Homeowners insurance is designed to respond to sudden, accidental losses to your home and belongings—think fire, burst pipes, wind, theft—and it can also pay for additional living expenses if a covered loss makes your home uninhabitable. For what’s typically included under a standard policy and how loss of use works, see the Insurance Information Institute’s overview at III.
But what about out‑of‑the‑ordinary situations—like a bear breaking into a cabin, debris from space landing on your roof, or being sued over a harsh online review? Standard policies and common endorsements address more than you might expect. Below are seven unusual scenarios where coverage may apply, with recent data points from sources such as NASA, federal highway safety agencies, and the Insurance Information Institute.
1. Wild Animals
For dwellings, many standard policies cover sudden damage caused by larger wild animals (for example, a bear breaking a door or window), while excluding damage caused by birds, rodents, insects, vermin, or from nesting/infestation. See Insurance Information Institute (III) blog for current details. By contrast, direct damage to personal property by animals is often narrower because many policies insure belongings on a named‑perils basis, and “animal damage” is not typically a named peril unless a covered peril ensues.
If a moose crashes through your window, as in a Colorado incident, dwelling repairs may be covered while direct damage to personal items might not be—the III explains. And remember: vehicle damage from hitting an animal is not a homeowners claim—it’s typically an auto comprehensive claim; swerving to avoid an animal and striking another object is usually handled as a collision claim. See III’s explainer on comprehensive auto coverage. Federal and insurer sources estimate the scale of animal‑vehicle collisions remains high: the Federal Highway Administration cites roughly 1–2 million such crashes each year with an ~$8 billion economic burden (FHWA), State Farm estimated more than 2 million animal‑collision insurance claims from July 2023 to June 2024 (State Farm), and the IIHS notes these crashes cause 200+ fatalities annually, with risk peaking during fall at dawn/dusk (IIHS).
2. Party Guests
Accidental property damage by guests (e.g., broken fixtures or art) can be covered under your homeowners Section I property coverage, subject to your deductible and limits. Liability for injuries to others that arise from your negligence at a social gathering can fall under your policy’s personal liability coverage. Most homeowners policies include “host liquor liability” only for occasional, non‑business social events; they generally exclude coverage if you are in the business of manufacturing, distributing, or selling alcohol. See the III’s overview of social host liability and consider a personal umbrella policy for higher liability limits.
Know your jurisdiction’s rules. Many states impose civil liability for furnishing alcohol to minors or knowingly allowing under‑21 consumption on property you control, and some add criminal/administrative penalties. Fewer states extend civil social host liability to adult guests (e.g., serving a visibly intoxicated adult). Laws vary widely—review the NCSL state summaries and NIAAA’s APIS maps, and see federal policy guidance at StopAlcoholAbuse.gov. Serving minors can also create uninsurable criminal exposure regardless of insurance. Given rising medical and legal costs, many insurers recommend a personal umbrella policy to add $1–$5 million of protection above your homeowners limits.
3. Falling Objects
“Falling objects” is a standard peril under homeowners policies. NASA notes that about one cataloged object reenters Earth’s atmosphere each day and most burn up with no confirmed serious injuries to date (NASA ODPO). In 2024, NASA confirmed debris from International Space Station equipment struck a home in Florida with no injuries (NASA). According to the III, damage from falling objects—including aircraft parts and space debris—is generally covered by homeowners insurance, subject to your deductible and policy conditions (III guidance).
A few key conditions commonly apply: interior damage from a falling object is typically covered only if the roof or exterior wall is first damaged by the object; vehicles struck by falling objects are handled by auto insurance—usually comprehensive coverage, not homeowners (III: comprehensive auto). If your home is uninhabitable after a covered loss, Additional Living Expenses (ALE) can help pay for temporary housing and related costs (III). In rare space‑debris cases, insurers may pay first and then consider recovery avenues under the international Liability Convention, which imposes absolute liability on a launching state for surface damage (UNOOSA).
