Most of us can finish the above sentence using the good advice a parent or teacher gave us somewhere in the past. We’re talking of course about badmouthing some person or business, and that sage advice probably means more today than ever.
First, society has become more litigious and it’s more likely you’ll get sued if you make defamatory remarks verbally or in writing. Secondly, there are more opportunities to slam somebody these days to larger audiences, thanks to social media like Facebook and Twitter.
So what happens if in a thoughtless moment of anger you push send and get some attorney for the offended party on your trail? Can insurance save the day for you? It could. If you carry homeowners or renters insurance, the liability portion of the policy might come to your aid IF it includes Personal Injury coverage.
Not all policies include this. The insurance industry makes a distinction between Bodily Injury and Personal Injury. Bodily Injury refers to physical owies you might cause others. Personal Injury refers to damage to the reputation of others by things you say or write. Bodily injury is almost universally covered but Personal Injury is often an extra cost option. Obviously it’s good to know if you have such coverage, but it’s even better to never make the kind of remarks that might offend someone.