1. Ice flies out of a gutter and through a neighbor’s window.

The movie: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989)

The disaster: While installing “25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights,” Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) falls and grasps onto the gutter, which tears off the house. A gutter-shaped chunk of ice flies off and goes through the neighbor’s window, destroying a stereo system (and melts, leaving the carpet mysteriously wet).

Could it happen? While the setup to this incident is typically over-the-top, it’s certainly possible for ice to break a window and do damage in a neighbor’s home.

Is it covered? If you’re at fault for unintentional damage to a neighbor’s house, the liability portion of your homeowners insurance will pay for the repairs. Even for Margo and Todd.

2. Your home is flooded by burglars with a flair for the dramatic.

The movie: “Home Alone” (1990)

The disaster: Two burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) flood every house they rob by plugging drains and leaving the water running, a calling card designed to earn them the nickname “The Wet Bandits.”

Could it happen? Yes. Especially if you’re away for a long time (like over the holidays), water left running could cause serious flooding. And criminals topping burglary with vandalism isn’t an unlikely scenario.

Is it covered? Even though homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding from natural sources, like a lake or river, you’re covered for vandalism and malicious mischief, even of the wet variety.

3. Your car is stolen (twice) and crashed into a snowbank during a police chase.

The movie: “The Christmas Chronicles" (2018)

The disaster: A car that was stolen and left in a parking lot while the original thief is at work is stolen again by Saint Nick (Kurt Russell), taken on a Christmas Eve police chase, and crashed into a snowbank.

Could it happen? Given that it's Santa Claus who steals the car the second time (for a good cause) and crashes it, this story is a little outside the realm of possibility. However, a stolen car being taken on a police chase and crashed by the thief? That absolutely happens.

Is it covered? Yes. Theft and the damage done by the thief are both covered as long as you have comprehensive coverage on your car insurance policy. We don't recommend telling the claims adjuster that Santa took it, however.

4. You set the turkey on fire.

The movie: “The Santa Clause” (1994)

The disaster: Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) tries to cook a turkey for Christmas dinner but opens the oven to find flames and smoke.

Could it happen? It happens all the time, and unlike in the movie, it often results in far more fire and smoke damage to the house.

Is it covered? Yes. Home insurance will pay for fire and smoke damage to your house, even if poor cooking skills cause it.

5. You purposely crash a company limo into a van – for a good reason!

The movie: “Die Hard” (1988)

The disaster: Limo driver Argyle (De’voreaux White) spots the terrorists’ van in the parking garage under Nakatomi Plaza and crashes into it purposely, helping to save the day.

Could it happen? The crash? Absolutely. The hostage crisis? Hollywood is great at dreaming up wild scenarios that may or may not have plot holes; we won’t weigh in the realistic nature of "Die Hard." We will, however, stand our ground that it is a Christmas movie.

Is it covered? As a general rule, insurance doesn’t cover damage done intentionally. However, as a company car, the limo service’s insurance may pay for damages done by an employee.

6. Your uncle lights a cigar and sets the Christmas tree on fire.

The movie: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989)

The disaster: Next on the long list of disasters in this classic, Uncle Lewis (William Hickey) heads into the living room after dinner to light up a stogie and burns the Christmas tree to a blackened mess in a matter of seconds.

Could it happen? Christmas tree fires are all too common, and in this case, the damage is actually mild. This type of fire can result in serious damage, even a total loss of the home.

Is it covered? Yes. Homeowners cover fire, although the tree fire alone probably isn’t worth paying the deductible in order to file a claim.

7. Your son, left home alone over the holidays, sets up a series of booby traps to fend off burglars.

The movie: “Home Alone” (1990)

The disaster: Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) fills the house with booby traps to keep two burglars from getting to him. The result is a huge mess and two very injured (yet somehow still coherent) burglars.

Could it happen? This is definitely one of those over-the-top plots that’s a bit too wild to be real. That said, setting up booby traps for trespassers is something that can and does happen.

Is it covered? Bad news – Kevin’s mom and dad could get sued here. It’s actually illegal to set up booby traps to injure trespassers. Furthermore, your homeowners insurance requires you to keep your home a safe place, and setting up booby traps is generally considered unsafe. The odds are good here that both the injuries to the burglars and the damage to the house could land on the McCallisters.

