[dragonwriter]

> Probably every single word is there due to a particular legal precedent or carefully calculated risk.

Or, possibly, just a recognized incalculable risk. The frequency of natural impacts is known and not expected to be subject to rapid change; the frequency of impacts by manmade objects doesn't really have a long history of constant conditions or conditions that are not subject to change over the life of the contract.

[d1sxeyes]

Also, a man-made item crashing into your house is not really an accident - it's negligence. Someone other than your insurance company should be compensating you (probably the owner of the satellite, potentially the third party who knocked it out of the sky).

[dragonwriter]

> Also, a man-made item crashing into your house is not really an accident - it's negligence. Someone other than your insurance company should be compensating you

It's not uncommon for insurance to cover damages other people are responsible for (and in exchange assume you right to collect from those parties.)

I mean, it's not like there isn't a human liable for theft, and that's a pretty common coverage in both homeowner's and renter’s policies.

[d1sxeyes]

> I mean, it's not like there isn't a human liable for theft, and that's a pretty common coverage in both homeowner's and renter’s policies.

Good point. I guess the logic is that a burglar is unlikely to be doing particularly well for themselves in life, and so may not be able to compensate you for your loss.

[chrisseaton]

Ah right I never thought about that - it's about their ability to recover from a third party.

[frosted-flakes]

That's pretty much the only reason for auto insurance. Apart from wildlife enounters, most vehicle accidents have someone at fault.

[d1sxeyes]

Well, I guess it depends on your coverage and country, but AFAIK in most countries the legal minimum is 3rd party insurance - which pays for repairs to other vehicles in collisions you caused.