The natural hazard insurance in the focus of current events.
In view of the increasing number of natural disasters, especially the current heavy rain, the damage caused by natural forces to house and yard is increasing, and with it the arguments and discussions regarding the payments to be made by the insurance companies to the injured party. Insurers often try to shirk their responsibility with questionable arguments. After all, it is about insurance benefits in the billions. Attorney and specialist lawyer Ralf Buerger from Hagen advises: “Assert your claims, with the necessary emphasis, with the help of a lawyer against the insurance company on an equal footing.”
Which damages are regularly insured?
The following risks are regularly insured in natural hazard insurance:
- Flooding / flooding, e.g. due to heavy rain or backwater (sewer system)
- earthquake
- Avalanches
- Subsidence
- Snow pressure (but not the damage from melting snow)
- Volcanic eruption
Running water is not a flood in the sense of the insurance conditions, see Regional Court Dortmund (judgment of July 4, 2012, Az. 2 O 452/11).
According to the understanding of the average policyholder, a flood or inundation of the ground is present when considerable amounts of water accumulate on the surface of the site, see BGH, judgment of April 20, 2005 – IV ZR 252/03.
The OLG Celle (VersR 1979, 178) and the OLG Hamm (VersR 1992, 1506) define flooding, taking into account a decision of the Federal Court of Justice (VersR 1964, 712): “That water does not flow off in the normal way, but on otherwise unused areas appear and flood them.
These damages do not count as natural hazards, but are covered by the building insurance?
These include, for example, damage caused by fire, lightning strikes, storms or hail and tap water.
What does the natural hazard insurance replace?
In connection with household insurance The natural hazard insurance covers all damage that occurs within the house or apartment moving parts of the inventory and were caused by one of the above-mentioned forces of nature.
As part of building insurancethe insurance bears the costs for repairs in and on the house. This also includes ancillary buildings expressly mentioned in the policy (e.g. garage, garden shed or a shed) The costs that are covered by the insurance include, for example:
- the drainage of the building including subsequent renovation
- the eventual demolition of the house and the construction of an equivalent building.
The newer insurance policies no longer speak of natural hazard insurance but of natural hazard protection. What is meant in both cases is insurance cover against natural disasters on or in the house.
What should be considered when settling the damage?
Regulation is often about large sums of money. Insurance companies sometimes delay the payment or, in the worst case, do not pay at all or pay less than you are entitled to. We advise you on what to consider when settling a claim.
We will help you professionally in asserting your justified claims against the insurance company, drawing on our more than 30 years of experience! As a person affected, trust in our competence. Expensive and lengthy processes can often be avoided with prior advice! We are happy to help you!
Your contact person:
Lawyer and specialist lawyer Ralf Buerger in Hagen, Tel .: 02331/961600
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