Accidental Damage Insurance Claims

How to Make An Accidental Damage Claim

1. Stop the secondary damage. If a wine glass has shattered onto a wood floor, lift the contents off; if a TV has been knocked over, isolate it electrically. Make safe before doing anything else.
2. Photograph the damage from several angles. Wide shots showing the room context plus close-ups of every affected item. Photographs of the cause too, if relevant.
3. Note the time, the cause, and the people present. Accidental damage hinges on the event being sudden and unintended. Clarity on what happened and when is the foundation of the claim.
4. Read your policy schedule for accidental damage cover. Some Irish policies include accidental damage as standard; others require an optional extension. Check first.
5. Notify the insurer in writing without undue delay. Quote the policy number, describe the event factually, and request the claim form.
6. Engage a loss assessor before the loss adjuster visits. The loss adjuster works for the insurer, not for you. Accidental damage claims are commonly under-settled because the policyholder accepts the first figure offered.
7. Document the loss room by room. Damaged decoration, contents, joinery, fittings. Each item with replacement or repair cost.
8. Obtain quotations for the repair or replacement. Two or three quotations from reputable contractors carries more weight than one.
9. Prepare the claim with the right peril named. Accidental damage is a specific section of cover. The wording matters.
10. Negotiate the settlement and review before signing.

Remember, accidental damage is not a catch-all. The damage must be sudden and unintended. Wear, mechanical failure, and gradually occurring damage fall outside cover. Documentation of the event itself is what wins the claim.

What is considered an accidental damage insurance claim?

Accidental damage covers sudden and unintended physical damage to your buildings or contents that is not specifically excluded by the policy. It is the safety net for the everyday accidents the named perils (water, fire, storm, theft) do not cover, a child puts a toy through the TV screen, a ladder is dropped onto a tiled floor, a bookcase pulls a section of wall away with it. Most policies offer accidental damage as an optional extension; many policyholders never check whether they have it.

Common Causes of Accidental Damage Insurance Claims

• Furniture-moving incidents that gouge or split flooring
• Children damaging walls, doors, electronics, or appliances
• DIY mishaps such as drilling through pipes or cables
• Spillages onto wood floors, carpets, or upholstery that cannot be cleaned
• Dropped or knocked-over electronics (televisions, laptops, hi-fi equipment)
• Pet damage to soft furnishings or doors
• Cooking accidents that damage worktops or extractor hoods
• Glass breakage in windows, doors, splashbacks, or shower screens
• Damage during home moves before contents settle into place
• Garden equipment striking a window or wall

Does insurance cover accidental damage?

Only if you have the cover, and only within its limits. Common reasons an insurer reduces or rejects an accidental damage claim:

• Cover not in force. Accidental damage is an optional extension on most Irish home policies. If you did not pay for it, the claim falls.
• Excluded items. Mobile phones, items outside the home, and certain electronics are often excluded or capped.
• Wear and tear. If the damage was the inevitable result of normal use, it is excluded.
• Pre-existing damage. Damage that existed before the policy started.
• Damage by a non-resident. Damage caused by tradespeople or visitors may fall under their public liability cover, not yours.

How N.J. Carroll & Associates Can Help

We are one of Ireland’s most experienced loss-assessing firms, established 1988, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Three decades of accidental damage claims means we know which items insurers settle easily and which they fight, and how to evidence the loss so the claim settles in full first time. We act as the insured’s representative throughout. We take the stress and worry off your hands. We ensure that you receive your full entitlement under your policy’s terms.

Our standard fee is 8% plus VAT of the total settlement, on a no-win, no-fee basis. The initial consultation is free. We only get paid after you do. You have full control. We cannot settle your claim without your approval. We are wholly independent and committed to your interests alone.

If you have suffered accidental damage at home, please do not hesitate to contact us today. For related claim types, see our pages on water damage claims, theft claims, and burst pipe insurance claims. We serve the country from Dublin; reach the local team at loss assessors Dublin.

N.J. Carroll & Associates Ltd are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Our Financial Regulator Certificate number is C41330. Niall Carroll is a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. We are also a member of the Irish Claims Consultants Association.

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