Do you know someone who has a tendency to spill their coffee, drop expensive or fragile items, or trip over their own two feet? We all seem to have someone like that – someone more accident-prone than others – in our lives. In fact, you might even be that person. Fortunately, it’s possible to get accidental damages covered by insurance.
But what exactly is considered accidental damage? What will insurance cover and what won’t it? Is it worth the extra cost? These are the types of questions Canadians have about accidental damage, which is why you’ll find answers to them and more in this article.
What is Considered Accidental Damage?
As the name suggests, accidental damage refers to unintentional damage you do to your home, condo, or rental unit. It typically results from spills, drops, or impacts caused by you, your children, other household members, or pets. To give you a general sense of what insurance companies consider accidental damage, here are some examples.
- Drilling into or knocking a hole in a wall
- Dropping heavy objects that cause cracks or dents in hardwood or tile floors
- Spilling paint, wine, or other staining substances on the carpet
- Breaking a window while playing or moving furniture
- Drilling into a water pipe or causing a leak
- Damaging electrical outlets or wiring while hanging pictures or shelves
- Breaking a key in the lock of a door
- Dropping and breaking a stove, fridge, or other kitchen appliance
- Cracking or chipping a kitchen or bathroom countertop
- Breaking a chair, table, or other piece of furniture
- Damaging light fixtures, ceiling fans, or mounted mirrors
- Dropping and breaking a television, computer monitor, or tablet
- Shattering a glass door by accidentally hitting it
- Breaking or pulling off a cabinet door
- Dropping a heavy object into a sink, causing it to crack or chip
- Chipping or cracking the bathtub surface by dropping something heavy
Does Insurance Cover Accidental Damage?
Yes, insurance can cover accidental damage to your home, condo, or rental unit. Whether or not your specific policy does though is another question.
Sometimes insurance companies will offer some form of accidental damage in their home insurance policies. In this case, always review the terms outlined in your policy documents carefully, as you may find that the exclusions or coverage limits don’t make you feel as protected as you otherwise would like to be.
If your policy does not automatically include coverage for accidental damages, which many don’t, then you’ll often find it listed as an optional add-on. This means that in order to be protected against accidental damage, you would have to have opted into this coverage beforehand.
To know for sure whether your insurance policy covers accidental damage, refer to the fine print of your policy documents. If you cannot find the answers you’re looking for there, contact your insurance company directly for clarity.
What Is Covered Under Accidental Damage Insurance?
The accidental damages that are covered by insurance will vary slightly depending on whether you live in a house, condo, or rental unit. However, as a general rule, accidental damages to the physical structure of your home, its permanent fixtures, and your personal belongings are covered by insurance if this type of coverage is included in your policy.
As with any type of coverage, there are always exclusions to consider. When it comes to coverage for accidental damage, it’s important to understand that certain situations or items are typically not covered by insurance, including:
- Wear and tear
- Intentional damage
- Negligence
- Pre-existing damage
- Pest damage
- Wildlife damage
- Mold
- Electrical breakdowns
Is Accidental Damage Insurance Worth It?
Whether or not coverage for accidental damage is worth it is a decision only you can make. To assist you in making that decision though, consider the following questions.
- Do you have the financial means to cover the cost of repairing or replacing damaged items on your own if an accident were to occur?
- Do you consider yourself to be “accident-prone”?
- Have you experienced accidental damage in the past, and if so, how frequently?
- Are there any high-risk activities or hobbies you engage in regularly that could lead to accidental damage?
- Are there any items or areas in your home that are particularly vulnerable to accidental damage, such as expensive flooring or fragile antiques?
- Do you have children or pets whose presence may increase the risk of accidental damage?
- Do you frequently host parties or gatherings where accidental damage could occur?
- Are there any exclusions that could affect the usefulness of accidental damage insurance for you?
Regardless of your answers, your decision may ultimately hinge on how much the addition of accidental damage coverage impacts your premium, or if it’s worth looking for a policy that already includes some kind of accidental damage coverage. Thankfully, YouSet makes it easy to compare providers and prices based on coverage, making it simpler than ever to find the best coverage for your needs for less.