Photo by Tiago Rodrigues
Torontonians are often fortunate when it comes to avoiding natural disasters. Surrounded by Ontario’s agricultural Greenbelt, the GTA is not at risk of forest fires, and hurricanes are once-in-a-lifetime events.
However, owning a home in the city comes with its own unique risks, including house fires, heavy rain that can lead to water damage and sewer backups, heavy snowfall and ice storms, and damage caused by neighbours or problems on their property.
The city also expects events like heavy rainfall and flooding to become more common. At the same time, there is always an uptick in fire incidents during the winter due to increased heating and cooking accidents around the holidays.
1) Major Fires and Total Loss
In the case of a major fire or the total loss of your home, consider proceeding with the help of an insurance lawyer or public adjuster in Toronto.
Both insurance lawyers and public adjusters work with you on your insurance claim. They advocate for you and help you negotiate with the insurance company, as well as assist with paperwork and living up to your responsibilities in the course of your claim. They can help you form cohesive arguments when the insurer’s demands seem unreasonable, and they are often critical to securing a settlement that accurately reflects the full value of your loss. .
2) Smaller Claims and Losses
Minor damage to your home is a regular part of homeownership. From leaks in the roof to wind damaging your gutters, something is bound to happen eventually.
The important thing to know when it comes to this damage is when it is appropriate to make a claim at all and when you should accept that you are going to have to pay for it yourself.
The first thing to consider is your deductible, which is the amount you pay before the insurance coverage kicks in. If the cost to repair the damage is less than your deductible, it makes sense to skip making a claim, even if you do inform the insurance company about it.
You should also avoid making claims on projects that are basic home maintenance. While replacing your roof can be an expensive endeavor, it is part of basic maintenance. The insurer may even deny a claim if your roof has been neglected.
3) Sewer Backup Damage
Sewer backup damage is increasingly a problem in Toronto. Heavy rainfall can quickly overwhelm the city’s infrastructure in places where the sewer system collects both sewage and stormwater. Sewer backup damage can quickly run the wrong way through pipes and end up in your basement.
If you have sewer backup coverage, your insurance should help you clean up and replace belongings, but it is not standard coverage in all insurance policies. You should check your policy to see if this is included or if you can add it to your policy if you worry the risk of this type of loss occurring where you live.
You may also be able to file a claim against the city as a result of flood damage if the damage is the result of the municipality’s lack of maintenance. However, these claims are not always successful and can be difficult to prove.
4) Third-Party Liability
In Toronto, third-party liability can be quite a hazard, especially in condo buildings and row or townhouses that are built adjoining each other.
Whenever there is property damage that begins on someone else’s property, third-party liability becomes a factor. In cases like these, it can help to hire an insurance lawyer rather than a public adjuster because an insurance lawyer can help you with the legal aspects of the claim, including pursuing the party responsible for damages.
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