They are FUN … I’ve had them at our home when my grandchildren were younger.  But I had to think long and hard about putting my family on one of these and the harm they might cause.  After research, I hired a company that had a variety of bounce houses to choose from.  I would always choose the one I thought would be the least risky of those choices.  We had successful events with them and our kids loved it. 

But there is definitely more to the bounce house story….

A tragic incident involving a bounce house that was set up at a family’s home in Casa Grande, Arizona underscores the potential dangers and protections needed for such attractions.

According to reports, a sudden gust of wind sent the bounce house into the air and onto a neighboring property, impacting two young children.

“It is extremely tragic,” said Pamela​​​​ Alphabet, Associate Vice President with Burns & Wilcox Insurance company.  While any company involved in setting up the bounce house could also be liable for injuries or fatalities, the owner of the home where the structure was set up is likely to be sued. It is “absolutely” up to homeowners to ensure a bounce house is safe for guests to use, she said, and a lawsuit would be expected if “they were negligent in making sure that the bounce house they were inviting their guests to go into was properly secured or safe.”

A claim is likely to exceed standard Homeowners Insurance limits
A New York Times report published shortly after the accident pointed to several other bounce house accidents and deaths that have occurred in recent years, including an 8-year-old who died in Spain in 2022 and five children who died in a bounce house accident in Australia in 2021. Injuries are far more common, with bounce houses linked to thousands of injuries per year, the publication reported.

These types of accidents can lead to a lawsuit, and can be covered by the host’s Homeowners Insurance, with additional coverage likely needed under Personal Umbrella Insurance — a type of insurance many do not realize they should obtain from us here in the agency.  We promote the Personal Liability Umbrella consistently because the need is there and the price is the most affordable insurance premium we offer.

A lawsuit could exceed the full limit on the Homeowners Insurance policy and probably go well above and beyond that! 

If an accident occurs on your property — whether on a bounce house, trampoline or other children’s play equipment — you are definitely liable…not to mention the guilt you would face from it.

Most Homeowners Insurance policies include between $300,000 and $500,000 in liability coverage. (we always suggest $500,000 in liability protection.  The difference in premium is minimal to increase to that amount!)   That makes the Personal Umbrella Insurance necessary for any settlements exceeding that amount. Most Personal Umbrella Insurance policies are going to go from $1 million up to $25 million, depending on the carrier. The Homeowners Insurance policy would be exhausted almost immediately from a claim like this. In this case, one child was killed and another had injuries, and that adds to the cost as well.

Unlike trampolines or pools, temporary bounce houses are not usually discussed while purchasing Homeowners Insurance.

Personal Umbrella Insurance policies, which can provide additional liability coverage on top of Homeowners Insurance as well as Auto Liability Insurance, can also extend to other types of incidents, from slip-and-falls on the property, watercraft accidents, incidents involving dogs, such as injury caused by a dog bite, or a homeowner’s teenager participating in online bullying.

If somebody trips in front of your house going down your steps, whether it is your fault or not, they are likely to sue. If your child says something inappropriate online, that may also constitute personal injury, and you could be liable.

Regarding dogs, it’s important that homeowners disclose the breed to their insurance carrier, because certain “high-risk” breeds may be excluded from coverage.  We consistently ask for pet information at the time of application.

Lawsuits are common, even among friends

Homeowners may also find themselves being sued by their neighbors after house fires or other incidents. In West Park, Florida, multiple neighbors are suing the property owner where a house exploded due to an apparent propane tank leak, which left neighboring homes with damage and some residents traumatized. In 2023, a homeowner in Surrey, British Columbia, sued his neighbor over a 2021 fireworks accident that caused fire, smoke and water damage as reported by the Vancouver Sun reported.

In New York City, a condo owner’s broken pipe could lead to water damage in dozens of other units. In that case, all of those individual apartments are likely going to sue the insured where the leak initially began.  It might not always hit the point of Personal Umbrella Insurance but that could be hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. If it originates in your unit, it is your problem.

This is another one of those issues insureds so often overlook.  Let us know how we can help you.  We do our best to cover ALL risks as we spend as much time educating our clients as much as finding them the best rates for coverages.

We do our best to be available at the times you need us most.  And if we are not, we have other avenues for you to connect.  TEXT or CALL 615.377.1212, visit www.BentonWhite.com for a variety of information and service features that can assist you 24 hours each day.  EMAIL us at info@BentonWhite.com or you can respond by text directly from our website. 

We’re here – doing out best to earn your business.  And if you aren’t with us yet, COME on over!  We’ll treat you like we want to be treated and we will KNOW who you are in a language you can understand.

Thanks for reading the blog!  Pass it along if it’s been helpful to you!