Are My Kids Covered By Renters Insurance? Img ©
Are my kids covered by renters insurance? What types of coverage apply to my children on my policy? Do I need to list them on the policy? Does it matter if they’re my step-children? What if they’re at someone else’s house? Does renters insurance cover my kids?
Great questions, and a great thing to know and file away in the back of your mind just in case! Let’s take a look at a Bend, OR Renters Insurance policy and see what the answer is, to put your mind at ease. There are a few things that you should be aware of, but getting renters insurance for your kids is not a challenging proposition.
Are My Kids Covered By Renters Insurance Liability?
Absolutely! Renters insurance can cover damage your kids do to other people. If they’re under 13, they’re generally covered by liability even if it was an intentional act. That makes sense, because they can’t be expected to understand the real consequences of all of their actions. Sure, if they push another child they get punished, but that might be the extent of their understanding of why it’s a bad thing to do.
Without understanding the consequences, you can’t have expected or intended results. That means that children under 13 are covered by renters insurance liability generally without regard to what they intended to happen. Children over 13 are covered if they did something negligent that caused bodily injury or property damage to someone else, as well. If they’re learning to skateboard and go directly into someone’s car, that wasn’t the expected or intended result so they’d likely have coverage for that property damage.
If your teenager is over at a friend’s apartment and they stick pizza rolls in the oven and forget about them, there’s likely to be at least some smoke damage, if not fire damage resulting from that. Your renters insurance liability is there to protect them (and you!) in that situation as well – liability coverage for your kids as teenagers works just like it does for you as far as negligence is concerned – if you were negligent and a loss resulted, your coverage can defend you and pay the claim.
Are My Kids Covered By Renters Insurance Personal Property Coverage?
Your kids are covered by renters insurance for their personal property, as well. If they are unfortunate enough to make friends with a thief, the coverage could apply, though you’d be the one making the claim. Teenagers tend to have a ton of expensive electronics and other things, so this is a benefit. If your whole apartment were lost to a fire, there would be coverage for your property as well as for theirs.
Personal property coverage travels with the individual. If your teenager is away at a summer coding camp and their laptop is stolen, you could have coverage for that loss, as well. Yes, there’s some risk involved in sending an expensive laptop with them, but they don’t need to miss the experience in order to miss the risk, because even though you can’t be there with them at every moment, your family’s renters insurance policy can be.
Do I Need To List My Kids On Renters Insurance For Them To Have Coverage?
No. You couldn’t if you wanted to, since there’s that whole thing about minors not having the capacity to contract. That’s why they’re covered under the policy. The definition of named insured includes your kids and your spouse that live with you. Bear in mind that you might be asked if you have kids on the application by some underwriters. That’s because kids, especially teenagers, can present an additional liability exposure. If asked, of course, you need to answer the question honestly but you don’t need to list them as insureds, and in fact can’t.
Talk To Your Kids About Renters Insurance In An Age-Appropriate Way
Your kids might know that you have Bend, OR Renters Insurance, but not what it does. That’s why you talk to kids about renters insurance in an age-appropriate way. If there’s a liability claim involving your seven year old, of course, it’s probably sufficient to say that insurance is there to protect them (and you) when bad things happen, but they need to think more about what they do.
On the other hand, teenagers can and should be told that insurance is a way to transfer risk, that it involves many people pooling their money that’s then administered by the company, and that it’s designed to handle major losses that a person couldn’t reasonably handle on their own. By talking to your teenagers about insurance, you help them to understand that there are good and appropriate ways to handle situations that they might not be able to handle on their own, and that honesty about a loss allows them to access that coverage.
What Else Should I Know About My Kids Being Covered On My Renters Policy?
They’re covered. It’s that easy. There are specific things to be aware of, of course, just like with any insurance question. That’s why you can call the insurance experts for renters at Effective Coverage to get the answers you need. Not only have we developed a technology platform that’s far and away the best in the business and allows you to get covered in just sixty seconds from your cell phone or computer, we’ve also changed the way a contact center works in insurance.
When you call Effective Coverage, you get someone who lives and loves renters insurance, and is an expert. They’ll be able to point you to the relevant sections of your policy, as well as to help you get the coverage you need. The best part is that they’re on salary, not commission. That means you’re working with someone who cares about what they do, and wants to take the time to get you the right coverage, not the coverage that makes them the most money. It also means they’re able to take all the time necessary to answer your questions.
You can call (800)892-4308 or click to get covered - whether you need Bend, OR renters insurance quotes online or coverage anywhere else!
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