Falling objects might not be the first peril that comes to mind
when thinking about potential threats to your home, damage from falling objects is more common than you might think. But is that damage covered by a standard home insurance policy? Here's what you need to know. Are You Covered Against Falling Object?
The answer is most likely yes. Falling objects are a common component of standard insurance policies; however, some conditions and limitations can apply depending on your specific insurance policy.
Most insurance companies will only cover expenses that were caused by a direct hit, meaning that if something fell near your house and that caused secondary damages (such as broken windows, decorations, or debris), these would not be covered under your insurance.
Additionally, if the insurance company can link the fallen object to negligence in any way, your insurance company will not cover the expenses. For example, say you had a rotting tree next to your home, and it happened to fall on your roof once a windy day hit. The insurance company could argue that you saw that fall coming, and you did nothing to prevent the damage; therefore, it is negligence.
Which Falling Objects Are Covered by Insurance?
While the term "falling objects" allows some wiggle room in terms of interpretation, most people end up enacting this clause because of trees that get knocked into their homes by storms. However, your insurance might also be able to cover less traditional falling objects, such as:
You might be surprised by a few things on that list. While the odds are indeed slim, they are never zero
. What If Something from Your Property Falls on Your Neighbor's House?
The answer will depend on the circumstances. For example, if a tree planted in your backyard falls into your neighbor’s home during a storm, this will most likely not involve you at all. Since you did not cause the source of the incident (the wind), your neighbor should be able to file a claim through their own insurance company and get covered that way.
But what if you are at fault for the incident? Say that you decided to build an overly complicated tree-house, but you fail to secure it properly, and it ends up falling and damaging some of your neighbor's property. In this case, you can be considered legally responsible due to negligence.
Bottom Line
While falling objects are not an everyday worry for most people, it can certainly be an added benefit to have insurance coverage to handle it.
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