Should you add accidental damage to home insurance?

While some home insurance providers include some types of accidental coverage, others don’t. Here’s what you should know about accidental damage.

There are some people who walk among this earth who simply are more accident-prone than others: Perhaps they always seem to trip and fall, or drop that really expensive fragile item that they happen to be holding, or cannot help spilling coffee all over their (and everyone else’s) electronics. Whatever their poison of choice, we all know someone like that—or maybe we’re actually that person.

Being accident-prone can get expensive real quick. But thankfully, if your home insurance includes accidental damage coverage, then many common accidents—such as your kid spilling orange juice all over your laptop, your neighbor’s toddler deciding to use your new designer sofa as a drawing pad, or you knocking over that really expensive but ugly vase your mother-in-law got you and your husband as a wedding gift (accidentally, mind you!)—are covered and you can rest assured that the expenses from the damages will be reimbursed.

Accidental damage also covers building-specific damage, such as broken keys and locks, as well as broken wires and pipes that were damaged unintentionally (not through wear and tear).

This should go without saying, but the accidental damage coverage refers to damage caused on accident—that means that you didn’t truly intend to knock over your mother-in-law’s vase, no matter how tacky you find it.

Is accidental damage always included in home insurance?

While many types of accidental damages are usually included in home insurance—in some policies, it’s referred to as “contents insurance—it’s always worth checking the fine print. Not every policy will cover the same thing, and while some insurers have some form of accidental damage in their home insurance policies, other insurers may offer this kind of coverage as an add-on, especially if you have specific valuable items that you want to insure, such as expensive artwork, jewelry, or something like a grand piano.

What’s not covered in the damage coverage?

While accidental damage coverage will cover expenses incurred when things in your home break by accident, accidental damage won’t cover damages that result from wear and tear (such as ongoing signs of use to floorboards), vermin infestations, fungus, or electrical breakdowns. Always check to see what is and isn’t covered in your policy, and if you’re unsure, always ask questions.

Should you get accidental damage coverage?

Well, we can’t really answer that question for you. It depends on how “accident prone” your life is. If you have pets or kids or tend to throw a lot of parties or have a lot of guests or own a lot of expensive things, such as laptops and televisions and fancy stereo systems, then you should probably be considering adding on accidental damage if your home insurance doesn’t already include it.

At the end of the day, it really comes down to how much the add-on will affect your rate, or whether it might be worth looking for a policy that already includes some kind of accidental damage coverage. Thankfully, YouSet makes it super easy to compare providers and prices based on coverage, making it simpler than ever to find a home insurance that’s tailored to your needs.

With YouSet, get a free online quote for an insurance that suits your needs and budget, in only 4 minutes!