If your tailgate goes wrong, you may need insurance

If you are tailgating with your friends before a football game this weekend, your insurance coverage will probably be the furthest thing from your mind. However, accidents can happen in a tailgating lot, especially when you consider the crowds of people drinking alcohol and grilling over open flames that will be there.

USA TODAY recently shared a list of potential property damage and personal injuries that might occur at your next tailgating party, and what forms of insurance could cover your losses:

• Your car is damaged by fire or another tailgater. Say someone is grilling too close to your vehicle and it catches fire. That would be covered by your auto insurance, as long as you have comprehensive insurance. Vandalism by fans of the other team would also be covered by comprehensive insurance.
• Food poisoning. If some of your buddies blame you for food poisoning, you might be covered for their medical bills through your homeowners, condo or renters insurance.
• Car accidents. Of course, if you are involved in a crash in the parking lot, your auto insurance will come into play.
• Damage to someone else’s property. If you are playing touch football in the lot and accidentally knock over someone’s grill, you may be able to file a claim on your homeowners, renters or condo insurance.

Insurance is a great help when it works the way it should, but sometimes the insurance company rejects a claim in bad faith. If that has happened to you, consult a bad faith insurance attorney to discuss your options.