Holding a wedding or its reception in your home can save you thousands of dollars. However, it also exposes you to the risk of liability claims. Here are four reasons you may face liability claims after a wedding in your home:
Physical Injuries within the Home
Anybody who gets injured during the wedding may sue you for damages if they think your negligence caused their injury. It is true that there are several ways a wedding guest may get injured. Here are some potential causes of guests' injuries in your home:
Food Intoxication
The food and drinks you will be serving to your guests may also expose you to potential injury claims. Food poisoning is always a risk when food is prepared in bulk. For example, fresh fruit may be contaminated with germs from raw meat if the same utensils are used to prepare them. You may also find yourself serving (unwittingly) food that has gone bad, especially if the food was purchased several days before the big day.
Injuries Caused By Intoxicated Guests
Social host liability laws hold hosts responsible for damages or injuries caused by intoxicated guests. The risks of this happening is even greater if you are serving unlimited drinks and don't have a dedicated person or people to ensure that those who are already drunk aren't served more alcohol. This means when one of your drunken guests hits a pedestrian while driving home, you may be held at least partially responsible for the damages.
Damages to Guests' Properties
It's not just injuries to or by guests that you may be held accountable to; some claims may arise out of property damages. For example, a guest who has their laptop stolen from their car while it is parked in your driveway may hold you liable for their losses, and your home insurance coverage may pay for the loss.
As you can see, hosting a wedding or a reception in your backyard is risky. Apart from taking precautions to avoid injuries and damages, you also need to confirm that your insurance coverage covers the risks. Talk to an insurance agent, such as from Martin Insurance Company, to see if your coverage is adequate or if you should purchase additional coverage.
Share14 September 2017
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