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 insurance in such situations?
At CAA-Quebec, insurance claims have already started pouring in overnight from Wednesday to Thursday in connection with the latest weather events. 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, the repair of damage caused by falling objects will be reimbursed if you have full coverage. If your private insurance includes non-collision damage or all-perils coverage, you should be covered. This is the case for the majority of owners, says Ms. Michaud. On the other hand, if you only have compulsory civil liability insurance, you will probably have to take the 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, said Thursday the spokesperson for the City Philippe Sabourin. However, it must be possible to prove that the material damage is related to a fault on the part of the municipality.
home insurance
In the case of an attack on a house, it is first necessary to ensure that everyone is safe and to take measures if necessary to prevent the damage from worsening, indicates the director of communications and public affairs for the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), Pierre Babinsky. After capturing photos or videos and contacting your insurer, a claims adjuster could 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 could however exercise a civil liability action against it. “For example, if the tree was rotten, the neighbor knew about 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 the BAC spokesperson.
If your home is uninhabitable during the work, the insurer may have to pay for additional living expenses, such as hotel and meals. Mr. Babinsky therefore advises keeping your invoices in this regard.
In the event of a power outage, food lost in refrigerators can usually also be reimbursed.
Franchises
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 Mr. Babinsky.
“By talking to your insurer, you can see if it’s worth making a claim. If you lost $500 worth of gears and the deductible is $300, maybe that’s not the case,” says Babinsky.
Risks of water infiltration
On the other hand, Suzanne Michaud is concerned about possible cases of flooding in residences related to power outages. “Many residences have submersible pumps, which run on electricity. At this time of year, with the melting snow, water infiltration can do damage,” she believes. She therefore advises people who face this risk to shelter objects that could be damaged.
However, coverage against water damage is generally optional in home insurance contracts.
Premium increase
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.
The BAC spokesperson stresses, however, that the insured has the obligation to declare any loss, 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. Events such as the ice storm are therefore likely to increase, in a fairly generalized way, insurance premiums in the coming years, judge Mr. Babinsky.
Treatment delays
Given the large number of requests that could overwhelm insurers in Quebec in the coming days, can we expect significant processing delays? Neither Mr. Babinsky nor Mrs. Michaud are worried about it. They believe that resources will be deployed to respond quickly to customers. On the other hand, if major work has to be done, requiring the contribution of construction contractors, it will potentially be necessary to be patient. The latter are already very busy and will possibly be more so this spring.
With Zacharie Goudreault