The Liability Risks of Graduation Parties

Whether your child is graduating from high school or college, it’s a big achievement that was only possible because of a lot of hard work and dedication. Many families throw graduation parties to celebrate the milestone. This gives friends and family members a chance to collectively congratulate the graduate on a job well done. However, parties aren’t all fun and games; they also expose the host to an array of liability risks. 

Hosting a party pulls your attention in numerous directions. You greet newcomers, replenish drinks and snacks, chat with guests, queue up the music and perform other tasks that keep you busy. You can’t possibly have your eyes on every guest at all times.  

Perhaps when your attention is elsewhere, a guest trips over a frayed rug in a room that is supposed to be off limits. The guest breaks a leg as a result of the fall and faces extensive medical bills and lost wages due to taking a leave of absence from work. Since it’s your job to provide a safe environment for visitors, you may be liable for these expenses. 

The same goes for alcohol consumption. Even if you make a rule that only adults are allowed to drink alcoholic beverages, your child’s high school buddies may sneak some alcohol away and drink it when no one is watching. If those teens then drive away and cause an accident, you may be held liable because the alcohol was consumed by minors under your watch. 

Fortunately, you can protect yourself from these risky scenarios with the liability portion of your homeowners insurance. While liability coverage cannot prevent an incident from occurring, it can provide financial compensation to pay for third parties’ medical bills and lost wages, as well as legal fees and settlements if the case is brought to court. 

If you enjoy hosting parties at your home, you may wish to consider adding umbrella coverage onto your home insurance for extra liability coverage limits. While these incidents are rare, they do happen. And in today’s litigious society, it’s not terribly uncommon to be wiped out by lawsuits. 

On the other hand, if you seldom host parties, you may consider a one-day special event insurance policy to gain the extra protection during the course of the graduation party. 

Which option is right for you? Your independent insurance agent can explain the details of your options to help you make an informed decision.