Informed Minute

Does home insurance cover a burst pipe? Usually, yes. But there’s a catch. Most standard homeowners policies cover water damage that’s sudden and accidental, like a pipe that bursts and soaks your floors and walls. But the pipe itself? Fixing it is often on you. Slow leaks, wear and tear, and skipped maintenance are usually excluded. Flooding from outside? That needs a separate flood policy. Frozen pipes in a vacant or unheated home may not be covered if you didn’t take reasonable care, like keeping the heat on. If a pipe bursts, shut off the main water valve. Know where yours is today. Take photos, then stop the damage from spreading. Next, call your insurer fast. A leak detector or automatic shutoff valve can help catch leaks early. Read your policy’s water section, and check out our free guides.

Is flood damage covered by your home insurance? In most cases, no. Most standard homeowners and renters policies don’t cover flooding. Flood coverage is a separate policy, through the National Flood Insurance Program, or a private insurer. And timing matters. For NFIP policies, there’s usually a 30-day waiting period. So if a storm’s already coming, it’s often too late to buy. For a home, NFIP coverage tops out at $250,000 for the building, and $100,000 for belongings. Outside a high-risk zone? FEMA says nearly a third of its flood claims over the past decade came from outside high-risk areas. And a burst pipe inside your home? That’s usually treated as water damage under your homeowners policy, not flood. Check your policy, ask about flood coverage before storm season, and check out our free guides.

Does homeowners insurance cover a tree falling on your house? Usually, yes, for sudden accidental damage to your home. Storms, wind, lightning, even a neighbor’s tree, many policies cover the dwelling, minus your deductible. Removing the tree? Often yes, if it damaged a covered structure, but usually only up to a small debris limit. A fallen tree that never hit anything? Removal is often not covered. If your tree damages a neighbor’s place, their insurance often handles the claim first. But a neglected or dead tree you knew about can raise a liability or exclusion issue. After a fall: safety first, take photos, then contact your insurer before big removal work. Read the debris and liability sections of your policy, and check out our free guides.

Car accident in California? Here’s what to do. First, stop. Never drive away from a crash you’re involved in. Check everyone for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 right away. No injuries, and the car can move? Get out of traffic and turn on your hazard lights. Swap info with every driver: name, phone, license, plate, and insurance. Take photos only when it’s safe: the whole scene, damage on every car, and all the plates. Stick to facts. Don’t argue about who caused it. Let the insurers sort out fault. Tell your insurer as soon as you can, even if it seems minor, or wasn’t your fault. In California, file a DMV SR-1 report within ten days if anyone was hurt, or damage is over $1,000. Each driver must file, no matter who caused it. The full glovebox checklist is in our free guide, at informedinsured.com.