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Can I be sued for actions my child does outside of the home?

We were at the park the other day and my child pushed another kid off the swing. The other kid broke his arm, and while I do feel bad about that, I don't think I should have to pay for his medical bills. The parents are talking about suing us, can they do that?

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Shannon Martin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“That is an unfortunate thing to have happen, but it does happen all of the time.
In most cases, your
homeowners liability protection
does cover you wherever you go, such as:
  • parks
  • vacations
  • hiking
You and your family are covered from accidental injuries that may occur at locations outside of your home.
Your son pushing another child at the playground may not have been an accident, but young children are somewhat exempt from this rule. Children often don’t understand the potential outcomes of their actions, so in this case, your liability coverage will cover the medical bills if the parents file a claim against your insurance.
Any action a child takes while they are considered a dependant, whether they are children on a playground or teenagers throwing a party, the parents will be held financially responsible.
Now would be a good time to look into getting an umbrella policy.
An umbrella policy extends liability coverage from both your auto and homeowners insurance policies. They start with providing an extra $1 million worth of coverage and usually only cost around $100 per year. Most
car insurance
companies have this option.
You can also download the free insurance comparison app,
Jerry
. Jerry shops auto insurance with over 50 carriers and will be able to provide the lowest rate for an umbrella policy.”
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