Accidents in everyday life: insurance intervention

Verified 17 September 2020 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Small everyday accidents (breakage of a valuable object, broken glass, injury) are sometimes covered by insurance. Damage you cause to another person or their property may be covered by the civil liability guarantee. The damage you cause yourself or someone else causes you may be covered by the life accident guarantee. If you have taken these guarantees, you must declare claims to the insurance and prepare proof.

The common disaster is a common accident. Example: Accidental breakage of an object.

This is damage that you cause to a third party or yourself, or damage that someone else causes to you.

Damage caused by you or by persons for whom you are responsible (such as your children or guests) may be covered by the civil liability guarantee. This warranty is not mandatory and you will only be compensated if you have purchased the warranty.

Damage that you or someone else has caused to you may be covered by the life-injury guarantee (LVG). This warranty is not mandatory either, and you will only be compensated if you have purchased the warranty.

FYI  

you can take out civil liability and accident of life guarantees in your home insurance contract, for example by taking the formula multi-risk housing.

When a claim occurs, you must notify your insurer within the time limit set out in the contract. This period is freely set by insurance companies, but it must be at least 5 working days, except in the case of theft, where it must be a minimum of 2 working days.

You can notify the insurer yourself or ask a third party to do it for you (the broker who manages your contract, for example).

The details of the insurer and broker are recalled on the receipts or in the contract.

The declaration can be made by telephone or by going directly to the insurer's agency.

FYI  

some insurers also allow you to report online. Check this possibility on their website.

If you can't do it online, it's best to send a return by mail, preferably by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, to your insurer. Optionally, provide your insurance agent or broker with a copy of this letter.

The following items must be indicated in the mail:

  • Contact details (name, address)
  • Number of your insurance contract
  • Description of the claim (nature, date, time, place)
  • Estimated condition of destroyed or deteriorated furniture and articles
  • Description of damage (material or personal injury, importance)
  • List of damage caused to third parties (e.g. if a water leak in your home caused damage to your neighbors)
  • Victim contact information, if available

You must prove that you have suffered the damage you have declared.

It is therefore necessary to collect everything that can justify the value of the goods: invoices, guarantee vouchers, photographs of valuables.

You must also keep deteriorated objects and have the premises refurbished and quoted.

Expertise is not always required.

However, the insurance business may to appoint an expert to verify the circumstances of the claim and assess the damage you have suffered.

You have the option of asking for a second opinion.

If the expertise or counter-expertise reveals that you have made false statements, the insurer may refuse to compensate you. Indeed, most contracts provide for a loss of guarantee clause in the event of false declarations by the insured.