Selective Insurance Social
  • Business
  • Auto
  • Home
  • Digital Toolbox
    • LinkedIn Best Practices
  • Flood
    • Hurricane Preparedness
  • Infographics
  • Prep Guides
    • Coronavirus Information
    • Spring Maintenance Guide
    • Fire Prevention & Safety
    • Winter Preparation For Your Home
    • Winter Preparation For Your Business
    • Winter Preparation For Your Vehicle
    • Hurricane Preparation

Why Kevin McCallister Wasn't Covered By Liability Insurance

12/1/2017

 
Share this article:
Why Kevin McCallister Wasn't Covered By Liability Insurance
One of the most beloved holiday movies of all time is "Home Alone," and the protagonist, Kevin McCallister, is certainly an iconic character in the hearts and minds of viewers. The whimsical, yet sometimes aggressive plot of the movie yields plenty of lessons from a parenting perspective. But consider the repercussions regarding home ownership and insurance.

Unfortunately, with all of the stunts Kevin McCallister pulled, he and his absent family would not have been covered by liability insurance, at least not in their home state of Illinois.

Coal for the McCallisters
One might think that the "wet bandits" Harry and Marv, portrayed by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern respectively, would be completely in the wrong given the fact that they were trying to break into a home and unwittingly encountered a very resourceful child who defended himself. However, in spite of Kevin’s youth – and his seemingly justifiable position when he terrorized Harry and Marv to protect his home, he is acting in such a way that could nullify any protection through liability insurance. 

As AllLaw.com, a website devoted to legal matters, explains, Harry and Marv actually could have sued the McCallisters for the immense range of injuries they suffered, and the family would have had to pay up. In the words of the website:

"In most states, property owners must refrain from engaging in willful and wanton conduct that causes injuries to trespassers." 

So, because Kevin was operating in a willful fashion to injure the intruders, he would almost certainly be liable for their injuries. While this exception does not pertain to all states and insurance policies, the Staver Law Group, an Illinois-based legal firm, explains that Chicago and its suburbs, including Kevin's village, does. If you have liability insurance, you will want to ensure that you understand the implications related to trespassers.

Lessons learned
Simply put, you should never create hazards that would injure or even kill trespassers. You can and often will be held accountable for their injuries, despite the fact that you are trying to protect your home and they are trying to steal from it or damage it. It is a strange, yet common exception in homeowner liability insurance. But it’s an important one to deter individuals from purposefully causing harm rather than simply calling the police. 

Make sure you understand the entirety of your liability coverage within your homeowner's policy, and never take law enforcement matters into your own hands.

Related Articles

Here are some tips and resources to prepare your home for winter.
PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR WINTER
As the holidays come to a close, it is important to assess the value of your gifts received and consider insuring any big ticket items.
INSURING NEW JEWELRY & OTHER BIG-TICKET ITEMS
​As most everything can be done on a smartphone, it should be no surprise there is now a proverbial universe of apps available that allow you to control various elements of your house.
SHOULD YOU CONNECT YOUR HOME TO YOUR PHONE?


Comments are closed.

    Categories

    All
    Auto
    Business
    Flood
    Home

Picture
© 2020 Selective Insurance Group, Inc.
User Agreement
​Community Guidelines
​
AdChoices
CCPA Request 
Privacy
Contact
Visit our main web site at: selective.com or follow us:

© 2020 Selective Ins. Group, Inc., Branchville, NJ. Products vary by jurisdiction, terms, and conditions and are provided by Selective Ins. Co. of America and its insurer affiliates.
Details at selective.com/about/affiliated-insurers.aspx
Picture
Picture
  • Business
  • Auto
  • Home
  • Digital Toolbox
    • LinkedIn Best Practices
  • Flood
    • Hurricane Preparedness
  • Infographics
  • Prep Guides
    • Coronavirus Information
    • Spring Maintenance Guide
    • Fire Prevention & Safety
    • Winter Preparation For Your Home
    • Winter Preparation For Your Business
    • Winter Preparation For Your Vehicle
    • Hurricane Preparation