There’s nothing better than a sunny weekend at your cottage with family and good friends. The last thing you want to worry about is injuries and accidents, but they can and do happen. Here are some important tips and key considerations for all cottage owners to help keep your guests safe and protect against personal liability.
- Insurance
Don’t skip out on insurance when you have a cottage and a boat. Not only does it protect against fire, flooding, theft and so on, you’ll also want to have personal liability coverage in case someone is injured. Be sure to secure your cottage safely and inform your insurance company of any changes or upgrades, and be sure to notify them if you will be renting your cottage out as there will be additional safety requirements to follow.
- Water safety
Whether you and your guests are out boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming or water-skiing, it’s important to talk about water safety. Ask guests about their swimming skills, and have life jackets available for everyone, not just the children. Be sure that all kids are kept reasonably safe and supervised near the water. Remember, it’s your cottage and if you feel more comfortable setting out a few safety rules, then by all means, do so.
- Property concerns
Cottages aren’t like homes with clear, straight paths and good lighting. The rocky, dark or uneven terrain can literally trip people up, so be sure to light up what you can and encourage people to be careful. Alert guests to any particular safety concerns around the property and mark off any dangerous areas accordingly.
- Drugs and alcohol
It’s no surprise that a lot of cottage accidents and injuries happen when there’s too much alcohol or marijuana consumed. While it’s not your job as host to monitor everyone’s drinking, it’s important to caution against potentially dangerous activities such as swimming, diving, fireworks, and bonfires while people are in serious party mode. Just like a car, anyone driving a boat must be sober (and licensed). For underage kids who are drinking or doing drugs, you may be held liable if there are injuries, especially if you are aware of it.
Your cottage is meant to be enjoyed, which is why it’s important to take a few precautions (also known as ‘reasonable care’), so you can rest easier knowing your family and guests are safe. Inspect your cottage, boats, lifejackets, BBQs and so on regularly, inform guests of potential dangers, and set any safety rules you need to in order to avoid being exposed to personal liability. For all your cottage concerns or needs including sales and purchases in Bracebridge, Huntsville, Gravenhurst, and the wider Muskoka region, connect with Ares Law today. Not only are we your local experts, we’re the experienced, knowledgeable team you want on your side. Call us at 705-646-8743; we look forward to meeting you!
