Telecommuter and Homeowner liability

[paulsiu]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? IL

I telecommute from my home. I don't meet clients on the premise, but do talk to customers and co-workers on the phone.

I understand that my work computer that my employer provided me is probably not covered by home owners insurance. However, I was wondering about liability. I notice a post that pointed that if someone delivers a work report and trips over the sidewalk, the home owners insurance liability won't cover it. I was wondering about the hidden gotha's with working at home.

Paul

[xylene]

You should start with having a sit down with your insurance agent and tell him the truth about your coverage needs as a telecommuter.

If your agent can't answer you or assure you that they can / will cover you with your existing policy or with added coverage you should change to a firm who can cover you.

[paulsiu]

Originally Posted by xylene

You should start with having a sit down with your insurance agent and tell him the truth about your coverage needs as a telecommuter.

If your agent can't answer you or assure you that they can / will cover you with your existing policy or with added coverage you should change to a firm who can cover you.

I talked with several agents already. None felt that it would be a problem unless I actually start a business within my house. I am thinking up additional scenarios that they may have missed and then discussing it with them, which is the purpose of this post. You can't be too careful.


Paul

[moburkes]

You should be fine. An insurance agent cannot give advice about claims since that's not their specialty. And there are so many nuances with an individual claims and the scenario under which one might happen that they can't review every possible situation with you.

[xylene]

Originally Posted by paulsiu

I talked with several agents already. None felt that it would be a problem unless I actually start a business within my house. I am thinking up additional scenarios that they may have missed and then discussing it with them, which is the purpose of this post. You can't be too careful.


Paul

If an agent is not willing to state - in writing, or otherwise show in writing that the policy covers the conditions you fear (work delivery person falling) then keep calling.

[moburkes]

Originally Posted by xylene

If an agent is not willing to state - in writing, or otherwise show in writing that the policy covers the conditions you fear (work delivery person falling) then keep calling.

No agent is going to put anything in writing. And, whatever they write will NOT bind the compnay to a risk that is not already in the insurance contract. What you're suggesting would cause the agent to lose his appointment real fast.

OP needs to talk to a person who is in claims, not sales, and he needs to show them his exact policy. OR, OP could be an informed consumer and read his own damn policy. Slowly. I did it. At 21 or 22. Before I got into insurance. If you read it slowly, you'll understand. The definitions are there. The exclusions are there.

[paulsiu]

I have tried to ask about different scenarios to various agents. All are stumped and are referred to higher up people, but then the higher-ups all waffle on their answer and say that they cannot do "what if" scenarios.

All will try to tell me information on whether my computer is covered or not, but I was more interested in liability claims. All I want to make sure is that there won't be situations where liability claims will be denied because I work at home.

Paul

[moburkes]

Originally Posted by paulsiu

I have tried to ask about different scenarios to various agents. All are stumped and are referred to higher up people, but then the higher-ups all waffle on their answer and say that they cannot do "what if" scenarios.

All will try to tell me information on whether my computer is covered or not, but I was more interested in liability claims. All I want to make sure is that there won't be situations where liability claims will be denied because I work at home.

Paul

This is what I was trying to explain. They can't do what ifs. There are too many variables to determine if your claim will be covered. Telecommuting in itself, does not necessarily increase your liability.

If someone falls on your property and they were there because their work required it, THEIR employer's worker compensation should cover that claim. That's the best answer I can give you.