Judge sitting at desk with another person.

Personal Offense Coverage for Homeowners

Updated February 4, 2024 . AmFam Team

You probably have insurance to protect your home, car and health from the unexpected, but have you ever thought about putting protection in place in case you ever face a lawsuit for things like libel and slander? That’s where personal offense coverage comes into play. It’s a lesser known but important coverage available to add to your home insurance policy. Not sure what this coverage means? We’re here to help.

Judge at desk signing document.

What is a personal injury endorsement?*

Your home insurance financially protects you from many unexpected incidents, whether you’re at your home or away from it. But personal offense coverage doesn’t fall under the realm of protection provided by your standard homeowners policy. Insurance for personal offense is actually an additional coverage you can purchase on your homeowners insurance that’ll help protect you against personal offense allegations.

A personal injury certainly sounds like an injury that happens to you or even to another person — in fact, this type of insurance can often be confused with bodily injury or personal liability insurance. But, while bodily injury or personal liability insurance covers things like medical bills and legal fees if a guest is injured on your property, personal offense coverage covers something much different.

Personal offense insurance covers things like:

  • Libel and/or slander
  • False arrest, detention or imprisonment
  • Malicious prosecution
  • Wrongful eviction or wrongful entry
  • Associated legal costs

Couple looking at laptop while sitting on a couch.

Do you need to add a personal injury endorsement to your home insurance policy?

In today’s world, social media is more prevalent than ever. With the touch of a button, you (or your kids) can tweet, blog or post just about anything for just about anyone to view — which is why personal offense insurance is so important. Consider what would happen if someone sued you for a slanderous tweet you posted about them. Without personal offense coverage, defense costs and potential settlement fees will come right out of your own pocket.

Or let’s say you rent out your basement apartment to a tenant, and you entered into the apartment without their knowledge. Harmless as this may seem, your tenant sues you for wrongful entry. Having personal offense protection can help cover resulting legal fees.*

Family and friends sitting at a table having dinner.

What doesn’t personal offense insurance cover?*

Though personal offense coverage can help you in instances where you’re in trouble for libel or slander, it doesn’t mean you should go ahead and say or write defamatory statements. Just as your other home insurance coverages have limitations, a personal injury endorsement also has exclusions and limitations on what it’ll cover. For instance, if you knew what you were doing was wrong or what you did was illegal, you likely wouldn’t be covered.

Kids playing tug of war in yard.

What does personal offense insurance cost?

Adding a personal injury endorsement to your homeowners insurance policy is rather affordable — typically adding only a few dollars a year to your premium. Personal offense coverage is an inexpensive option that’ll pay off if you or a family member face a lawsuit.

Contact your American Family Insurance agent (Opens in a new tab) to learn more about adding personal injury insurance to your homeowners insurance policy. Want an easy way to access your insurance information? Log in or sign up for My Account, where you can view your insurance info, file a claim, pay your bills and much more. Even better? You can do it all from the MyAmFam app. Download it today.


(Opens in a new tab)   (Opens in a new tab)


*This information represents only a brief description of coverages, is not part of your policy, and is not a promise or guarantee of coverage. If there is any conflict between this information and your policy, the provisions of the policy will prevail. Insurance policy terms and conditions may apply. Exclusions may apply to policies, endorsements, or riders. Coverage may vary by state and may be subject to change. Some products are not available in every state. Please read your policy and contact your agent for assistance.

Related Articles

  • Mechanic replaces a car's windshield.
    Mechanic replaces a car's windshield.
    Windshield Repair & Replacement Insurance Coverage

    Rocks and gravel, damage from weather and even temperature changes are all common causes of a cracked, broken or chipped windshield. It might surprise you that repairing a cracked windshield is actually a pretty simple fix — as long as you take care of it right away. Because what may seem like a small, insignificant crack at first could turn into a bigger, more expensive problem if left unrepaired.

    We know the question you want answers to: Will my insurance cover windshield repair and replacement? The short answer is yes, with some minor stipulations. We’ve highlighted some key information about windshield repair and replacement to help you understand how your insurance helps cover these small but impactful damages.

      Person driving while the passenger looks at a map.

    Do I need a repair or a replacement?

    Did you know that a small chip or crack reduces the strength of a windshield by up to 70%?* And eventually those small cracks spread into larger cracks that just might require a full replacement (which means more money out of your pocket). Getting your chip or crack repaired right away helps preserve the structural integrity of the windshield, which is a critical safety feature of your vehicle, and almost always prevents damage from spreading into a more costly replacement.

    To determine if your windshield needs a simple repair or a full-on replacement, you’ll need to identify what kind of damage exists. For example, if you have a small break, like a half-moon, bullseye, star or combination, you’ll typically be able to get a quick repair — which usually only takes about 30 minutes to fix.

