Do you have a need for personal offense coverage? Every single day, billions of people use social media to communicate their ideas and feelings. As the use of blogs and social media continues to grow, so do libel and slander lawsuits. Many people believe that they have a right to say what they want online and not suffer consequences or be sued for sharing their opinions. But, in actuality, these suits are more common than you might realize. Having personal offense coverage will keep you protected.

Posting online is risky. Others can take the things that we post the wrong way which leads to hard feelings on the part of others. Most often, these situations can be corrected with a good, old-fashioned apology. Sometimes, they lead to a lawsuit that results in the expense of hiring an attorney to defend you and even a judgment. With the associated legal fees and damages that come along with a slander or libel suit, it’s important to make sure that you are protected when posting online.

Adding personal offense or personal injury coverage to your homeowner’s policy can extend liability coverage for things that you say and print that lead to libel, slander, defamation of character and invasion of privacy. The coverage is either called “Personal Injury” or “Personal Offense”. The coverage is not automatic on all policies, especially not those policies considered low-cost, “value” policies. You must add it or purchase a premium policy which includes it. The coverage ties to the personal liability coverage on your policy. It is also not a silver bullet to protect you from all things that you say or print, but it is an inexpensive coverage for an excellent value. It is especially a great value for those families with “tweens” and teens using social media.

“Personal offense” means injury arising out of one or more of the following offenses:
(1) false arrest, detention or imprisonment;
(2) malicious prosecution;
(3) wrongful eviction or wrongful entry;
(4) oral or written publication, in any manner, of material that slanders, libels or defames the character
of a person, which occurs in any manner; or
(5) invasion of privacy, which occurs in any manner.

It’s important to remember that social media makes it easier to libel, slander, or invade a person’s privacy because off-the-cuff comments are now published nationwide or internationally. As a result, the damages sustained by a claim can be more substantial because there are more people aware of the comments as compared to comments made in the past via more traditional avenues of communication. Our Personal Offense Coverage can help protect you and your assets while posting online.

For more information, contact your trusted local insurance agent, Sandi Purinton with The Insurance Connection. We help our clients Live Better. Save More. That’s what we try to help you do at The Insurance Connection. Offering the benefits of an independent agency, The Insurance Connection carefully considers your individual insurance needs and finds the right coverage for the best price for you, all with a smile. Contact us today at 678-439-8757 or info@insconnectga.com to get free insurance quotes
Disclaimer: This material is for information only and is not intended to provide legal or professional advice. You are encouraged to consult with your own attorney or other expert consultants for a professional opinion specific to your situation. This information is only a general description of the available coverages and is not a contract. In an effort to keep your policy coverage affordable, the actual policy contains certain limitations and exclusions. Please refer to your insurance policy for the pertinent contract language and coverages. Some coverages and discounts are not available in all states. The Insurance Connection welcomes all applications, without regard to religion, race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or familial status.

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