Is a Lightning Strike Covered by Insurance?
Understand insurance coverage for lightning damage and the steps to file a successful claim.
A lightning strike can cause significant property damage. Insurance coverage for lightning strikes is a common provision across various types of policies, helping to mitigate the financial burden of unexpected repairs or replacements.
Common Insurance Policies and Lightning Damage
Most standard insurance policies include coverage for damage caused by lightning. Homeowners insurance policies, for example, generally list lightning as a “named peril” or include it under “all-perils” coverage. This covers damage to the dwelling, other structures on the property, and personal belongings, including your house, detached garages, fences, furniture, and electronics.
Renters insurance policies also provide coverage for a policyholder’s personal property against lightning damage, though they do not cover the structure of the rented dwelling. Comprehensive auto insurance coverage addresses damage from lightning for vehicles, covering repairs or replacement if struck.
Business property insurance policies offer protection for commercial buildings and their contents against lightning-related incidents. Policyholders should review their specific policy documents to understand the exact terms and any limitations.
Types of Lightning Damage Covered
Insurance policies generally cover a range of damages that can result from a lightning strike. Direct strikes, which occur when lightning physically hits a structure, can cause immediate and visible damage, such as structural compromise, fires, or shattered windows. Coverage typically extends to these direct impacts, including the cost of rebuilding or repairing affected parts of the property.
Damage from power surges, often a consequence of nearby lightning strikes, is also commonly covered. These surges can travel through electrical systems, harming appliances, sensitive electronics, and internal wiring, even if the lightning did not directly strike the insured property. Policies usually account for the repair or replacement of these items.
Fires ignited by a lightning strike are a frequently covered peril, with policies typically covering the extensive damage that can result from such blazes. This includes the cost of extinguishing the fire and repairing or replacing fire-damaged structures and contents. Furthermore, if a lightning strike causes damage that leads to subsequent issues, such as a hole in a roof that results in water damage from rain, the consequential water damage is also generally covered as part of the original lightning claim.
Insurance Claim Process for Lightning Damage
Ensuring personal safety and the safety of others is the immediate priority after any property damage, including that caused by a lightning strike. Once the situation is secure, documenting the damage thoroughly is the next step. This involves taking photographs and videos from various angles, creating a detailed list of damaged items, and noting the extent of the destruction.
Contacting the insurance company promptly to initiate the claim process is important, typically within a reasonable timeframe, such as 30 to 90 days, though specific policy terms may vary. Providing policy details and the documented evidence of damage helps expedite the initial assessment. The insurer will likely assign an adjuster to assess the damage, and cooperating fully with their inspection and providing any requested information is necessary.
Obtaining repair estimates from qualified, reputable contractors or service providers is an important part of the claim process. These estimates help the insurance company determine the appropriate payout for covered damages. Policyholders should also be aware of their deductible, which is the amount they are responsible for paying out-of-pocket before the insurance coverage begins to pay for the covered loss.