Do you have insurance for summer fun?

BY ANDREW STEWART

Finally!  Winter has become a distant memory, and it’s time for backyard pools, boat rides and barbeques at the cottage. But before you take a dip out on the open water or take your brand-new motorcycle for a spin, be sure you and your loved ones are covered in the event of a summer mishap.

When we think of and start to plan for our summer activities it’s very easy for us to forget about the types of insurance we should have for the summer season to lower our risk. Spring and summer account for nearly 12 million more emergency room visits per year than fall and winter.

Here are some simple tips on how you can insure yourself and be safe for summer fun.

Cooling down in a pool

If you have a pool it may offer refreshing breaks from scorching summer heat, but a sparkling backyard pool can put you in the financial deep end if you don’t have the right amount of insurance. Making sure you have the proper coverage on your homeowners insurance is important. Number of Canada-wide unintentional water related deaths in 2016 & 2017 were 297 and 283.

Boost your liability coverage and review the standards and codes where you live. Those could include requirements for safety equipment, such as fences and locks.

Window down, music blaring road trip

With more cars on the road, the summer months are the most dangerous times of the year for drivers. If you plan to avoid the wear and tear on your personal vehicle and decide to rent a vehicle, don’t be cheap and decline the insurance.

Now it is possible to decline the rental companies coverage if your personal auto insurance has collision coverage and covers rentals, or the credit card you use may offer coverage as well. My suggestion would be to take the safest route and take the rental companies insurance. I’ve experience having an accident with and without having the rental coverage and believe me it’s much easier being able to just drop off the vehicle without the worry of a claim going on my personal auto insurance.

Fishing and suntanning on a boat

If you prefer to have summer fun off dry land and on a boat, you’ll also find yourself taking on a boatload of risk.

Home insurance or renters insurance may provide all the coverage you need. But for larger and faster boats, or personal watercraft like Jet Skis you’ll need a separate marine policy. A personal flotation device should always be worn when boating. Not wearing a lifejacket or personal flotation device is the number one cause of recreational boating deaths in Canada. The majority of fatal accidents are caused by capsizing, collision or falling overboard and about 40% of drowning fatalities from recreational boating in Canada are alcohol related. Proper boat insurance will pay if your boat is accidentally lost or damaged and will cover damage or injuries to others, as well as your legal costs, if someone takes your boat for a joy ride without permission.

That home away from home

Renting out your home for vacation use can be cost-effective for everyone involved.

Thanks to Airbnb and similar sites, vacation rentals are growing in popularity. Insurance requirements vary considerably, depending on the length and frequency of the stays. Your homeowners’ insurance might provide coverage for an occasional short-term rental, but if you regularly rent out the property, you may need an additional rider or a commercial landlord policy or host policy.

If you’re renting someone else’s home as your own summer vacation lodging, talk to your agent about whether your own home insurance covers damage or theft where you’re staying.