A Personal Umbrella Policy is a needed addition to insurance protection for most insureds.  Are you aware of the importance of this valuable coverage?  One of the best ways to understand the need for a personal umbrella is to review claims examples.  It is very clear that an incident arising from just normal daily activities can expose all of us to the potential for a large claims suit.

Claim Scenario #1:

The insured's 18 year old son was driving the Insured's car on a short trip to the store with his girlfriend, the Claimant.  The car left the road and struck a tree.  The Insured's son told the police that a vehicle  cut him off, but there was no witness and no evidence of any impact with another car.  The Claimant had no recollection of the incident.  The Claimant, a 19 year old college student, was hospitalized for over a month with multiple fractures and internal injuries.  She was in a wheelchair but is now able to walk with crutches and continues therapy.  She has a right drop foot as a result of the injuries.  The Insured's personal umbrella policy limit was paid to the Claimant.

Claim Scenario #2:

Claimant, age 2, was on the Insured's property with his grandparents who were there to care for 2 horses owned by the Insured.  The Insureds were out of town on vacation.  The Claimant was kicked by one of the horses, and taken to the ER.  The Claimant was given a 5% chance of survival and underwent surgery for a cracked skull (a piece of which was missing) with 30% damage to his right brain.  He survived and is residing in a neighboring state at a rehab center.  A large payment was made under the personal umbrella policy.

Claim Scenario #3:

 The Claimant and Insured have been longtime friends, live on the same street, and the Claimant had been to the Insured's home on many occasions.  The insured lives in a home with a brick patio which had been constructed in the 60's.  Bricks were replaced one year before the incident.  An area of patio is bordered by an 18 inch retaining wall with a flower bed in between the wall and patio.

 The Insured, Claimant, and another friend met at a club, had a few drinks, and all returned to the Insured's home, where they sat on the patio and continued drinking.  At approximately 11PM, the insured went into the kitchen.  The friend also went into the house to call a cab.

When the friend returned outside, the Claimant was no longer on the patio.  He found the Claimant unconscious on the ground of the other side of the patio retaining wall.  The Claimant remembers falling, but does not remember the fall.

 The Claimant, age 56, sustained a spinal cord injury which rendered him an incomplete quadriplegic.  He underwent surgery & was on a feeding tube for several months.  He was able to return home 6 months after the incident, but continues to suffer partial paralysis of his arms & legs.  He uses an electric wheelchair to get around his house and requires assistance with some activities of daily living.

The Claimant owned a business and was married a month before the incident.  His wife now cares for him at home.  The settlement to the Claimant exhausted the underlying coverage limits and payments were made under the personal umbrella.

 For a Personal Umbrella quote, please give our office a call.