A man from Salzburg drove off, leaving a window open. Burglars seized their chance and got in. That is why the insurance does not pay out anything.
A legal dispute between a Salzburg man and his insurance company shows how small things can affect claims. According to the Supreme Court, the man had taken out household contents insurance with the defendant company, which also covers the risk of burglary.
Article 5 of the contract includes the passage “Obligations of the policyholder”: It states that all doors, windows and openings “must be kept properly closed at all times”. When the man from Salzburg left his house for a week, he opened the window to the workshop on the ground floor.
The court agreed with the insurance company
There was a break-in: Strangers forced open the tilted window, unlocked the lock with a wire and got in. Inside, they broke open another metal door – it’s unclear if they took any loot.
The Salzburger filed a report, but the insurance company did not want to pay anything. Rightly so, the court ruled: the tilted window, from a legal point of view a ‘dereliction of duty’, made it easier for the perpetrators to enter. The Salzburger is now on the legal costs.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
