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Bad weather vs good insurance
By Werner Bosman , CEO , Short-Term Insurance at PPS
Recent extreme weather , including sustained torrential rains in many parts of the country , has left a trail of devastation in its wake . The first reaction of many people impacted by these events would be “ will my insurance pay ?”
Extreme weather conditions , such as was seen recently in KwaZulu- Natal , is , however , not the only cause of property damage . Due to the already crumbling infrastructure of our roads , sometimes very little rain is needed for new potholes to appear . Consequently , an excessive number of potholes and uneven surfaces have become the biggest bugbear for motorists on South African roads , leaving them out of pocket because of tyre , wheel suspension and other related damages .
Add to this the impact of heavy rains and hailstorms on properties , and consumers can find themselves facing damage to not just vehicles , but also property and other assets . We have seen how homes and warehouses were washed away recently in KwaZulu- Natal . Even more worryingly , is that similar weather might in future cause havoc in the province , and elsewhere , in future .
Insurance policyholders are concerned about whether they are covered for these natural disasters .
Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when submitting an insurance claim :
Potholes
Although the process can be complex and time-consuming in certain municipalities , if a car is damaged by a pothole on a national or municipal road , a claim can be made against SANRAL or the relevant municipality . The claimant would have to prove that the damage was caused by a specific pothole by , for example , submitting photographs and a police affidavit . Another option available to motorists is to claim from their insurance . However , it is not permissible to claim from both an insurer and municipality at the same time for the same incident .
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