Tailgating Risk Management and Insurance

Tailgating season is upon us!  Time to break out our tailgating best whether we are tailgating in Columbia, SC, Clemson, SC, Charleston, SC, or even Athens, GA.  Take a peek at our top 10 pre-tailgating risk management and insurance checklist to ensure a carefree tailgating experience.

1. Be sure to check the deductible on your homeowner’s policy before taking your 80-inch tv and satellite from your house to your tailgate.  If these items get broken or damaged by a stray football or someone bumping into the table they are situated on, it is subject to your homeowner’s deductible.
2. Ok, that is good to know, what if someone steals items left at my tailgate, I.E., tent, chairs, tv, satellite, generator, George Roger’s Heisman trophy or grandma’s silver platter?  Don’t worry, again your homeowner’s policy will cover you there.  But the value of your items could be under your deductible.  If you do bring out the priceless family heirlooms, be sure to schedule them on your homeowner’s policy as a rider.
3. Everyone loves to visit friends at the stadium and golf carts help make that easier for those tailgates that are far away.  Be sure to check your homeowner’s policy to see if it excludes your golf cart if it is away from your home.  To be on the safe side, it is always a good idea to get a policy for your golf cart (it is about $150-$300 a year, depending on the value of the golf cart).  That way you can zip between tailgates carefree!
4. So, you have your golf cart covered but what if your car is hit while parked in the stadium parking lot and you don’t know who did it, what happens?  Well thankfully you have uninsured motorist coverage.  This is a coverage required by the State of SC and it covers your vehicle for any damages caused by an uninsured motorist.  This could be a hit and run type situation or if the person’s auto policy has lapsed in coverage (sadly this happens more often than it should!).  There is a $200 property deductible but that is statewide.
5. I think we can all agree that it can get pretty heated when it comes to college football and what if you say the wrong thing to the wrong person and get sued or threatened to be sued?  Don’t worry!  Most homeowners’ insurance offers personal injury under the liability coverage.
6. Don’t worry if someone trips over your tailgate set up and hurts themselves.  Your homeowner’s liability and medical payments coverage is to the rescue again.  We just heard of one young lady breaking her leg after falling at a football tailgate this past weekend.
7. What if I want do catering for my tailgate instead of cooking the food?  It is a good idea to make sure the person doing the catering has general liability insurance in case anyone gets sick from the food.
8. Now, I really want to pass my liability and have fun with my guests at my tailgate and hire bartenders, what do you suggest?  Well, we recommend that you hire bartenders that have general liability and liquor liability insurance as well.  This will help shift the responsibility of overserving guests from you to the hired bartenders.
9. If you really want to be on the safe side, get an event policy, especially if this will be a largely attended tailgate.  These policies cost start at $300 for $1 million of liability coverage.
10. Lastly, RVs!  If you rent a RV for the game, should you get the insurance from the RV rental company?  Yes!  If there is a claim on the RV while it is in your possession and you did not purchase that insurance, the rental company will tap your auto insurance.  With the motorhome parking at stadiums, you could accidentally hit another RV or vehicle while parking.  If you aren’t renting but own an RV, make sure your current insurance covers these type of instances.

Whether you are tailgating in Columbia, SC, Clemson, SC, Charleston, SC, or even Athens, GA or even in your own backyard in Lexington, SC, make sure to think through the risks and insurance to help with it, or talk to your beloved independent agent!