4. Vandalized Headstones
Tombstones and cemetery monuments you own are commonly covered by an additional “grave markers” provision in standard homeowners, condo, and renters policies for perils like vandalism or malicious mischief—often with a sublimit around $5,000 per marker and subject to your policy deductible. See the Insurance Information Institute’s overview of grave marker coverage, and examples from major insurers such as Travelers and Erie Insurance. State consumer guides (e.g., Wisconsin OCI) also list this as a standard additional coverage with typical limits and deductibles (Wisconsin OCI).
“Most people know that personal property refers to the things in a home, but gravestones you own are covered under that,” said State Farm spokesman Dick Luedke as reported by the Chicago Tribune. In practice, document the damage, file a police report for vandalism, notify the cemetery for access, and submit estimates from a qualified monument company. Note that many regulators indicate monuments are typically the lot owner’s property and cemeteries are not financially responsible for third‑party vandalism absent negligence (see New York’s guidance on monuments and markers).
In other words, if a trouble-causing teenager spray-paints or defaces a headstone that you own, you’re covered by your homeowners insurance policy.
5. Campus Theft
College environments see frequent theft of portable items (laptops, phones, bikes). National property crime totals declined in 2023 versus 2022, but larceny‑theft remains the most common property crime according to the FBI’s Oct. 2024 release (FBI). Schools also report burglary and theft in required Clery Act disclosures; you can explore campus‑specific data via the U.S. Department of Education’s tool (Campus Safety).
If you’re the parent of a child moving into a dorm, in many cases, your homeowners insurance applies to your kid’s belongings if they live in an on-campus dwelling.
“Most homeowners and renters policies include protection for a college student’s personal possessions (e.g., a TV, clothing, and furniture) away from home, if they live on-campus,” says the III. The III further explains that some policies may have limitations, such as limiting this coverage to 10% of the policy’s total coverage for your child’s personal belongings.
However, you should be aware that this applies to dorm-dwelling students only. If your child moves into an off-campus apartment, you want to look into renters insurance to cover their possessions. What’s more, not all items are covered equally, and “jewelry, expensive sports equipment, and musical instruments may be subject to dollar limits,” according to the III.
6. Fine Wine
If you’ve got an expensive bottle (or collection) of wine in your home, your homeowner’s insurance may cover its loss or damage in certain cases and against certain perils. For instance, according to the III, if you experience a power outage caused by one of the 16 perils and your wine collection overheats (or freezes), you may be able to recoup your losses under the food spoilage clause of your policy. If a pipe bursts and your wine cellar floods, you’ll likely be covered. Your wine collection might also be covered in the instance of a robbery, a fire, or other covered perils. In any and all of these cases, it’s definitely worth your time to file a claim and try to recoup some of those losses.
However, if water seeps into your basement (or wine cellar) from the ground, you’ll likely not be covered, so don’t bother filing a claim. When push comes to shove, you need to check with your insurer to determine which events are and aren’t covered by your policy.
7. Negative Reviews
Sometimes, you’re not satisfied with the service you get from a business. In fact, you may blow off some steam online if you find yourself dissatisfied with, say, the job a flooring company did in your house or the service you received from a physician. However, the downside to broadcasting your bad experience on sites like Yelp is that you could get slapped with a lawsuit from the vendor, and there are tons of instances where this has happened. In fact, one woman in Tennessee was sued for a whopping $25,000 after leaving a negative Yelp review about a doctor.
But according to the III, instances like these may very well be covered by your homeowners insurance. Specifically, the cost of hiring a lawyer to defend you in court, as well as any court awards, are covered by the liability portion of many homeowners insurance policies.
Additional Resources
It’s good to know the extent to which your homeowners insurance policy covers you, but that doesn’t mean you have to navigate your policy alone. Here are a few resources with tons of information about the ins and outs of homeowners insurance.
