Insurance and broken windows

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Q: Am I covered if my son breaks a neighbor's window while he's hitting rocks with his baseball bat or mowing our lawn?

A: Generally yes -- if it's an accident. Your homeowners policy will typically cover this type of accident at home or even away from home. But if it was a deliberate act, the damage may not be covered.

Also, consider your deductible. If the estimate to repair the window is small, it may be worth it to pay the damages out of pocket.

Note: This is one of a series of common -- or in some cases, particularly unusual -- questions received by our consumer advocacy staff, who answer questions from consumers.
Got a question or insurance problem of your own? If you live in Washington, feel free to give us a call, toll-free at 1-800-562-6900. We'll do our best to help. (And if you live in another state or territory, here's a handy map that lists the contact info for your local insurance regulatory office.)