Q: Part of my home burned, and I'm repairing the large burned section of the home. County building codes require upgrades from what was originally there. Does my homeowners policy cover this added expense?
A: It depends. If your policy has what's called "law and ordinance coverage" -- it's often referred to as "L&O" or "upgrade coverage," then yes, your policy would address the added costs to make the required upgrades.
As a precaution, ask your agent or insurer if you already have the coverage or if you can add it to your policy.
Note: This is one of a series of common -- or in some cases, particularly unusual -- questions received by our consumer advocacy staff, who answer questions from consumers.
Got a question or insurance problem of your own? If you live in Washington, feel free to give us a call, toll-free at 1-800-562-6900. We'll do our best to help. (And if you live in another state or territory, here's a handy map that lists the contact info for your local insurance regulatory office.)
Insurance and fallen trees
Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 6:30 AM
Q: Will my insurance pay to repair my neighbor's home if my tree falls on his home?
A: It may not have to. Typically, a homeowner's own insurance coverage pays for such damage, unless you were negligent and your negligence caused the tree to fall.
Say the tree was obviously diseased or damaged and posed a clear risk to your neighbor's home, for example. In such cases, you could be found negligent and your insurer would cover the claim.
Note: This is one of a series of common -- or in some cases, particularly unusual -- questions received by our consumer advocacy staff, who answer questions from consumers.
Got a question or insurance problem of your own? If you live in Washington, feel free to give us a call, toll-free at 1-800-562-6900. We'll do our best to help. (And if you live in another state or territory, here's a handy map that lists the contact info for your local insurance regulatory office.)
A: It may not have to. Typically, a homeowner's own insurance coverage pays for such damage, unless you were negligent and your negligence caused the tree to fall.
Say the tree was obviously diseased or damaged and posed a clear risk to your neighbor's home, for example. In such cases, you could be found negligent and your insurer would cover the claim.
Note: This is one of a series of common -- or in some cases, particularly unusual -- questions received by our consumer advocacy staff, who answer questions from consumers.
Got a question or insurance problem of your own? If you live in Washington, feel free to give us a call, toll-free at 1-800-562-6900. We'll do our best to help. (And if you live in another state or territory, here's a handy map that lists the contact info for your local insurance regulatory office.)
Insurance: When a car is burglarized
Monday, April 23, 2012 at 6:06 AM
Q: My clothes, camping gear, camera and guitar were stolen from my car. Will my auto insurance pay for these things?
A: Maybe, but there may well be dollar limits for things like clothing, sports equipment, etc. that might be incidental to an outing or vacation. Your auto policy would specify those limits. (We had an odd fraud case a couple of years ago involving a man who kept claiming that his $33,000 collection of silk neckties was being stolen from his car.)
For things that are generally considered personal property, rather than auto-related property like a spare tire, jack, or roadside emergency kit, you might be able to file a homeowner's or renter's insurance claim. Talk to your agent or insurer -- and think about your deductibles. If you have a high deductible, it may not be worth it to file a claim for a small loss.
Note: This is one of a series of common -- or in some cases, particularly unusual -- questions received by our consumer advocacy staff, who answer questions from consumers.
Got a question or insurance problem of your own? If you live in Washington, feel free to give us a call, toll-free at 1-800-562-6900. We'll do our best to help. (And if you live in another state or territory, here's a handy map that lists the contact info for your local insurance regulatory office.)
A: Maybe, but there may well be dollar limits for things like clothing, sports equipment, etc. that might be incidental to an outing or vacation. Your auto policy would specify those limits. (We had an odd fraud case a couple of years ago involving a man who kept claiming that his $33,000 collection of silk neckties was being stolen from his car.)
For things that are generally considered personal property, rather than auto-related property like a spare tire, jack, or roadside emergency kit, you might be able to file a homeowner's or renter's insurance claim. Talk to your agent or insurer -- and think about your deductibles. If you have a high deductible, it may not be worth it to file a claim for a small loss.
Note: This is one of a series of common -- or in some cases, particularly unusual -- questions received by our consumer advocacy staff, who answer questions from consumers.
Got a question or insurance problem of your own? If you live in Washington, feel free to give us a call, toll-free at 1-800-562-6900. We'll do our best to help. (And if you live in another state or territory, here's a handy map that lists the contact info for your local insurance regulatory office.)
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