Now that it’s October, it’s time for everything pumpkin spice, Halloween décor and nightly thrills with your custom queue of horror media. This year, my favorite streaming apps have not disappointed; they’re loaded with fresh, new releases and spine-tingling classics.
After one wickedly good movie—and a dash around the house to turn on lights and check door locks—I made a mental note that two common themes tend to repeat in most media about the paranormal: characters fall victim to bodily harm or possession by evil entities, and residential homes and businesses suffer catastrophic damage by either an invading phantom, or by someone trying to trap, destroy or exorcise a paranormal force.
So, what kind of insurance policy would a homeowner or business owner need to protect themselves this Halloween season and beyond?
For the homeowner …
In most cases, homeowners (personal property and dwelling), will most likely cover property loss or damage during robberies, home invasions, burglaries and vandalism caused by demons and/or pesky poltergeists—provided they are the corporeal kind. Personal property coverage should help pay for repair or replacement of damaged or stolen items, while dwelling coverage can help pay for structure damage to the house.
However, if someone is injured in a house due to paranormal activity, demonic invasion, robbery or any other activity, homeowners should consider that they’ll need coverage with a home invasion insurance policy to cover people-related risks that standard homeowners policies don’t—such as physical injuries and abduction.
Additionally, for those homeowners who may be particularly concerned about their homes being overrun by actual supernatural beings, perhaps an insurance policy can be found in the excess-and-surplus marketplace that would provide coverage for individuals who can prove that a death or injury was caused by the paranormal; that damage was caused by the paranormal; or that they were attacked by vampires and/or werewolves.
For the business owner …
For a business ravaged by reveling specters, or overzealous shoppers, commercial property coverage most likely will help the business owner cover the cost of damage or theft of business property.
Business interruption insurance can help cover costs while the business is temporarily shut down to make repairs. There are more policies to consider—depending on the type of business, equipment used, if vehicles are damaged, etc.
Business owners also should consider general liability insurance policies for such injury risk.
Third-party coverage …
What if someone (e.g., an exorcist or ghostbuster) causes property damage, physical harm or death, while trying to remand, recede or extract demons, apparitions or ghouls from a home or business?
As a common vocational hazard for such practitioners, these professionals should protect themselves and their business with public liability insurance policies, which should cover physical or psychological injuries and/or death that their services may cause to the public and/or clients.
The policy also may cover legal fees and compensation payouts for property damage and death. However, public liability insurance will only cover accidental injuries or damage, not those done deliberately.
Homeowners, beware
It’s risky business to try to remove ghosts or demons on one’s own; intentional fire damage caused by homemade plasma guns or flamethrowers would be investigated and with probable cause, be considered arson—which is not covered by homeowners policies.
Thus, always seek professional help in these matters. In fact, you know who to call: Your independent insurance agent … and maybe a ghostbuster or two.
Jeana Coleman
Jeana Coleman is the marketing specialist in the Communications Department at PIA Northeast. She is responsible for creating content for print, digital and social-media marketing initiatives. Prior to joining PIA, she worked as a writer/editor for media organizations in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and Fayetteville, Ark., and directed communications, special events, and fund development for nonprofit organizations in Little Rock, Ark. In her leisure time, she enjoys cooking, arts and crafts, DIY home projects, and fishing with her husband and son around upstate New York/Adirondacks and the coastal Northeast region.
