Does Insurance Cover Damage From Riots?

Understanding insurance policies can be complex, particularly when dealing with unexpected and disruptive events such as civil unrest. Many individuals and businesses seek clarity on how their existing insurance coverage responds to damages from riots, civil disturbances, or associated acts. Navigating specific terms and conditions within various policies is essential to determine available protection. This article clarifies how different types of insurance address property damage and financial losses stemming from such events.

Insurance Definitions for Civil Unrest

Insurance policies use specific terminology to classify civil unrest events, which dictates how coverage applies. A “riot” is defined as a violent disturbance by a crowd, often involving vandalism, looting, or arson. “Civil commotion” is a similar term, referring to a widespread public uprising causing harm to persons or property. Insurers often group these terms due to their similar nature.

Beyond these categories, policies address specific destructive acts. “Vandalism” refers to the willful damage or destruction of property. “Looting” is the theft of goods during a riot or civil commotion. These acts often fall under perils covered by standard policies if they occur during a riot or civil commotion. Policy wording is crucial for determining how these events are interpreted and whether direct physical damage or consequential financial losses are covered.

Home and Auto Insurance Coverage

Standard personal insurance policies extend coverage for damages incurred during civil unrest, including homeowners, renters, and auto insurance. For homeowners and renters, most standard policies cover damage to the dwelling and personal property caused by riots, civil commotion, vandalism, fire, smoke damage, and theft during a covered event. This protection includes structural damage, broken windows, personal belongings inside, and damage to other structures like detached garages or fences. If damage renders the home uninhabitable, policies may also cover additional living expenses, including temporary housing, hotel stays, and meals.

Auto insurance policies also address damages from civil unrest. Physical damage to vehicles from riots, vandalism, or civil unrest is covered under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy. This includes damages such as fire, broken glass, dents, spray paint, and theft of the vehicle itself. Vehicles covered only by liability insurance will not have coverage for damage to the policyholder’s own vehicle. Comprehensive coverage is subject to a deductible, commonly ranging from $250 to $1,000. Personal belongings stolen from inside the vehicle are not covered by auto insurance but may fall under a homeowners or renters policy.

Business Insurance Coverage

Commercial insurance policies offer protection for businesses impacted by civil unrest, addressing both physical damage and financial losses. Commercial property insurance covers physical damage to business buildings, inventory, and equipment caused by riots, civil commotion, vandalism, and looting. This coverage includes damage to building components like doors, windows, and lighting, and contents such as furniture, office supplies, and machinery. Policies may also cover debris removal and expenses to protect property from further damage, such as boarding up windows.

Business interruption insurance, often an add-on to commercial property policies, compensates businesses for lost income and extra expenses when operations are suspended due to physical damage from a covered peril like a riot. Coverage is triggered by direct physical damage to the insured property. Some policies include “civil authority” coverage, which provides lost income if a government order prohibits access to the business premises due to physical damage to nearby property, even if the insured business itself did not suffer direct damage. This coverage has a waiting period, often 72 hours, before benefits begin, and duration can vary, with civil authority coverage sometimes limited to four weeks.

Making an Insurance Claim

Filing an insurance claim for riot-related damages requires prompt action. The first priority is to ensure safety, evacuating if necessary, and avoiding areas with structural damage. Immediately after ensuring safety, report the incident to the police, especially if theft or vandalism occurred, and obtain a police report, as this document is often required by insurers. Document all damages, including clear photos and videos from various angles, capturing both close-up details and wider perspectives.

To prevent further damage, take reasonable steps, such as covering broken windows or making temporary repairs. Save all receipts for these expenses. Do not discard any damaged items until an insurance adjuster has inspected them. Contact the insurance provider promptly, as delays in reporting could impact the claim. When initiating the claim, provide your policy number, address, and a detailed description of the damage.

Required documentation for the claim includes a detailed list of all damaged or lost property, with descriptions, brand names, model numbers, and estimated values, along with any available receipts. Police reports and repair estimates are also important. For businesses, documentation of lost income and extra expenses, such as financial statements, will be necessary. After filing, an adjuster will inspect the damage, and maintaining a log of all communications with the insurer is advisable.