This is how insurance pays for storm damage
Created: 02/21/2022, 10:48 am
Anyone affected by storm damage should record the extent with appropriate photos or videos.
© Nicolas Armer/dpa/dpa-tmn
"Ylenia", "Zeynep" and "Antonia": Germany was pretty badly hit by storms.
Anyone who has not yet reported their damage to the insurance company should do so as soon as possible.
And only then clean up.
Berlin - Storm damage to houses is usually covered by insurance.
Homeowners insurance covers the cost of damage to the home, such as a covered roof, broken chimney, or similar damage to outbuildings such as the garage.
A household contents insurance is responsible for the facility.
The General Association of the German Insurance Industry (GDV) points this out.
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Prerequisite for the performance of the insurance:
It must have been a storm event - for this you need at least wind force eight.
This corresponds to a wind speed of 62 kilometers per hour.
The consumer center NRW refers to insurance conditions, according to which an official storm warning or damage to other houses in the neighborhood is sufficient as proof.
Important to note:
Insurance cover is often not sufficient for damage caused by heavy rain.
This usually requires an extension of the insurance cover to include natural hazards.
As a supplement to the household contents or residential building policy, what is known as elementary damage insurance is taken out.
How do I proceed?
Now you have to act immediately:
damage must be reported to the insurance company immediately.
They will then tell you whether you can contact a craftsman directly or whether the insurance company will first send an appraiser.
Also, no rubbish should be thrown away until the insurance company agrees.
Those affected should also document the damage with photos or videos in as much detail as possible.
The GDV also advises collecting purchase receipts.
These documents usually make it easier to settle claims.
Important:
Insured persons must also keep the damage as low as possible.
This means that waiting for a reaction from the insurance company should not result in any consequential damage, according to the GDV.
Therefore, those affected must take direct action: for example, to temporarily close broken windows so that no rainwater penetrates into the house and ruins furniture.
Branches, roof tiles and the like should also be cleared away.
This is referred to as the obligation to mitigate damages.
dpa