    Here’s a list of common types of cracks:

    Chip or ding. Usually, small chips or dings are caused by a rock or other hard object hitting the windshield and taking out a small chunk of glass. Though small and usually not impeding your line of sight, a chip or ding could eventually spread and require a full windshield replacement. So, take the time to get it repaired right away!

    Bullseye. A bullseye crack looks just like its name — and it’s usually one of the most common types of windshield damage. The good news is it’s one of the most repairable kinds of cracks.

    Stress crack. A stress crack occurs when your windshield is exposed to extreme variations in temperature in a short amount of time. For instance things like extreme or swift temperature changes like cranking up the A/C or heat can cause a chip to expand into a larger crack, or if you put hot water on your ice-covered windshield, a stress crack may form.

    Edge and floater crack. An edge crack is formed near the edge of your windshield, whereas a floater crack is near the center of the windshield. These kinds of cracks usually cover a large area of your windshield and will need a full replacement. Over time, all the bumps and other impacts that occur during driving can cause the edge or floater crack to worsen.

    Insurance adjuster taking images of windshield damages.

    Does my insurance cover windshield replacement or repair?

    Insurance coverage for windshield replacement or repair depends on what type of coverage you have and the extent of the damage.

    If your windshield is damaged in a car accident, your collision insurance would cover repairs or replacement, but you’ll be required to pay a deductible, which is the amount you pay before your insurance company steps in.

    A couple embracing while going for a coastal drive in a Jeep.

    No Deductible Windshield Replacement

    Do you have comprehensive insurance? At American Family Insurance, if your windshield is repaired instead of replaced for a covered comprehensive loss, the deductible is usually waived. Keep in mind that if the windshield needs to be replaced, you’ll still be covered, but a deductible may be applied.

    Woman looks at her smartphone while roadside assistance loads her vehicle onto the back of their truck.

    How to File a Claim to Replace or Repair Your Windshield

    American Family Insurance offers a glass repair program with our trusted partner, Safelite. With them, we’ll work quickly to get your windshield repaired or replaced so you can get back to more important things.

    Make sure you file a claim before you take your vehicle in for repairs because your agent can help you determine how you’re covered. Remember, a repair usually won’t cost you anything, but a replacement will often require a deductible.

    Person holds their phone with their car in the background.

    File Your Windshield Claim with the MyAmFam App

    File, track, and monitor the status of your claim from your phone with the MyAmFam app.

    Get in touch with our Glass Claims Department at 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326) or conveniently submit a claim online to Safelite.

    Have the following information on hand when submitting your claim to make sure the process goes as quickly and smoothly as possible:

    • Policy number
    • Details about the damage
    • Make, model and year of your vehicle
    • VIN

    Smiling couple goes for a drive on a sunny day.

    Does a windshield claim increase insurance?

    If you file a windshield claim, your insurance company typically won’t apply a surcharge, which is the rise in your insurance premium. However, if you do frequently file auto repair claims, your company could consider you a high-risk driver, which would cause a hike in your premium.

    Don’t forget to weigh your options when deciding to file a claim. Are you required to pay a deductible? Is the deductible going to cost more than your repairs? If so, maybe consider paying out of pocket for the repairs and avoid adding a claim to your car insurance history.

    At American Family Insurance, we want to make sure you’re confident and know all the ways you’re covered. Your agent is always happy to answer any questions you have about how you’re protected — in the meantime, check out more about our claims process so you know just what to do to keep moving forward when dealing with the unexpected.

    * Source: Belron® Technical, the world's leading vehicle glass research & development organization.

  • Family and friends enjoying a backyard party.
    Family and friends enjoying a backyard party.
    What Is Homeowners Liability Insurance?

    Accidents happen, and as a homeowner, you, your children or your pets can be held responsible for injuries to people in or outside your home or damage to other people’s property. The good news is your policy can give you financial protection against covered liability claims.

    Happy kids playing soccer in a yard.

    What Personal Liability Insurance Covers*

    Your homeowners insurance provides both property and liability protection. Property insurance protects the structure of your home (dwelling coverage) and your belongings (personal property coverage). And personal liability coverage protects you if you’re legally responsible for damage to someone’s property, or if you accidentally injure someone whether you’re at home or away from it.

    How exactly does personal liability insurance protect you? Let’s break it down.

    Man on a ladder doing yard work.

    Injury on Your Property

    If someone is injured on your property, your personal liability insurance helps pay for their medical bills and other potential costs. For example, if the injury resulted from your neglect — like failing to repair a broken banister — you may even be sued. And if you’re found liable, liability coverage within your homeowners policy may help protect your finances if legal expenses result.

