Six of the oddest, most bizarre auto and home insurance claims

Weird news of the insurance world: Real stories that make you wonder, is that covered by insurance?

A recent news story headline on the CBC read, "Cow falls off cliff and crashes onto van on highway; motorists unhurt" which got us wondering here at Kanetix-in our bizarre insurance way of thinking-how would you claim that through your insurance?

A quick email and we had our answer from our resident insurance guru: "Yeah, it's definitely covered - but whether it's through your collision or comprehensive coverage may vary because of the province you live in, the insurer you have coverage through and even (believe it or not) whether the animal was dead or alive when you hit it on the road. In most cases, if the van hit the cow on the road then the claim would likely go through your comprehensive coverage even though it's technically considered a collision. As for the cow falling on your car (like it looks like it did here) then the claim would go through your comprehensive coverage because it would be considered a falling object." Well now we, and you, know.

Bet you thought insurance was boring? It's not (at least it's not all of the time.)

Maybe it's just us here at Kanetix, but this story got the creative juices going. If we're interested in these odd types of stories, then wouldn't others be as well? So we searched; and looked around online to compile a list of some of the oddest, most bizarre, and in some cases downright strange insurance claims out there. But here was the twist; we didn't want urban legends, or claims that have been identified as fraud. We wanted honest-to-goodness real claims that might have you scratching your head at the end of it. And we found some; enjoy.

Zany Zebra

You know those safari parks, where you drive through to get up close and personal with animals like lions, tigers and zebras? Here's why you invite another family to go and have them drive; do you really want to tell your friends that a playful zebra collided with your car while at the safari park? No thanks.

How would you claim this through insurance?
In most cases, if your car hit or was hit by a zebra at a safari park, the claim would likely go through your comprehensive coverage even though it's technically considered a collision. Comprehensive coverage is an optional coverage which typically applies in the case of loss or damage from falling or flying objects, theft and vandalism - but getting run into by a zany zebra is anything but typical.

Cow Car Wash

We don't know what's in a cow's saliva, and to be honest we don't want to know, but apparently it can cause damage to a car's paint job. Not sure where this person was parked, but how would you like to have to admit to your insurer that a herd of cows licked your car and caused damage to the paint work?

How would you claim this through insurance?
Through your car insurance policy under the Comprehensive coverage you'll have hopefully purchased (because it too is optional.) Comprehensive coverage usually applies in the case of loss or damage from falling or flying objects, theft and vandalism. While you might think it falls under vandalism by domestic farm animal, it doesn't; luckily, 'all-perils coverage' covers what is not excluded.

Potato Payback

Reason number one to place your groceries in the trunk; you never know when a pesky potato will role out the bag and find it's way behind your brake pedal. Of course the consequences are obvious; the driver couldn't apply their brake and ended up getting in an accident.

How would you claim this through insurance?
Through your auto insurance policy under the Collision coverage you'll have hopefully purchased. Collision is an optional coverage that is the part of your auto insurance policy that protects your vehicle if it is damaged in an accident.

Wasp Worry

Chances are bees, hornets, wasps and yellow jackets have caused many an accident. So it comes as no surprise that a driver got in an accident because a wasp flew up their pant leg causing the person to panic and hit the accelerator. Too bad they didn't keep their foot on the brake; because the person was waiting at a traffic light with cars ahead of them.

How would you claim this through insurance?
Through your auto insurance policy under the Collision coverage you'll have hopefully purchased. Collision is an optional coverage that is the part of your car insurance policy that protects your vehicle if it is damaged in an accident.

Redesigning Rover

In case it wasn't obvious to you, if you own a dog and have just painted the living room, don't leave the dog alone without getting rid of the paint tray you've been using. Otherwise you might find that your favourite pooch will use his tail as a paint brush and paint more than just the walls; maybe your carpet and furniture too.

How would you claim this through insurance?
Through your property insurance policy with the Contents coverage you'll have purchased. Hopefully, you got 'all-risk' contents coverage and not 'named-perils'. Because with named-perils you're only covered for losses that resulted from common perils like fire, theft and water damage.

Bull!

The country life is nice, unless you live next to a farm with bulls that love to roam the countryside. It's gets worse when three of your local farmer's bulls end up in your backyard getting into a fight destroying your garden, your fence and all your trellis' in the process; and that ain't no bull!

How would you claim this through insurance?
Through your home insurance policy which covers the structures on your property. Hopefully, you got 'all-risk' contents coverage and not 'named-perils'. Because with named-perils you're only covered for losses that resulted from perils like fire, theft and water damage.