Q

Our insured borrowed a barbeque grill from a friend. He loaded it in the back of his pickup to return it. On the way, the grill bounced out of the pickup and was damaged.

We think there is coverage under the section II additional coverage of $500 for damage to property of others caused by an insured. The company is denying coverage based on the exclusion for damage arising out of “the ownership, maintenance, or use of aircraft, watercraft or motor vehicles.”

We interpret the exclusion to mean that items in a vehicle are covered but the vehicle itself is not covered.

Maryland Subscriber

A

While damage to property of others would cover your insured's liability for damage to his friend's grill under many circumstances, this is not one of those times. The insured damaged the grill while transporting it in his pickup truck.  His liability, therefore, arises out of the “ownership, maintenance, or use” of a motor vehicle. Not all of the section II exclusions apply to the coverage for “damage to property of others;” however, the motor vehicle exclusion does apply. The insurer was correct in denying the claim.

Note that the owner of the grill may look to his homeowners policy for coverage for the loss. The grill suffered vehicle damage.