Accidental Damage vs Listed Events Insurance

What’s the Difference — and Why It Matters When You Have a Claim

When it comes to protecting your home, contents, or commercial property, not all insurance policies offer the same level of cover. One of the most important — and often misunderstood — choices is between Accidental Damage cover and Listed Events cover.

Most direct insurers (the ones you buy from online or over the phone) usually offer Listed Events only as standard. While it’s cheaper, it can also leave you exposed when something unexpected goes wrong.

Let’s break down what each cover means, and why the difference can really show up when it’s time to make a claim.

What is Listed Events Cover?

With a Listed Events policy, your insurance will only respond to specific events, or "named perils", listed in your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). These typically include:

• Fire

• Storm or lightning

• Flood (if selected)

• Theft or attempted theft

• Malicious damage or vandalism

• Earthquake

• Impact by vehicle or aircraft

• Escape of water (e.g., burst pipe)

If the damage doesn’t fall under one of these predefined events, it may not be covered.

Examples:

❌ You drop a full tin of paint onto your carpet — not a listed event. No cover.

✅ A tree falls on your roof during a storm — listed event. Covered.

Direct insurers mostly offer Listed Events as their standard, default option.

What is Accidental Damage Cover?

Accidental Damage provides broader protection. It includes everything covered under Listed Events, plus unexpected, unintended, and unforeseen damage — even if it wasn’t caused by one of the named perils.

It covers damage caused by accidents inside the home or business, such as:

• Spilling paint or wine on the floor

• Knocking over a TV

• Drilling into a pipe

• Dropping your laptop or phone

• Damage from children or pets (in many cases)

 Examples:

✅Your child accidentally knocks your TV off the cabinet — covered.

✅ You trip and spill red wine over your lounge — covered.

It’s ideal for homeowners, landlords, or businesses who want peace of mind for those unexpected mishaps that don’t fall under the "big events" category.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Listed Events	Accidental Damage
Covers storm, fire, theft	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Covers ‘specified’ events only	✅ Only those listed in the policy	✅ All listed events, plus accidental damage
Covers unexpected accidents	❌ No	✅ Yes
Available through brokers	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Standard cover with direct insurers	✅ Typically default cover	❌ Often not available or extra cost
Price comparison	💲 Lower cost but limited cover	💲💲 Slightly higher, but broader cover

So Why Choose Accidental Damage?

If you’re dealing with a direct insurer and only have Listed Events cover:

• You may not be covered for unexpected accidents

• You might assume you’re protected when you’re not

• At claim time, this can lead to reduced payouts or declined claims

Having Accidental Damage cover means you won’t need to worry so much about how the damage occurred — you'll just know you're covered for most situations, even if they weren’t specifically listed.

How Your Broker Helps

As brokers, we work with insurers that offer both options — and we’ll help you:

• Understand which policies offer accidental damage by default

• Tailor your cover to reflect your risks and lifestyle

• Make sure you’re not unknowingly underinsured

• Review the fine print and remove the guesswork

We're here to explain the differences and recommend the right level of cover for your home or business — not just the cheapest one.