Contents Accidental Damage

Besides having buildings insurance, contents insurance is critical to protect the property within a building.  Many insurance companies also offer contents accidental damage insurance, typically for a small additional fee.  Most owners know those items that would be expensive to replace and those items that could be destroyed by something as common as a spilled drink or a bad moment of clumsiness. This can be very helpful if there is a small child in the home or if there are many breakables worth more than the average amount of money, such as antiques or electronics. In other words, if one simple accident could put the owner considerably out of pocket, then contents insurance is a good investment. 

Taking a look at any existing policies might reveal that while there is some insurance for contents, accidental damage it is not enough, especially for those who own electronics such as computers, games consoles or DVD players. If the insurers’ limit is only about £1,000, this might not be enough to cover those types of losses. A home owner should carefully go over what possessions need to be covered, the potential cost and the exact amount coverage.

Most contents accidental damage will pay out for televisions, CD players, DVD players, VCRs and desktop and laptop computers along with other home entertainment equipment. 

Accidental damage is usually defined as harm that comes suddenly due to an unexpected and external action when there is no deliberate intent or plan to cause the damage.  This eliminates normal wear and tear and any type of mechanical failure.  For instance, the television that simply will not power on for no clear reason, would not be covered.  If the toddler gets tangled in the cord and drags it off it the stand smashing it, then this would be covered by some policies. One cause of many home claims is the presence of children. Many standard policies cover the wayward tot naughtily pouring breakfast cereal into the computer, but it is always a smart measure to double check.  

This is why many people look for additional contents accidental damage insurance coverage as extending it can protect against the odd moments that happen in a busy household.  Too many little hands clutching crayons and little feet going where they shouldn’t have destroyed thousands and thousands of pounds worth of property and most home owners cannot afford the loss.  It is important to note that pet damage is often not included on these polices. If the family ferret chews on wires or the dog digs a hole in the living room sofa, this will be out of pocket for the owner.

Contents accidental damage might not cover pest damage either, so if ants like the smell of the DVD player’s inner workings or if moths denude the living room furniture during the family’s vacation, then this too will sadly not be insured. It is the best idea to be very familiar with what is covered by any existing policies and to supplement with more coverage if there are any holes that need to be filled.