A trampoline is almost unavoidable if you have children. They will ask, even beg for one. And although their little faces will make you want to say yes, you have a nagging suspicion that a trampoline may impact your insurance. Before you give your begging child an affirmative answer, you should find out if a trampoline will affect your insurance policy in any way.
In addition, you need to know that trampolines are a significant cause of injuries. Between 2002 and 2011, over one million people made a visit to an emergency room as a result of a trampoline-related injury, according to a study published in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. What’s more, nearly 300,000 of those people suffered broken bones.
So, what are some things you should know before you buy that trampoline for your backyard to see if it is really even worth buying one?
No Exclusions Coverage
Some homeowners insurance policies cover trampolines with no exclusions. This means that your policy doesn’t place restrictions on the trampolines usage or ownership. This means that if a friend suffers an injury while using your trampoline, the liability coverage portion of your homeowners policy may provide some coverage of the associated costs.
Coverage Only with Safety Precautions
Some homeowners insurance policies will provide coverage provided you take into account certain safety precautions. One safety precautions could be to enclose a net around the trampoline.
Homeowners Insurance Exclusions
Certain homeowner insurance policies specifically exclude trampoline-related injury claims. If this is the case, it is best to speak with your insurance agent about how you can get covered. If your home insurance policy doesn’t cover trampolines, you might think about buying an umbrella policy as well. This will provide you with extra liability coverage on top of your current coverage. Since trampolines are risky and increase your chances of getting sued, you will want all the protection you can get that the umbrella policy provid
Keep in mind that if you have family and friends over and they get injured on your trampoline, you might think they won’t sue you. But unfortunately, you could get sued. If anyone misses work or ends up having to have surgery, they might very well look for compensation.
The best thing to do is to check with your independent insurance agent to determine how your trampoline impacts your insurance before you decide to get one.
