There are plenty of ways to avoid having to file a claim on your home, but accidents happen whether we like them or not. Some damage just can’t be avoided no matter how careful you are. These instances are why we have home insurance. Here are 5 of the most common home insurance claims that you could experience:
1) Wind and Hail Damage
This is probably the most common insurance claim that is filed every year. Wind and Hail damage is something homeowners across the United States have to deal with, and very little can be done to prevent it. Sure, you can put storm shutters and doors on your home. However, when it comes down to it, powerful storms like tornadoes and hurricanes will damage almost everything that’s in their path. Here in Arkansas, we are all too familiar with tornado damage.
Across the country, wind and hail account for almost 45 percent of claims filed yearly.
2) Fire and Lightning Damage
This is not only a common claim, but it’s also one of the most costly. Lightning will usually cause a fire and can cause extensive damage. Also, the holiday season is a very busy time for fire claims. Fire and Lightning damage consists of nearly 24 percent of home insurance claims.
There are plenty of fire safety tips on how to best avoid a fire in your home and stay safe. Check out the Red Cross for their tips on home fire prevention and safety -> Red Cross
3) Water and Freezing Damage
Water is the second-most used commodity in your home behind electricity. Freezing or bursting pipes or draining issues from appliances can cause extensive moisture and water damage to your home. Water and freezing damage is a common and costly issue, with almost 20 percent of claims issued yearly coming from these types of damages.
4) Miscellaneous Property Damage
Miscellaneous property damage covers an array of issues. These include trees falling on your house/fence, an object breaking your window, or even someone accidentally backing into your garage. These make up about 8.5 percent of yearly home insurance claims.
Things happen and sometimes there’s nothing you can do prevent it. While this damage could be costly in the long run, having good home insurance will help make sudden damage like this a little more manageable.
5) Liability
While liability claims are rare, they can be quite costly. These claims include bodily injury as well as property damage makes up right around 2.3 percent of yearly home insurance claims.
All this to say…
While we hope that you never have to endure these damages, we’re happy to help you through the process if it does.
If you are have questions regarding your current coverage or are in the market for new coverage, give us a call at 501-224-0033 or fill out our Contact Form.
Source Links:
Insurance Information Institute
