I was dry-firing what I thought was an empty Glock. Bang. The round went through my drywall and into the neighbor’s apartment, shattering their 85-inch 8K TV. Thankfully, nobody was hit. But now the neighbor and the landlord are suing me for damages and eviction. I called my CCW insurance. They said, “We don’t cover accidents.”
Key Takeaways
- Self-Defense Insurance Excludes Accidents: Companies like USCCA or CCW Safe are for defense. They explicitly exclude negligent discharges (ND). They are not liability insurance for stupidity.
- Homeowners/Renters is Your Safety Net: Surprisingly, your standard Renters or Homeowners insurance does cover this. An ND is an “occurrence” (accident). Unless you intended to shoot the TV, your personal liability coverage should pay for the damage.
- Criminal Charges: You might still be charged with “Discharging a Firearm in City Limits” or “Reckless Endangerment.” Your homeowners policy won’t pay for that criminal defense.
- Eviction: Your landlord can evict you for criminal activity or damaging the property. Insurance doesn’t stop eviction.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Criminal Act Exclusion” in Homeowners Insurance.
While Homeowners insurance covers the civil liability (the TV), they might try to deny it if the act was a “crime.” However, “negligence” is usually covered. “Recklessness” might not be.
The bigger trap is expecting your CCW Membership to pay for the TV. They won’t.
The Investigation (I Quoted Liability)
I checked with State Farm and specialized gun liability carriers.
State Farm (Renters)
- Policy: “Personal Liability.”
- Scenario: Accidental discharge damages property.
- Result: Covered. They will pay the neighbor for the TV and the landlord for the wall.
Lockton Affinity (Gun Liability)
- Policy: Specialized shooting liability.
- Scenario: ND.
- Result: Covered. This is a bridge policy often bought by instructors or competitors.
USCCA
- Result: Denied. “This was not a self-defense incident.”
Comparison Table
| Policy | Pays for Neighbor’s TV? | Pays for Criminal Defense? |
| CCW Membership | No | No (Usually excluded if negligent) |
| Renters Insurance | Yes (Liability) | No |
| Umbrella Policy | Yes | No |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Secure the Weapon: Unload and clear it immediately.
- Check on the Neighbor: Make sure no one is bleeding.
- Call the Police: You have to self-report. If the neighbor calls, it’s worse.
- File a Renters Insurance Claim: Do not call USCCA. Call your renters insurance. Admitting “I made a mistake and it went off accidentally” actually helps secure coverage here (because it proves it wasn’t intentional).
- [IMAGE: Screenshot of a renters insurance claim form selecting ‘Damage to Property of Others’]
FAQ
Will I go to jail?
Depends on the state. In a city, it’s often a misdemeanor. If the bullet hit a person, it’s a felony (Assault with a Deadly Weapon/Reckless Injury).
Can the landlord keep my security deposit?
Yes, to fix the drywall. Insurance reimburses you (or pays them directly).