Fireworks and Your Home Owners Insurance in North Idaho
Fireworks and Your Home Owners Insurance
We hear it on the radio, drive by the stands, hear the cry to head for the Reservation to get the “good stuff” when it comes to fireworks.
Jan loves setting off fireworks, me not so much, so we compromise.We support local “safe and sane” fireworks stands, and then put them away for New Year’s Eve, we feel that it is much safer than the 4th and the usually high fire danger.
Can an accident causing property damage-or worse, an injury, be covered by my policy? The short answer is maybe…
According to the National Fire Protection Association:
- Fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires per year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 16,900 outside and other fires. These fires caused an average of three deaths, 40 civilian injuries, and an average of $43 million in direct property damage.
- In 2017, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 12,900 people for fireworks related injuries; 54% of those injuries were to the extremities and 36% were to the head. Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for more than one-third (36%) of the estimated 2017 injuries.
The liability can be very costly as well, a good example is in 2017 a woman suffered severe burns and disfigurement when a firework hit her in the face.The result? The business was lost, was torn down and is now becoming condos.For the full article read here.
Am I covered by insurance in the event of a fireworks accident?
In general terms, most renters’ and homeowners’ policies cover property damage caused by fireworks, sparklers, and all of the other combustibles that come with our nation’s birthday.Many farm or business insurance policies will as well. However, there can be important limits and exclusions that can include:
Are the fireworks legal?
In many areas all fireworks are illegal, but here in North Idaho, we allow “safe and sane” fireworks.If you make a trip to the reservation to get those Roman Candles or M80s, lighting them off of the reservation can have profound consequences from a personal injury claim and lawsuit. The likelihood is that you (or your insurers) will likely have a large lawsuit.
Damage to other property.While your insurance coverage covers damage caused from others having set off, it may not cover damage caused by you setting off fireworks.Even if your neighbor’s insurance covers damage to their home, you are probably going to be sued for recovery of damages by the other property owners insurance.
If you choose to have a fireworks display in your yard, please use only fireworks that are legal for your area, have water available, don’t let children fire them off and be careful!
If you have any questions, please contact us at 208-762-2122, or drop Jan a line at jan@janjinsurance.com