Question

Strong winds have torn a hole in Janet's roof. On top of that, heavy rain is expected in her area in the next few days. Figuring it would simply be too much effort to put a tarp over the hole in her roof, Janet elects to do nothing. The rains come and destroy several of her possessions inside her home. Janet files a claim with her insurer for the losses, but it comes back denied. This is because:

Answer 1

Janet's insurance claim was likely denied because she didn't take reasonable steps to prevent further damage to her property, a condition typically required for coverage.

Step-by-step explanation:

Janet files a claim with her insurer for the losses, but it comes back denied. This is most likely because the insurance policy includes a clause that requires the policyholder to take reasonable steps to mitigate or prevent further damage. Since Janet chose not to cover the hole in her roof despite being aware of the impending heavy rain, the insurer could argue that she failed to act prudently to protect her property from predictable damage, which is often a condition for coverage. This is akin to the concept of negligence, where a failure to take reasonable care results in loss or damage. Janet's inaction could be seen as a form of neglect that led to the destruction of her possessions.