Own A Home In British Columbia?  You Could be Sued…

By:  Shane Toews

You are potentially responsible for everything that happens on your land.  Do you have a swimming pool?  You are responsible for the safe use of the pool.  If you have a dog, you are responsible for your dog.  The list is almost endless!  This applies to everywhere in the Fraser Valley area including, Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, Surrey, Coquitlam, New West, Maple Ridge and Abbotsford.  The good news is that most of these injusries can be avoided by using nothing more then common sense.  All you need to do is be alert the potential hazards in and around your home.  Most injuries are cuased by “slip and fall.”  They are usually the result of a lack of maintenance.  Here in British Columbia our winters can get fairly hectic.  In winter, you should clear ice and snow from all walkways on your property.  Also, the snow on your sidewalk in front of your house should be cleared as well.  Exterior steps should be in good repair and handrails should be provided.  Inside your house, carpets should be secured to stairs and floors and kept free of toys or objects that could trip a visitor. 

Are you having a “get together” or a “party”?  If you serve alcohol to guests, you could be found responsible, to some extent, for their actions.  Some courts have gone to extraordinary lengths to assign responsibility to a host.  Good judgment is always required when serving alcohol.  And always as a rule of thumb, never allow guests that have been intoxicated to drive a car. 

Its a good idea to get insurance for your property when living in the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver area’s.  A general liability insurance policy will cover losses that you would be liable to pay for.  Make sure that when you visit your insurance agent in the lower mainland that you have all the proper identification readily available.  It is recommended that you have insurance to cover a law suit that my arise from an injury. 

You can reduce your premium with most insurance company’s by installing a burglar alarm system, non smoking policyholders or a seniors discount.  Most insurance companies will also reduce your premium automatically if you have been claim free for three or more years.  You should never reduce your amount of insurance.   If you ever do have a claim you will want to have the right kind of coverage.