    Broken window on a house.

    Negligent Acts of Children and Others

    Let’s say your children are kicking a soccer ball in the yard and they accidentally kick it through your neighbor’s window. Fortunately, even though it wasn’t your own home that was damaged, if accidental damage occurs to someone else’s property by a member of your household, the liability portion of your homeowners insurance helps provide protection against associated costs from the accident.

    Two people playing tug of war with a dog in a yard.

    Dog Bites

    Whether out walking Fido or playing in your yard, the liability portion of your homeowners insurance policy will typically help provide protection if your dog bites a person or another animal. Keep in mind, not all dogs will meet the criteria to be included under your policy. Connect with your agent to check if your dog is eligible and learn more about the limits of the liability coverage. Here’s a closer look at homeowners insurance and dogs.

    Happy little girl jumping on a trampoline.

    What Personal Liability Insurance Doesn’t Cover

    Though it’s important to know the many ways in which personal liability insurance protects you, it’s also important to understand what it doesn’t cover.

    This coverage is designed to protect you if you accidentally injure or damage the property of a guest, neighbor or anyone who isn’t a member of your household. And it’s not an alternative or supplement to your health insurance. For instance, if you or a family member are injured in your home, your personal liability coverage won’t cover resulting medical bills — that’s what your health insurance is for.

    Also, if you or a family member intentionally cause harm to someone, you won’t be able to depend on your personal liability coverage for financial protection.

    Happy family eating dinner around a table in their back yard.

    Home Insurance Liability Coverage Amounts*

    Like any coverage, your personal liability coverage offers protection up to your policy limit, which is the capped amount your insurance company pays in the event of a claim. You’ll choose your coverage limit when creating your policy, and any expense that extends beyond your limit will come out of your pocket. The good news is you can increase your coverage.

    For extra protection and added peace of mind, umbrella insurance provides an additional layer of liability coverage above your policy limit, so you won’t have to dig into your own savings in the event of a substantial claim.

    For example, we mentioned that personal liability coverage helps cover you if your dog injures someone — which is an important protection to have in place. But a dog bite claim can often surpass your personal liability coverage limit. Having umbrella insurance provides an additional layer of protection should a claim exceed the liability limits you selected within your homeowners policy and helps protect your assets.

    Couple playing with their baby in the living room.

    Remember, costs can vary depending on the amount of coverage you’re looking for. That’s why your best bet is to connect with your American Family agent to discuss policy amounts and limits — they’ll help customize your policy to ensure you have the right limits for your unique needs.

  • parents on the couch with their baby looking at a computer
    Why Did My Homeowners Insurance Go Up?

    A lot of thought went into the purchase of your home. Its amenities, location, and overall design played an important role when you made the decision to place an offer on the house. Many of those same traits and features are referenced when an insurance company puts together a homeowners quote. And there are other key factors that they use to determine the cost of your premium.

    If you’re wondering “why did my homeowners insurance go up?” you’re not alone. It can be surprising to learn that your rates have increased. It may be because your property’s becoming more valuable than it was a year ago. Or maybe you invested in an addition, boosting your home’s worth. Or did you file a claim on your home sometime last year? There’s a lot to learn — when homeonwers insurance increases every year, it’s important to understand why.

  • man and woman sitting on floor looking at book
    How Much Renters Insurance Do I Need?

    Congratulations! You finally found your dream rental and can't wait to move in! Now you might be wondering if you need renters insurance. Design your own renters insurance policy to cover losses caused by theft, fire, vandalism, and liability issues, including bodily injury and medical expenses.

    Renters insurance can't prevent losses, but it can help you replace your valuables if something goes wrong. According to the Independent Insurance Adjusters & Brokers of America (IIABA), almost two-thirds of residential lessees in the United States don’t carry renters insurance.

    Although some renters take this risk, renters insurance protects you against accidents, thefts, fires, and lawsuits*. Your policy only covers your coverage limits. Consult your policy for details.

    It is a good idea to purchase renters insurance, even if it isn't a requirement. The amount of insurance you’ll need depends on the value of your possessions. It’s not required by law, but your landlord or management company may require renters insurance as a condition of your lease agreement. To be certain, you should refer to your lease agreement. 

    a man, woman and child in their home

    What Rental Insurance Covers

    Whether you're out and about or at home, our on-the-go renters insurance is here to protect you. Our renters insurance extends coverage beyond your apartment, so you have some liability coverage even when you're out. Without renters insurance, repairs and expenses may have to be paid out of pocket. But your policy may not kick in until you've paid your deductible. Are you planning on renting, but you're unsure about renters insurance? Here are some tips to help you protect yourself.

