An attractive nuisance is something on your property that poses danger to children, but could attract them. Construction sites and pools are examples of attractive nuisances.
Having attractive nuisances on your property could leave you legally liable if a child is injured by one. This could spell trouble for you, such as legal fees and higher homeowners insurance.
While you may not be actively looking for trouble, you may have some elements in your house that your insurance company considers potentially dangerous. Attractive nuisances are a perfect example of this. Read on to learn more about attractive nuisances, how they affect your insurance, when you're liable, and more, presented by Jerry
. What are attractive nuisances?
An attractive nuisance is something you've chosen to have on your property but that could be potentially dangerous yet also irresistible for other people—mainly children. Attractive nuisances can include but are not limited to:
Pools and Hot Tubs: Sure, they're fun to have in the summertime. However, when not secured, they can pose a drowning threat.
Construction Sites: Kids love these. To them, these areas promise adventures. However, they can also promise multiple injuries. Therefore, a construction site at your home can increase your risk factor.
Exposed Power Lines: Power lines are not something you'd want to be exposed to or have them be even remotely accessible to any guest or even trespassers.
Abandoned Cars: While you may see them as a collection, kids might see them as a playground. Therefore, make sure to lock doors and windows so that they have no access to the inside of them.
Play objects: While these are specifically made for kids, the truth is that they can still get hurt when playing in them; this is especially true for things like trampolines, tree houses, and jungle gyms, and swing sets.
How do attractive nuisances affect you?
If you have any of the previously mentioned items in or around your house, and any kid gets injured because of them, you could be found to be legally responsible for it. This means you could be sued and have to pay for the child's medical expenses.
You should always make sure to take the appropriate safety measures to prevent people from getting injured on your property. However, to be extra safe, you should also be sure you have the proper insurance coverage. Make sure you have liability insurance on your property.
Having attractive nuisances could raise your homeowners insurance rates, as it's more likely that a child will injure themselves on your property if you have an attractive nuisance. Since you're more likely to file a claim, your premium will increase.
How to stay safe while having attractive nuisances
You may not be willing to give up your pool or other attractive nuisances in your home, but you still want to be able to keep your home as safe as possible. So, what can you do to help this situation?
Light It Up: We're not talking about flames here. Make sure to keep your house illuminated so that there's good visibility around any attractive nuisances.
Get a Fence: If you haven't done so already, a fence is an excellent idea to keep people out of danger zones (or your property in general).
Cover Your Pool: In addition to a perimeter fence around your pool, you could also buy a pool cover and keep it secured until it is time to use it.
Warn People: Sings are a great way to alert people of potential dangers. You can use them for pools, angry dogs, construction sites, stairs, and basically anything else that might come to mind.
Be Vigilant: While the previous measures are mainly to keep people out of your property when you don't want them to be there, there will also be times when you do want them in your house. Having guests over is part of living. Just make sure to stay vigilant for any dangerous situations.
MORE: Will a pool raise my home insurance?
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