I've been trying to figure our what I should do and hope that you other Mama's might have some good ideas. My adult sister-in-law watched my 3 kids for a few hours a few weeks ago as a favor to us because our normal sitter cancelled on us last minute(we just gave her gas money as she doesn't live real close). I told her that she could take the kids out to play in the backyard if she wanted. It turns out that she hurt her knee when she turned to catch my 16 mo. old who she said was falling down the swingset ladder. I am not sure if she was supervising the little one close enough. She now has to have surgery to repair the damage. Here is my dilema: how responsible am I? My inlaws keep mentioning how much her deductible is and how she missed some work. We are a one income (straight commission only) family with 3 little kids. I don't have the money to pay her deductible or lost wages. Should we have filed it under our homeowner's insurance and risked our policy being dropped. We have an ok relationship with my inlaws (no major problems, but my husband is definately not the favored child), and I don't know what I am supposed to say or do in this situation. We are sending flowers of course. Does anyone have any ideas on the appropriate thing to do or say? Thanks in advance.
Thanks for all your replies. To clarify, no one has asked us to pay anything or to file with our homeowner's. They have just made a few random comments about cost, time off and such. I wasn't sure if they were just normal conversation or a hint that I should be doing something about it. I do love my in-laws, I just don't always know how to read them sometimes. We'll stick with the flowers and go from there. Thanks again!
HI C.,I always say better to be an in-law than an out-law! Asking who,what where whatever shows you care! S.
When an accident happens before the insurance companies issue any money, they will ask when and where the accident happened. Because the accident happened at your home her insurance company may say that it falls under your homeowners policy. So, just let that play out on its own. Accidents happen everyday at anytime. I would maybe offer to make dinner and perhaps stay with her after the surgery.
Good luck, the in-law thing can be very tricky.
My sister slipped on my wet porch and badly twisted her foot. I called my ins. co. and they investigated. I was not found to be at fault, but there is a provision to pay something in this case. I believe my insurance paid $2000.
BTW---It is called an accident!!! Accidents happen even to the most careful of us! And that is the reason you carry insurance!!
I don't believe this will make your rates go up, but even if it does, you have been protected from a costly lawsuit.
So suck it up and handle it!! OK?
Also--being an in-law has nothing to do with it. The same rule applies to your neighbor, regular baby sitter, sister or sister-in-law.
JK is right. WAIT. Do not call your insurance. That's enough to cause issues with your policy.
Just wait and see how it plays out. Her insurance may very well contact you. If it does they, not you or her, will have to decide if your yard was neglected or whatever and contributed to the accident.
In the meantime, skip the flowers. Offer what you can afford. Your time. Go visit her. Take her small things, a magazine, a book, casseroles for the freezer for her family (buy the disposible aluminum pans).
And then after the insurance companies decide, if they get there, then you can deal with it. If they want to pay her $500 great. If not, then you do not have to.... but it's not up to you anyway at that point.....it's YOUR husband's decision to make the call on what to do for his family. He can consult you but their his people... leave them with him and let him choose.
If you have homeowners insurance, or renters insurance, then you should have coverage for this. Since it wasn't your fault they may not pay out for the full amount, but she should qualify for a $500 pay out. Contact your agent for further info on this.
I've been a licensed agent for over 10 years so feel free to PM me with any further questions! Good Luck!
I don't think you should have to pay. It is not like your kids injured her, or something in your yard was in need of repair and caused the injury. Since it was just an accidental mis-step on her part that caused the injury then I think she would have no problem having the medical costs covered by the insurance. Unless your SIL brings it up directly with your husband or yourself, it could just be the MIL talking.
In my opinion, an accident like this is exactly what the personal liability insurance that's part of your homeowner's insurance is for. If you don't make the offer and file the claim yourself, she could very easily try to sue you and possibly get pain and suffering on top of medical expenses. I'm not in any way saying her injury is your fault. I also don't know the legalities about what would qualify for a personal liability claim. Those are questions you should really consult with your insurance company or an attorney about.
