Hosting a Party? Be Wary of Too Much Holiday Cheer - Tipsy Guests Can Land Them in Court
FAIRFAX, Virginia, December 28, 2009 'Tis the season to be jolly, but too
much jolly can mean big lawsuits for some unsuspecting hosts. That's
because party hosts can be held legally liable should their guests imbibe in
too much of the holiday "spirits" and later get involved in a car accident.
Yet, many would-be hosts are completely unaware of their potential liability.
More than two-thirds had no idea they could be held financially liable should a
partygoer leave their home and cause an accident*.
Liability concerns exist inside the home as well. Tipsy guests are more prone
to falls and accidents around the house. Should an intoxicated guest trip and
injure themselves, the host could be held responsible for their medical bills.
The liability exists regardless of whether or not the host owns their home.
Allstate recommends that party hosts take the following steps to reduce
accidents and injuries during the holiday season:
When entertaining guests be responsible yourself. It will be much
easier to determine whether or not a guest is able to drive if you're sober
yourself.
If your guests drink too much, arrange a ride with a sober driver,
call a cab or insist they sleep at your home.
When hosting a party, offer plenty of non-alcoholic beverages and
serve food to help slow the absorption of alcohol.
Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party is over and
never pressure others to drink or rush to refill their glasses when empty.
Check your insurance policy and make sure it provides appropriate
liability protection. If you rent and don't have a renters policy (approximately
60 percent of renters don't), consider purchasing one as it provides valuable
liability protection.
Consider getting a personal umbrella policy. An umbrella policy
supplements your homeowners or renters policy by providing additional liability
protection (typically beginning at $1 million in coverage). While it may sound
like a lot of money, keep in mind that legal costs and awards in a drunk
driving lawsuit can get very high.
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held
personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With
Allstate®" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million
households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow
through approximately 14,900 exclusive agencies and financial
representatives in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate
products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance
through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800
Allstate®. Encompass® and Deerbrook® Insurance brand property and
casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The
Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and
health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for
individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through
Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-
dealers.