    Personal property damage: Most belongings are worth more than you think. A personal property policy covers your possessions if any unforeseen events damage them, such as fire, sudden water damage from plumbing, heating or cooling systems, theft, or power surges. Insurance companies may also cover theft, fictitious documents, fungi, and bacteria. Make sure you check your policy*. The value of your personal belongings is only covered up to the policy limits once you pay a deductible.

    Personal liability: You may protect yourself from claims made by others for injuries or property damage caused by your personal activities, kids, or pets. Most policies cover legal fees, liability to third parties, and negligent acts committed by your kids*.

    Loss of use coverage: Also known as additional living expenses or temporary living expense coverage, loss of use coverage reimburses you for living expenses if your rental home is uninhabitable after a covered event, like fire. A part of this coverage can be used to cover additional living expenses, such as food and lodging. For example, if there’s a fire in your home and you can't live there during repairs you’ll have help paying for housing. Loss of use coverage has limits as to what and how much it will help you pay for, but usually it’s enough to help you maintain your current standard of living, refer to your policy for details.

    Optional coverages: Most renters insurance policies are flexible enough to fit your specific lifestyle needs. You can even add coverage to protect pets, home businesses, expensive watches and jewelry, and more. Feel free to contact your agent if you have questions. 

    Standard Renters Insurance Coverage Factors

    It's easy to get renters insurance, and it doesn't cost much. To figure out what kind of coverage you need, check out the tips below.

    a woman in her living room

    Inventory of Possessions

    It's important to take inventory of your items before estimating your insurance needs. Personal property is anything that is not permanently installed inside your home. Clothing, furniture, electronics, and miscellaneous household items are all personal property. Include details like the age, cost, and the current value of the item. Appliances and fixtures attached to utilities are not included. Next, make an inventory of each room in your house and think of how much it would cost to replace your items. Your belongings are generally more expensive to replace than their actual value. Having this type of coverage is important if you wear jewelry outside the house too. You'd be covered against a named peril, like theft. Other scenarios, however, wouldn't be covered, so you might want to broaden the type of coverage.

    a man and child playing with a truck

    Discounts

    Most insurance companies offer discounts when you buy more than one policy. Renters usually need to purchase auto insurance as well as renters insurance. You can save up to 5% by bundling your renters and auto policies.** Even if you don't want more than one policy, you can still get a discount. Check out our Renters Insurance Discounts page to learn more.

    a woman after a break in

    Deductible

    Your renters insurance will cover theft of valuable possessions, but you will have to pay a deductible first, which can either lower or increase your costs. This depends on the deductible you select. Your deductible is the amount you are responsible for paying out of your own pocket for a covered loss or liability. Our optional Diminishing Deductible feature when added to your policy rewards you for being a responsible renter by crediting your deductible $100*** each year, up to your $500 policy maximum.*** Imagine coming home from a night out with friends to find someone has broken into your apartment, stealing your electronics. You find out that it will cost $2000 to replace all your stolen valuables. But before your renters insurance policy will pay for replacements, you will have to pay a $500 deductible. Because this is your first claim, you have earned a $300 Diminishing Deductible, which has reduced your deductible to $200. Your renters insurance will cover the remaining $1,800 after you pay $200.

    a woman tending a girl's scrape

    Liability Coverage

    Generally, liability coverage covers property damage, first aid, medical expenses, and court costs if an accident occurs in your rental. Liability coverage is available up to $500,000 under a renters' liability policy.

    Having enough liability coverage can protect you from lawsuits and liability claims if a guest is hurt in your home. The more guests you have have or the more assets you have, the more insurance you may need. Without enough Liability coverage it, you risk being sued for more than your liability insurance covers.

    Renters insurance helps you protect all the things you've worked so hard for. Use our renters insurance comparison chart to see what renters package is right for you.

    Request a quote online or speak with your American Family Insurance agent about your renters insurance needs.

    This information represents only a brief description of coverages, is not part of your policy, and is not a promise or guarantee of coverage. If there is any conflict between this information and your policy, the provisions of the policy will prevail. Insurance policy terms and conditions may apply. Exclusions may apply to policies, endorsements, or riders. Coverage may vary by state and may be subject to change. Some products are not available in every state. Please read your policy and contact your agent for assistance.

    *Coverage provided for covered losses up to your policy limits. Refer to your policy for details or speak with your agent if you have questions.

    **Customers who bundle auto and renters policies may save up to 5% on both policies together (as of January 2022). Discounts may vary by state, property, policy form and company underwriting the auto and/or property policy. Discounts may not apply to all coverages on an auto or property policy.

    ***Diminishing Deductible does not apply to all property deductibles. Named storm deductible applies only to GA. Policy maximum limits are $500 for renters. This coverage is not available in MN at this time.