what I think you mean by Legal cover is what we in the industry refered to as liability coverage. The reason it exists on a homeowners policy, is that it is protection most folks who own a home are at risk of needing.
One develops an exposure typically by some form of negligence. So we in the US are empowered or constrained some by what we do that either creates a negligent action or by omission by creating a situation that by no action creates negligence.For example let me talk a bit about trees. Typically you can run the risk of causing harm to your neighbors if a tree on your property comes down on their house. In some states that would be viewed a negligent act in itself, but in other states you would have been required to have been warned by your neighbor of the potential danger in advance of the tree falling.Other mitigating factors will increase you propensity for being liable, such as the tree is dead.
Those are some small ways we cause liability by some form of negligence.it may be easier to see negligence in driving but be assured there are many instances around a dwelling that can precipitate a legal liability for your self. Let me just give you a few to think about : your dog bites someone, a child secures a firearm and unintentionally shoots someone; a visitor trips on the stairs you neglected to rid of ice, your son or daughter hits a baseball through a neighbors picture window, the child down the road jumps on your trampoline while you are not home, kids play in your pool without adequate supervision, your riding lawn runs over your neighbors foot. an on and on
Keep a couple things in mind. Homeowners have coverage for various Perils ( wind, hail snow etc) they all create hazards by the way the home is maintained, protected and secured. If you have a pool that is a creates a hazard of drowning. Without the pool there is little chance of drowning, so the hazards you create are ones for which there are often means to contain and yet the hazard still exist. You might have met the legal requirement to contain the space your pool occupies with a fence, but then negligently fail to lock the gate. so by your action or inaction you create scenarios for which you would be considered negligent and liable. The measure you should always use is what would a prudent responsible person do. If you follow that advise you may spend a few extra dollars,but you will avoid many unnecessary injuries and liabilities.
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One develops an exposure typically by some form of negligence. So we in the US are empowered or constrained some by what we do that either creates a negligent action or by omission by creating a situation that by no action creates negligence.For example let me talk a bit about trees. Typically you can run the risk of causing harm to your neighbors if a tree on your property comes down on their house. In some states that would be viewed a negligent act in itself, but in other states you would have been required to have been warned by your neighbor of the potential danger in advance of the tree falling.Other mitigating factors will increase you propensity for being liable, such as the tree is dead.
Those are some small ways we cause liability by some form of negligence.it may be easier to see negligence in driving but be assured there are many instances around a dwelling that can precipitate a legal liability for your self. Let me just give you a few to think about : your dog bites someone, a child secures a firearm and unintentionally shoots someone; a visitor trips on the stairs you neglected to rid of ice, your son or daughter hits a baseball through a neighbors picture window, the child down the road jumps on your trampoline while you are not home, kids play in your pool without adequate supervision, your riding lawn runs over your neighbors foot. an on and on
Keep a couple things in mind. Homeowners have coverage for various Perils ( wind, hail snow etc) they all create hazards by the way the home is maintained, protected and secured. If you have a pool that is a creates a hazard of drowning. Without the pool there is little chance of drowning, so the hazards you create are ones for which there are often means to contain and yet the hazard still exist. You might have met the legal requirement to contain the space your pool occupies with a fence, but then negligently fail to lock the gate. so by your action or inaction you create scenarios for which you would be considered negligent and liable. The measure you should always use is what would a prudent responsible person do. If you follow that advise you may spend a few extra dollars,but you will avoid many unnecessary injuries and liabilities.