Roof damaged by a falling tree, windshield smashed by a large branch, flooding, loss of refrigerator contents: the damage caused by ice storms is numerous. What to expect from insurers in such situations?
At CAA-Quebec, insurance claims related to the latest weather events began pouring in overnight from Wednesday to Thursday. Many of them relate to damage to vehicles and homes, says Suzanne Michaud, vice-president of insurance for the organization. “Whether the tree fell on your house or your car, take pictures and call your insurer,” she advises straight away.
In the case of automobiles, repairs for damage caused by falling objects will be reimbursed if you have full coverage. If your private insurance includes non-collision damage or comprehensive coverage, you should be covered. This is the case for the majority of owners, believes Mme Michaud. On the other hand, if you only have compulsory civil liability insurance, you will probably have to take money out of your pocket.
In addition, if a tree in the public domain falls on a vehicle, it is possible to file a claim with the City of Montreal, municipal spokesperson Philippe Sabourin said Thursday. However, it must be possible to prove that the material damage is linked to a fault committed by the City.
home insurance
In the case of a breach in a home, it must first ensure that everyone is safe and, if necessary, take measures to prevent the damage from getting worse, says the director of communications and Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) Public Affairs, Pierre Babinsky. Once the owner has taken pictures or videos and contacted his insurer, a claims adjuster might be dispatched to the scene.
This type of incident is covered by most basic home insurance policies, according to Babinsky. “Whether it’s a tree, a pole, a vehicle that enters our property or the neighbor’s barbecue, it will be protected,” he explains.
The insurer’s responsibility is to restore the property to its original condition. If he has to move a tree, it will be done. If the object in question is the responsibility of a third party and the insurer judges that there has been negligence on its part, it might however exercise a civil liability action once morest it. “For example, if the tree was rotten, the neighbor knew regarding it and he never took care of it,” says Babinsky. On the other hand, if an icy tree fell on your property without causing damage, there is little chance that you can be compensated for its pruning, according to him.
If your home is uninhabitable during the work, the insurer may have to pay for additional living expenses, such as hotel and meals. The BAC spokesperson therefore advises policyholders to keep their invoices in this sense.
In the event of a power outage, lost refrigerated and frozen food can usually also be part of the claims.
Risks of water infiltration
In addition, Suzanne Michaud, of CAA-Quebec, expressed concern regarding possible cases of flooding in residences in connection with power outages.
“Many homes have submersible pumps that run on electricity. At this time of year, with the melting snow, water infiltration can do damage,” she notes. She therefore advises people who face this risk to shelter objects that might be damaged.
Especially since protection once morest water damage is generally optional in home insurance contracts.
Deductibles and premium increases
Most insurance, whether car or home, comes with deductibles, that is to say amounts up to which the insured must pay himself. In housing, they generally range from $300 to $1,000, assesses Pierre Babinsky. “By talking to your insurer, you can see if it’s worth making a claim. If you lost $500 worth of groceries and the deductible is $300, maybe that’s not the case,” says the BAC spokesperson.
Are claims likely to increase premiums? It depends on the circumstances and the amount requested, says Mr. Babinsky. This is especially likely if you have made other claims in recent years. However, he emphasizes that the insured has the obligation to report any claim, even if he chooses not to make a claim.
More generally, it should be noted that natural disasters are costing Canadian insurance companies more and more. Phenomena such as the ice storm are therefore likely to cause insurance premiums to increase quite generally in the coming years, judge Pierre Babinsky.
Treatment delays
Given the large number of requests that might overwhelm insurers in Quebec in the coming days, can we expect significant processing delays? Neither Mr. Babinsky nor Mr.me Michaud don’t worry regarding it. They believe that resources will be deployed to respond quickly to customers.
On the other hand, if major work requiring the contribution of construction contractors must be done, it will probably be necessary to be patient: they are already very busy and will possibly be more so this spring.
With Zacharie Goudreault
