Staying educated on common claims in Idaho is essential to taking care of your property, your loved ones, and yourself. Many Idaho drivers and homeowners submit claims of similar caliber every day, and knowing what claims are frequently submitted could be valuable in helping you prevent needless losses. This information may prompt you to prevent auto accidents, provide your home with increased protection, and decide the appropriate coverage on your insurance policy to protect you against the worst.
Below is a list of common insurance claims we see from Idaho residents, along with tips on how to prevent each of them and what coverage you might need for that incident.
1. Parking Lot Collision
Parking lot accidents are very common and very frequent claims. Since your vehicle is often moving in reverse in parking lots, it is easy to miss small details that could lead to an accident.
There are multiple ways to prevent parking lot accidents:
- Check mirrors, windows, and blind spots before backing out of any parking space.
- Yield to any traffic traveling in through lanes.
- Use your backup camera as an additional helper, not as the primary tool for backing safely.
- Back slowly!
- It is very common for drivers to speedily back out of their parking spaces to get on with their errands. Don’t let this happen to you! People are less observant when they are in a rush, and they are more likely to collide with other objects or people in parking lots when this happens.
Liability and collision coverage are necessary to cover property damage caused by the accident. See our other article, Liability vs. Full Coverage: Which is Right for You?, to decide what type of coverage is right for you.
2. Rear-End Collision
This is another common type of claim, but the collision itself is also very preventable. When drivers rear-end each other, it is often caused by similar circumstances, such as:
- Distracted by phone (texting, adjusting music/podcast, snapchatting, etc.)
- Eating while driving
- Assisting children or others in the backseat
- General unobservant behavior
- Following too closely
By practicing proper attention while driving, leaving enough distance between cars, and eliminating distractions as much as possible, rear-end collisions are less likely. Again, liability and collision coverage need to be included on your auto policy in order to cover this type of accident.
3. Windshield Damage
Drivers frequently report windshield damage as well, from little chips to obvious cracks in the glass. This can be caused by all sorts of things, but the most common culprit is other vehicles kicking up rocks from the road with their tires.
The best way to prevent such damage is to:
- Park your car in a garage if possible.
- Give vehicles around you plenty of space to travel on the road.
- Be sure to obey signs like the one below that may be posted on the back of large vehicles:
This type of damage is typically covered by comprehensive coverage on your auto policy.
4. Theft
Belongings can be taken from your car, your home, or your business if not protected. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict what will appeal to thieves, but you can do a few things to make your property more secure.
Protect your property from theft by:
- Keeping your car, home, and business locked while you are away from them.
- Avoiding storing your wallet or other valuables in your car.
- Installing a security system or doorbell camera in your home and/or business.
- This is especially helpful for police & insurance since it provides proof of the circumstances surrounding the theft.
If your vehicle is broken into and property stolen, this would be covered under your personal property coverage; if there is damage to your car from the break-in, this would be covered by comprehensive coverage.
Stolen property from your home or business could be replaced and/or compensated under personal property coverage; if structural damage was caused by the thief, this could be repaired under dwelling coverage.
5. Water Damage
Damage from excess or standing water in your home can be caused by multiple things, including burst or frozen pipes, appliance leaks, roof leaks, flash floods, faulty sprinkler system, and more.
While many of these are caused by unpredictable circumstances, often the damage caused is only a matter of prevention. Here are a few tips to make sure your home is protected against every situation that could come up:
- Have a professional inspect your plumbing.
- Test your water to watch for chemical corrosion.
- Watch for leaks. (Alarms are available to place near or under appliances.)
- Maintain your roof and replace it every 20 years, depending on the material.
- Perform regular checks on sprinkler systems, plumbing, etc.
Depending on the source of the water damage, it could be covered under the dwelling coverage on your home. If your belongings are also damaged, those could be replaced and/or refunded with your contents coverage.
**Please note that gradual damage due to wear and tear and flooding due to outside sources are often not covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I get in an accident that wasn’t my fault, does my insurance pay for my car? Maybe. If you have full coverage insurance (including liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage), then the damage to your car would be covered. If you only have liability coverage, then it would not be covered unless the other driver’s insurance decides their driver is at fault and takes care of your repairs.
If my windshield damage is due to a rock flying off a trailer’s load, can it be covered by the other driver’s policy? It depends. If you are able to prove that the damage your car sustained is from the gravel load and that the driver was being negligent while transporting their load, then the other driver’s insurance could possibly cover your damage. However, you would have to notify the driver that it happened, obtain their insurance information, and file a claim first.
If my property is stolen but the door was unlocked, can I file a claim? Yes! If your car or house door was unlocked and your belongings stolen, that can still be covered under your insurance policy. If your business was unlocked when a theft occurred, it is less likely that there would be coverage as you have to maintain more strict protection of your business property.
Can I add coverage to my policy for something that already happened? No. You have to have the applicable coverage already listed on your policy on the date that the loss happened, so it is important to review your policy regularly with your agent to update coverage as necessary.
Final Takeaway
It is impossible to predict when life will throw the unexpected at you. As a result, it’s important to stay educated on what commonly happens in your area so that you can be prepared should something happen.
If you aren’t sure what would be covered in the event that you need to file a claim, a local agent can review your listed coverages with you.
Disclaimer: The information included here is designed for informational purposes only. It is not legal, tax, financial or any other sort of advice, nor is it a substitute for such advice. The information may not apply to your specific situation. We have tried to make sure the information is accurate, but it could be outdated or even inaccurate in parts.
