Q

Our HO-3 insured has a riding lawn mower. One day, while mowing his yard, which slopes, the mower got out of control, tipped over, and was damaged. We think this loss should be covered, but the insurer disagrees. What is your opinion?

Iowa Subscriber

A

We agree that the loss is covered. The peril causing the loss is “vehicles.” The mower was the source of its own loss. Although many persons think that the “vehicles” peril refers only to damage caused to other property, as when, say, a vehicle runs over a bicycle, there is no restrictive, limiting, or otherwise defining language following the peril of “vehicles.”

If the coverage were to be restricted, “vehicles” would be followed by something on the order of “However, we do not cover damage to the vehicle itself,” as does the peril of “falling objects.”  But since the peril stands as one word, the insured is entitled to a broad reading of the peril.