I will say though that if it were me, I would at least inquire about it with my insurance company, ask them if the injury would qualify for coverage under my liability insurance in hypothetical terms (I wouldn't say it actually happened - I would just say what if...), and ask them about the likelihood that my rates would go up and/or my policy would be canceled. If they say something like that would be covered, and the chance for raising my rates and/or canceling my policy would be slim or none, I would probably go forward with the claim. If the rates would go up too much or my policy might be canceled, I would try to find a way to at least help with the co-payment expense. I would also be sure to get any kind of agreement regarding help with the co-payment expense in writing so that they don't come back and sue after I've already paid what we agreed to.
Again, I'm not sure if her injury would qualify for something that would ultimately be your responsibility, but I would check with an attorney or my insurance company to be sure one way or the other before I just ignored it all together.
Good luck!
Hi C.,
I'm really surprised family would ever expect other family to pay for their medical expenses because of their own accident. It's not as if you had some big dangerous board lying around unsafely at your home that she tripped over and got hurt. Her accident was her own fault no matter who's child she was trying to catch and thank God it was just the adult injured and not your child. If your child was "accidentally" injured in her care at your home, would she be paying for your child's medical expenses?
Put your family's income first and sending flowers is a great idea but money, not such a good idea!
Good luck and hope everything works itself out.
I'm with Megan. Your family's financial security is priority. I would feel bad if it happened at my home as well. Of course, I would help out on the deductible ONLY if I had the financial means to do so. If the family can't understand that, then they have THEIR priorities in the wrong place.
Before you actually file a claim with your homeowners, why don't you run it by your agent and get his/her opinion?
Good luck on this!
TF
So I have a few thoughts on this. The first is that she was at your home doing you a favor on her own volition. She twisted her knee. Yes, you feel bad, but I don't think that you should be responsible for paying her medical expenses. I do think that you should file a claim with your insurance company. That is what you have it for. I know that you run the risk of them "dropping" your policy however, there are hundreds of reputable home owner's insurance companies out there and you can always find another one. My other thought is that you cannot, no matter how bad you feel, put someone else's money problems ahead of your own family's financial stability. Your family comes first. Period. I also think that you should politely tell your in-laws that this situation is between the sister and you and your hubby and thank you very much for their opinion but it's been handled. Then, if they bring it up again, ignore them. They'll get the hint.
I wouldn't pay...just because you were not negligent such as having a home in need of repair that caused her accident. It was not your fault that she twisted her knee.
Has your SIL presented you with any bills or just words of mouth? Did your SIL twist her ankle/knee prior to your visit and use your as a way to get it fixed? I say this since your husband is not the favorite child. I'd check with my homeowners policy about the medical portion and the liability amount and talk with agent. But go with gut feeling and don't be bullied. Your family comes first no matter what. If you pay her bills who is going to pay your bills? Protect yourself.
Has the sister-in-law mentioned the costs to you? Or is it the rest of the outlaws (oops, I mean in-laws)? :) It could be she mentioned it only because she can't believe how much something so small is going to cost. It might be a passing comment and she has never thought that it was implying you should pay it. Talk to her, not the rest of the family. Maybe you can suggest you help her out in some way that doesn't involve money. For example, if she's married and her husband has to take off work to help her, maybe you can do that instead so he doesn't have to.
As far as filing against homeowner's insurance, I don't know that that is a good idea. It may hurt more than help, for both you and her. If her insurance is paying and finds out another insurance company can pay, they could reject the bills. And if your homeowner's insurance policy isn't as good as her insurance, you and she may end up paying more.
Courtnry
I don't mean to sound rude ,but that is why you carry insurance.But you said maybe she wasn't watching the 16 moth old close enough. But have you considered that there may have been another reason she hurt her knee. Maybe there was a small pot hole or a hump in the yard something that may caused her to fall or twist her knee or what ever caused it besides trying to catch your baby.Which thank God she did or it would have been your baby hurt.It shoudn"t raise the insurance. But like someone said call your agent or get your policy out an read it.But why pay for a policy if you dont' intend to file on it when someone needs it. If this was the regular sitter what would you do for her. Or what would her parents do if she is under age. I promise you they would make sure they didn't pay a dime since it happend at your home.I hope that this helps. I have insurance for personel injury an with a pool you need all you can get for liability issues. A child got hurt at mine an you have to have it or lose your home.Or go broke!
Maty H.
call your home insurance and inquire what coverage you have.
