When you think about it, Halloween has more ways to cause claims for liability and property damage than a big bag of assorted candy! I’m convinced Halloween was created by evil marketing geniuses.

They had a meeting and here is how they planned it…

HALLOWEEN PARTIES!

Ok, let’s have a party where we turn out the lights, have open flame candles everywhere, invite guests who wear masks so they can’t see clearly and costumes with accessories to trip over. And, just to keep it interesting let’s feed them small candies to choke on, try to scare them senseless and give them spiked Witch’s Brew. How could anything go wrong?

TRICK-OR-TREAT?

Let’s invite lots of kids to the front door; put an obstacle course of tomb stones, goblins, skeletons, spiders and extension cords in their path; if they make it to the front door let’s scare them with creatures that pop out and shriek and then give them little candies to make them sick. How could anything go wrong?

WHAT ABOUT TRICKS?

Let’s have a night that invites “tricks” and ask less-than-mature teenagers to roam around our neighborhoods wearing masks. Then, when home owners turn their lights off around their house and go out everyone will know they aren’t at home. Since they didn’t give out candy then this will invite the kids to do “tricks” at their house – you know, things like throwing raw eggs, breaking flower pots, keying a car, stealing little stuff – get creative here and let your imagination go. How could anything go wrong?

DODGING CARS!

This is really good. Let’s have people drive their cars all over the neighborhoods on a really dark night with rain and fog and have them dodge little trick-or-treaters that are excited to run from house to house for candy while they wear black clothing you can’t see and then put masks on them so they can’t see where they are going. How could anything go wrong?

Obviously, the insurance guy was not invited to the meeting (or any Halloween parties either).  This was to be expected because everyone knows insurance guys are boring people and nothing fun ever happens if you invite the insurance guy. So, the only thing the insurance guy could do was sell really good insurance in case something does go wrong.

HOW YOU ARE PROTECTED FROM THE “TRICKS” OF HALLOWEEN

• Your home or car is the target of Halloween “tricks” that cause property damage. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies provide coverage for vandalism. There will be a deductible before your policy starts to pay, but if you suffer expensive damage to your home or possessions you will be financially protected. In the event that your car is damaged by mischievous trick-or-treaters, there is coverage under the optional "Other Then Collision" (comprehensive) portion of your auto insurance policy.
• There is a fire in your home. If a Halloween candle or electrically powered decoration causes a fire, any damage will be covered by standard homeowners and renters insurance policies. If the fire is significant enough to make your home unlivable, you would also be covered for additional living expenses, such as having to check into a hotel while your home is being repaired.
• A trick-or-treater is injured on your property. If a trick-or-treater or Halloween party guest is accidentally injured in your house or apartment, you would be covered under the liability portion of your homeowners or renters insurance policy, should the injured guest sue you. Standard policies also include no-fault medical coverage so that the injured guest could simply file their medical claim with your insurance company and avoid a lawsuit. Not everyone is familiar with this coverage, but it provides very important financial protection.
• You crash your car into a tree to avoid hitting a trick-or-treater. Of course, we know you will drive slowly and carefully, but if a group of excited trick-or-treaters darts in front of your car causing you to swerve and hit a tree, you are covered if you have optional "Collision" coverage. If another car or person is involved in the accident, the "Liability" portion of your auto policy would respond to protect you.

NEED A REVIEW?

Contact your Agent for a review of your home and auto policies to ensure you are covered in the event of a Halloween spook.

Source: Insurance Information Institute