The storm that hit all of Buenos Aires exceeded the usual average for all of March in a single day.
During the morning and early morning hours of Tuesday, several residents were affected by the incessant rain that found no outlet in the drains and caused fierce flooding in several areas of the AMBA.
The water not only entered a large number of houses, but also several cars that were driving or parked.
Some of their owners decided to "tie" them to trees so that they would not go with the current, others simply appeared floating.
But that's just the beginning of the problem.
Once the water recedes, what needs to be done to repair the damage? How do you know whether or not insurance covers losses caused by the flood?
Which are the steps to follow?
Consulted by
Clarín
, Mariano Pérez Torti, director of Cinalli Broker, listed and explained the procedure that anyone who finds themselves in this situation must follow.
Before delving deeper, he clarified that the first thing to keep in mind is
to see what type of insurance we have
.
Car insurance coverage
There are three main types of coverage on the market, the
basic one
is
mandatory
and the one that anyone has to have to drive their car:
civil liability
insurance .
“This covers material or physical damage caused to third parties by driving your vehicle, and exempts your own damage,” he said.
Cars affected by water in the Avellaneda flood.
Photo Martin Bonetto
“This is the insurance that the largest group of the population has.
Also,
due to the economic context, many people are turning to this coverage
and find themselves helpless in the face of events such as floods,” he added.
The next coverage that approximately
60% of people
have is
complete third party
coverage , which includes civil liability, vehicle theft, total destruction and may have
additional protections
such as theft of wheels, rear windows, windshields, glass and the of
flood
.
However, each company works on this last point differently.
“The full third-party additional, in terms of flooding, may be for the total sum insured or may have a sublimit.
With that additional, events like the ones we saw yesterday of cars floating down the streets or covered by water will cover it for you.
Until how much?
It will depend on the additional section you have in your coverage,” Pérez indicated.
The next insurance, which is the most expensive on the market, and which the smallest part of motorists have, is comprehensive
insurance
.
Which just as it says, covers anything that happens with the vehicle.
Steps to follow when the car floods
According to the director of Cinalli Broker, “the concept of the insurance industry is that the person should act as if they did not have insurance.
That is, as soon as he can rescue the vehicle and take photos.”
Photographs of the car covered by water may
show the level of damage
the car had.
The storm surprised some motorists while driving.
Photo Martin Bonetto
After that, what happened must be reported to the insurance company's insurance producer.
And, at the same time, verify if the policy that was contracted includes flood protection (whether with a limit or the total amount insured).
“While water entering the vehicle dries up and damaged parts can be repaired, some
caution should be taken with electrical components
.
At first they may function normally, but the accumulated humidity, over time, could affect them.
The recommendation of specialized personnel on this issue is important,” said Pérez.
In the event that the meteorological phenomenon occurs when the person leaves the vehicle in a parking lot and it floods, the specialist clarifies: "If I have civil liability insurance, the total damage corresponds to the garage, the vehicle guard is responsible for what What happens to my car?
The same thing happens if it happens in a workshop.
However, if it happens on public roads, only insurance can respond.”
MG