Are You Covered if Someone Gets Hurt on Your Property?

It happened fast.

One minute, Jeremy’s neighbor was holding a plate of ribs at the Fourth of July cookout. The next minute, he’d tripped over a garden hose, landed hard on the patio, and was clutching his wrist. A trip to urgent care, a few X-rays, and a small cast later, Jeremy found himself staring at his home insurance policy wondering, “Am I on the hook for this?”
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In Oklahoma City, when someone gets hurt on your property—whether it’s a delivery driver, a guest, or even your best friend—it’s not always clear who pays for what. So let’s break it down before you end up footing a medical bill that isn’t yours.

get the best okc home insurance!

What Your Homeowners Insurance Covers

A standard homeowners insurance policy includes personal liability coverage and medical payments to others. These two pieces of your policy handle very different parts of a claim when someone gets injured on your property.

Personal Liability Coverage

This kicks in if someone sues you after getting injured on your property. It helps pay for:

• Legal defense costs
• Court-ordered damages
• Settlement amounts

Most policies come with at least $100,000 in liability coverage, but many Oklahoma homeowners choose higher limits—especially with how quickly medical and legal bills can add up.

Medical Payments to Others

This is the “no-fault” part. If a guest slips on your icy steps or burns their hand on your grill, this coverage can help pay their medical bills—even if it was just an accident. It doesn’t require proof of fault.

Typical coverage amounts range from $1,000 to $5,000.

​Common Scenarios in Oklahoma Where Coverage Matters

A Fall on the Driveway
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In the winter, icy conditions can lead to slips and falls. If a delivery driver eats it walking up to your door, medical payments coverage might help with the ER visit. If they sue, liability coverage applies.

Kids Playing in the Backyard

If a neighbor’s child trips in a sprinkler hole and breaks an arm, your policy may help with medical expenses—especially if you didn’t invite the danger but still feel responsible.

Your Dog Bites a Guest

Pet-related injuries can get expensive fast. Liability coverage helps pay for legal fees or settlements if your dog causes injury—even if it's a good dog having a bad day.

What’s Not Covered

There are some key exclusions you should be aware of:

• Injuries to You or Your Family: Your homeowners policy doesn’t cover your own medical bills. That’s what health insurance is for.
  
• Business Activities: If someone’s hurt on your property during a business activity (like if you run a home daycare), your home policy won’t cover it.
  
• Intentional Acts: You can’t start a fight on your own lawn and expect your insurance to help.
  

​Do You Have Enough Coverage?

Many Oklahoma homeowners stick with the default coverage limits their mortgage lender required—and that’s not always enough.

A few things to consider:

• If you regularly have guests over, host events, or have kids playing outside, you’re more likely to need higher liability limits.
• If you own a trampoline, pool, or aggressive dog breed, you may need additional coverage or endorsements.
• If your net worth is high, a lawsuit could target your assets. That’s when an umbrella policy might be a smart add-on.

Steps to Take If Someone Gets Hurt on Your Property

1. Address the injury. Help the injured person and call for medical help if needed.
   
2. Document the incident. Take photos, note the time and place, and write down what happened while it’s still fresh.
   
3. Avoid admitting fault. Even if you feel bad, don’t say “it’s my fault” before you’ve spoken with your insurance agent.
   
4. Call your insurance agent. Report the incident so they can walk you through the next steps.
   

​Don’t Wait Until After the Injury

Accidents happen—and in a city like Oklahoma City where yards, porches, and walkways are common gathering spots, injuries on residential properties aren’t rare.

At Oklahoma Insurance Professionals, we help homeowners in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas make sure their home insurance covers more than just the building. As an independent insurance agency, we’ll review your liability and medical payments coverage so you’re not caught off guard.

Get in touch today to review your policy or get a quote that protects more than your roof—it protects your peace of mind.

get the best okc home insurance!

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Scott Godwin
Founder

Oklahoma Insurance Professionals LLC serves Oklahoma City and the surrounding Oklahoma communities by protecting the people we work with just like we protect our own family members. Home insurance, auto insurance, business insurance, and more. We can help you find the coverage you need. ​​​​