Contact:
Karl Newman, President
Sandi Henke, Communications Coordinator
NW Insurance Council    
Phone: (206) 624-3330/(800) 664-4942
Fax: (206) 624-1975
karl.newman@nwinsurance.org
sandi.henke@nwinsurance.org
Follow at Twitter/nwinsuranceinfo

Fright Night: Carelessness can cause insurance nightmares on Halloween

SEATTLE - Halloween festivities are sure to bring plenty of chills and thrills. However, the fun could quickly turn into a nightmare if you don't carefully plan for the evening's activities.

Candles, frightened pets and wet or poorly maintained walkways all can prove dangerous to your family and trick-or-treaters.

"Protecting yourself, your family and guests starts with making sure you have Homeowners Insurance with high enough limits of liability to protect your financial assets," said Karl Newman, NW Insurance Council president. "After that, homeowners should take every reasonable precaution to ensure that their homes are safe for residents and guests."

Injuries to guests are covered under the Liability portion of your Homeowners Insurance policy. Most homeowners' policies start with liability limits of $100,000.

However, regardless of the season, you may want to consider purchasing at least $300,000 worth of Personal Liability protection and adding an Umbrella Policy. In many cases, you can purchase up to 10 times more liability coverage for an additional several hundred dollars per year.

Your policy also provides "no-fault" Medical Payments to Others coverage. In the event a friend or neighbor is injured in or around your home, he or she can submit medical bills to your insurance company up to the limit you've chosen - generally from $1,000 to $5,000. This allows payment of smaller medical expenses without needing to file a liability claim.

However, it's important to note that both Medical and Liability coverage only applies to guests and does not pay medical bills for you, your family or your pets.

NW Insurance Council and the Insurance Information Institute offer these common-sense tips to help you avoid the negligence ghouls and safeguard your family, home and trick-or-treaters this Halloween night:

• Ensure safe walkways by raking or sweeping leaves and other debris away from porches, decks, sidewalks and driveways. Remove all objects around the outside of your house that could cause children to trip or fall.
  
• Turn on your outside light so trick-or-treaters know they can visit your home.
  
• Trim low-hanging branches over walkways.
  
• Keep walkways well lit.
  
• Keep pets away from approaching trick-or-treaters. Some pets may get excited or hostile when encountering children dressed in costumes.
• Keep candles away from all combustible and heat-sensitive items. Make sure they are displayed on stable surfaces and out of reach of children and pets. Extinguish candles before leaving a room.

If you'd like more information about your Homeowners Insurance policy or your liability limits, contact your insurance company or agent. For more information about how to protect your family and home, call NW Insurance Council at (800) 664-4942 and ask for a brochure called Your Guide to Insurance.

NW Insurance Council is a nonprofit, public-education organization funded by member insurance companies serving Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

###