The weather is messy… Now it’s raining, now the sun is coming out. One day it seems like we left Winterfell and the next we almost have to look for the bikini in the closet. This means that accidents can occur in a car without even having driven it. For this reason, it is vital to know how claims are made for claims caused by natural disasters. We must be prepared!
The lucky ones who have their car fully insured can forget about this article, but if you are among those of us who insure third parties (like the majority of the Spanish vehicle fleet) and suffer the consequences of some of the various natural disasters, then prepare to know the details of compensation for this type of damage since your insurance does not cover any natural phenomenon unless you have including an extension to collect it expressly.
The Insurance Compensation Consortium is responsible for covering spills caused by certain natural phenomena such as floods, earthquakes, tidal waves, volcanic eruptions, atypical cyclonic storms (tornadoes and winds with gusts exceeding 120 km/h) and falls. of sidereal bodies and aerolites.
However, the Consortium does not cover damage resulting from rain on the car, hail, the weight of snow, nor the accidental fall of a tree (since it is the responsibility of the owner of the land). Of course, if your third-party car was located in an area that the Government declares catastrophic, it will be the one that can compensate you.
For its part, in Spain floods are the ones that affect the most to our cars, so they are processed to the insurance company in the same way as other claims. And in the event that the Consortium takes over, you must meet these prerequisites: have contracted your own damage insurance and be up to date with the payment of the policy premium receipt.
Daring people enjoy roads over water, whether frozen or not, but the less risky ones play it safe. And the best thing is to be prepared for any adverse circumstance that we may encounter on the road, so you should not forget the ten tips for driving in wind or knowing how to drive in snow.
How to claim from the Compensation Consortium?
If you have paid the corresponding charge for damages from natural phenomena, to claim you must present the following documentation:
- Request compensation for material damage through your telephone number (902 222 665) or through online format by filling out the official request.
- Present a photocopy of your DNI, the General and Particular Conditions of your policy, and a receipt for payment of the current premium.
- Prove the damage suffered with photos, the workshop’s estimate and other documents that help certify the catastrophe.
When the Consortium validates all the information, it will contact you to establish an appointment with an expert in a workshop who can give approval, also indicating the method of payment.
You should also know that the Consortium requires a minimum grace period to proceed with compensation, so at least seven days must elapse from the date of issue of the policy or from the date of its effect.
On the other hand, if the cost of the repair is high, the most normal thing is for the Consortium to declare your vehicle a total loss and compensate you with the market value, that is, the market value.
Likewise, the Consortium has a compensation regime for losses arising from extraordinary events that occur in Spain, so if you are abroad and suffer one of these damages, you should know that the Consortium only takes responsibility if your insurer is in our country.