8. Satellite dish installation goes awry.

The movie: “Four Christmases” (2008)

The disaster: Brad’s (Vince Vaughn) attempt at a winning Christmas gift for his father becomes a disaster when he and the satellite dish fall off the roof, tearing cable from the walls and sending the TV across the room, where it bursts into flames, igniting the carpet.

Could it happen? Electrical fires caused by damaged wires do happen, although this exact scenario is an extreme example.

Is it covered? Yes. Homeowners insurance covers electrical fires caused by accidents. In this case, the TV and related damage will likely be covered. 

9. A neighbor's badly behaved dogs break into your house, destroying the Christmas feast.

The movie: “A Christmas Story” (1983)

The disaster: The Bumpus hounds, which seem to have no discipline whatsoever, pour through the door to the Parker home, decimating the Christmas turkey and leaving the door hanging from its hinges.

Could it happen? Dogs breaking down a door for turkey? We’re going to say yes.

Is it covered? You’re responsible for anything your pets do, which means, in this case the Bumpuses are liable for their hounds’ actions. Their liability insurance will cover it, assuming the insurance company hasn’t excluded the dogs for past turkey purloining.

10. An explosion results from toxic fumes and an errant match. 

The movie: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989)

The disaster: After Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) empties his RV toilet tank into the sewer, Uncle Lewis (William Hickey), whose cigar-smoking has already burned down the Christmas tree, tosses a match toward the sewer. It explodes, sending Santa and his reindeer on a voyage over town.

Could it happen? Methane gas could be present in black water from an RV toilet tank, which is definitely flammable. Certain chemicals used in this type of toilet may also be flammable; formaldehyde was previously used (illegal in many places today) and is also flammable.

Is it covered? A standard HO-3 policy covers explosions, both internal and external. That said, several levels of negligence and liability here could complicate a claim.

11. Car crash on Christmas Eve.

The movie: “The Family Stone” (2005)

The disaster: After an emotionally disastrous Christmas Eve dinner, Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker) attempts to back down the snow-covered driveway too fast just to spin out and then crash into a tree.

Could it happen? Definitely – snow-covered roads can be difficult to gain traction – that’s why drivers in cold climates should always carry kitty litter/sand for help with traction and tire chains.

Is it covered? This crash would be covered under the collision portion of your auto insurance. However, if Meredith’s boyfriend, Everett (Dermot Mulroney), only has liability coverage – unlikely since the vehicle is a luxury car – it wouldn’t be covered. If the tree was badly damaged, his property damage liability coverage might need to kick in.

12. Your son gets mad at a video game and destroys the TV.

The movie: "8-Bit Christmas" (2021)

The disaster: Spoiled Timmy Keane (Chandler Dean) becomes frustrated when his Nintendo Power Glove malfunctions and destroys the TV with a kick to the screen.

Could it happen? A kid overreacting to a video game and breaking things? Any parent knows that could happen.

Is it covered? Sorry, Timmy. The destruction of the TV was intentional, not accidental, so homeowners insurance won't cover it.

13. A Christmas gift goes very badly wrong and results in an infestation of destructive creatures.

The movie: “Gremlins” (1984)

The disaster: Don’t feed him after midnight, and don’t get him wet! After receiving a strange, adorable pet as a Christmas gift, Billy (Zach Galligan) does both, resulting in a rampage of gremlins that trashes the entire town on Christmas Eve.

Could it happen? We feel safe saying no on this one. However, there have been cases of people keeping exotic pets that have escaped and done some damage.

Is it covered? As a homeowner, you’re responsible for your kids and any pets in the household and any damage they might do. If you have exotic pets, it’s a good idea to find out if they’re covered since most home insurance policies exclude them from liability. While we’ve never seen a policy that specifically excludes gremlins running amok, we’re going to stamp this claim as denied.

While we all hope nothing remotely like a movie disaster ever happens, it’s good to know insurance is there in case you need it. So, while you’re making that list and checking it twice, make a note to yourself to check in with your insurance company once the holiday rush is over.

Sources

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