claims
  • Intentional harm or damage

With renters insurance, personal liability coverage is standard on a policy. Your cost for renters liability coverage will depend on your coverage limit.

Example:Your guest slips and falls on your wet floor, is injured, and needs medical care. In this case, your personal liability coverage on your renters policy may pay for your guest's injury, as well as legal costs if you're sued, up to your policy's limits.

How much renters insurance personal liability coverage do I need?

Most insurance companies give you three standard choices for personal liability coverage limits on your renters insurance: $100,000, $300,000, or $500,000. Your net worth should be taken into consideration when determining the amount of personal liability coverage you may need. To calculate your net worth, add up all of your assets, including checking, savings, retirement accounts, and other things of value you own, then subtract your debt. Learn more about standard renters insurance coverages.

How to get renters insurance

Personal Liability for Renters Insurance (2)

Go online

We'll ask a few simple questions, then you'll choose your coverages and start date.

Quote renters insurance online

Personal Liability for Renters Insurance (3)

Call us

You'll speak with a licensed renters representative who can walk you through everything.

Call 1-866-749-7436

Personal Liability for Renters Insurance (4)

Through an agent

If you want local advice, we'll connect you with a licensed independent agent near you.

Find an agent online

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Get a renters insurance quote online or call for advice

  • Or, call 1-866-749-7436
Personal Liability for Renters Insurance (2024)

FAQs

What should my personal liability be? ›

How much personal liability coverage do I need? Homeowners and renters policies commonly offer three limits of personal liability coverage: $100,000, $300,000, and $500,000. As with auto liability coverage, selecting a coverage limit that matches or exceeds your net worth is a good starting point.

What does 100,000 personal liability mean? ›

Many homeowners insurance policies provide a minimum of $100,000 in personal liability coverage, meaning the insurance company can pay up to that amount in total to injured persons per occurrence. If you feel you need more protection, higher limits are available.

What does renters insurance liability coverage protect you against? ›

Liability coverage for renters

Liability coverage is another protection typically included in a renters insurance policy. This coverage may help protect you from paying out of pocket for certain costs if you are found legally responsible for injuries to other people or damage to their property.

What is the difference between personal property and personal liability? ›

The difference between personal liability and property liability is that property liability covers damage you cause to another person's property, such as in a car accident, while personal liability covers damage or injury to another person which you are legally liable for.

What is the personal liability rule? ›

Being "personally liable" means that a plaintiff who wins a court judgment against your business can satisfy it out of your personal assets, like your bank account, home, or automobile simply because of your status as an owner of the business.

What is subject to personal liability? ›

Persons subject to personal liability include individuals who have the authority and control to collect and pay tax to the state as well as any person who has control or authority over the business's funds and assets. Examples include, but are not limited to, individuals who: Serve as officers and directors.

Is $100,000 personal liability insurance enough? ›

Some policies will pay for defense and court costs in addition to settlement costs. The typical renters insurance policy offers $100,000 in liability coverage. For renters, this amount is often sufficient.

How do you limit personal liability? ›

Here are seven steps to help protect yourself from liability risk:
  1. STEP 1: Purchase adequate property and casualty coverage. ...
  2. STEP 2: Add an umbrella policy. ...
  3. STEP 3: Consider optional coverage for household employees. ...
  4. STEP 4: Don't forget about children and other dependents. ...
  5. STEP 5: Consider professional liabilities.

Is unlimited personal liability good? ›

Each business owner is equally responsible for any and all debts that accrue within an unlimited liability business structure. Their personal assets are at risk if the business is unable to repay or defaults on its debt. This type of structure is typically suitable for small businesses with limited assets and debts.

What is typically not covered by renters insurance? ›

Damage Caused by Floods, Earthquakes and Sinkholes

Flooding, earthquakes and sinkholes are all examples of natural disasters that are not covered by a typical renters insurance policy.

Who has the cheapest renters insurance? ›

Our Picks for the Cheapest Renters Insurance Providers
  • Lemonade: Our top pick.
  • State Farm: Our pick for affordable premiums.
  • Toggle: Our pick for custom pricing.
  • Allstate: Our pick for seniors.
  • Nationwide: Our pick for valuable endorsem*nts.

Which of the following is a benefit of renters insurance? ›

Renters insurance protects your belongings from loss, damage, or destruction following things like burglaries, fires, tornadoes and other covered events.

Is personal liability and liability the same thing? ›

Premises liability claims are about unsafe conditions on someone's property. Personal liability is about someone's own actions. In either case, you might deserve compensation if someone else was careless.

What is personal liability for owner? ›

Personal liability for business debts and obligations can arise where a business loses a lawsuit or incurs a debt obligation and the creditor then goes after the personal assets and property of the business owners or members.

What is personal liability umbrella coverage? ›

What a Personal Liability Umbrella Policy Provides * Additional liability protection at a reasonable price. Protection against personal claims, such as defamation of character, libel, or slander, that may not be covered by your other policies.

What are the personal liabilities of a person? ›

Meaning of personal liability in English. the fact of a person, rather than a company or organization, being legally responsible for something: Under certain conditions, trustees can take out insurance against personal liability.

What are the liabilities of personal life? ›

Most people have liabilities in their day-to-day lives: car payments, rent, and credit card bills. In corporate finance, liabilities are similar, just on a much larger scale. Liabilities for a business may be long-term loans used to fund operations, money owed to vendors or suppliers, or leases for warehouse spaces.

What is the risk of personal liability? ›

Personal liability is a very real concern for many business owners. There are a number of situations in which an individual may become personally liable to pay business debts or make payments to third parties; even where that individual has been acting in a professional capacity.

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