Landlords get taken to court for just about everything — personal injuries, discrimination complaints, wrongful eviction, invasion of privacy, crime that occurred on the property, and failure to maintain the premises. And plaintiffs no longer necessarily have to prove that the landlord was negligent.

Liability awards can be costly, so it's no wonder insurers get skittish about writing policies for people with repeated claims and court appearances. If you can, bypass your insurance company as much as possible; it will help keep premiums affordable and prevent your policy from being cancelled. Settle small claims yourself. If someone is injured and it's not serious, get medical help and pay the bill. Don't involve your insurance company unless the injury is serious.