When ghosts and goblins run amok, only people with the right insurance will be in luck. Here are five common Halloween headaches — and which policies pay when the night turns more trick than treat.
1 Your Car Gets Egged
Last year, insurance claims related to car vandalism increased on Halloween and the days before and after, says Kevin Quinn, vice president of claims at Mercury Insurance. Raw eggs, pumpkins and rocks are all common projectiles.
How insurance can help: If your car can’t be cleaned or suffers serious damage, such as a broken window, it’s usually covered by comprehensive car insurance.
2 Goblins Toilet-Paper the Yard
It’s not uncommon for little goblins to damage trees or landscaping while “TP’ing” a yard.
How insurance can help: Homeowners insurance generally will cover you. If you’re making a claim, call your insurer for an inspection before cleaning up. An adjuster needs to document the damage.
3 Yard Decorations Disappear
Whether it’s your vintage lawn gnome or a lifesize animatronic zombie, yard decor is vulnerable to Halloween thieves.
How insurance can help: Standard homeowners, condo and renters insurance often provides coverage if outdoor decorations disappear. Just be sure you’ve saved the receipts and made a police report.
4 The Jack-o'-Lantern Starts a Fire
As with vehicle vandalism, residential fires are more common around Halloween, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. The biggest causes are cooking and heating, but carelessness, open flames, electrical malfunctions and intentional acts can also be to blame.
How insurance can help: Fire damage is covered by homeowners insurance, including living expenses if you have to stay elsewhere during repairs. Rented property typically is covered by the landlord’s policy, but you’ll need renters insurance to get reimbursed for personal belongings.
5 Pedestrians Act Unpredictably
Besides New Year’s, Halloween sees a higher number of pedestrian deaths than any other night of the year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Sadly, many victims are children.
Costumed kids can be hard to see, often roaming without their parents and more likely to dart into the street, says Nicole Mahrt-Ganley, senior director of public affairs at the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
She says adults who are distracted by their mobile devices or intoxicated can also be unpredictable pedestrians.
Prevent problems: Park cars in the garage or a well-lit area, use battery-operated candles or glow sticks in your pumpkin and be cautious when driving on trick-or-treat night.
Don’t make small claims: If damaged or stolen items are worth less than your deductible, it’s not worth making an insurance claim.
Beth Buczynski is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: bbuczynski@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @bethbuczynski.
The article 5 Halloween Headaches and How Insurance Can Help originally appeared on NerdWallet.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance covers a car that gets egged on Halloween?
If your car can't be cleaned or suffers serious damage, such as a broken window, it's usually covered by comprehensive car insurance. Mercury Insurance notes that claims related to car vandalism increase on Halloween and the days before and after, with raw eggs, pumpkins and rocks all common projectiles aimed at vehicles during the holiday.
Does homeowners insurance cover yard damage from toilet-papering?
Yes. Homeowners insurance generally covers damage to trees or landscaping caused when little goblins toilet-paper a yard. If you plan to make a claim, call your insurer for an inspection before you clean anything up, because an adjuster needs to document the damage first in order to process your claim properly.
Are stolen yard decorations covered by insurance?
Standard homeowners, condo and renters insurance often provides coverage if outdoor decorations disappear, whether it's a vintage lawn gnome or a lifesize animatronic zombie. To support a claim, be sure you've saved the receipts for your decorations and filed a police report documenting that the items were stolen from your property.
Does insurance cover a fire started by a jack-o'-lantern?
Fire damage is covered by homeowners insurance, including living expenses if you have to stay elsewhere during repairs. Residential fires are more common around Halloween, per the U.S. Fire Administration. Rented property is typically covered by the landlord's policy, but you'll need renters insurance to be reimbursed for your personal belongings.
What insurance helps if I hit a pedestrian on Halloween?
Your auto liability insurance covers injuries you cause while driving. Halloween sees a higher number of pedestrian deaths than any other night except New Year's, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Costumed kids can be hard to see and may dart into the street, so drive cautiously on trick-or-treat night.
