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Victorian floods - insurance rights

 

For business claims
For farm claims
What should I do?
Submit a claim to your insurance company. Be as detailed as possible and take photos that show the state of your property and contents. Take time to prepare a full list of all the items lost or damaged. Make a copy of any claim you submit.
You don't have to prove whether the damage was caused by a storm or a flood, this is up to your insurer.
What happens next?
Insurance companies will be processing many claims for the floods, so your claim may take a little while, but insurers must fast track your claim if you are in urgent financial need. If you haven't heard from your insurer within 3 weeks of submitting your claim, you should complain in writing to the company. Hopefully your claim will be paid in full, however, if this doesn't happen, you have the right to appeal.
What are my legal rights?
If your insurance claim is rejected or you feel you have been treated unfairly, you can:
• appeal to your insurance company to reconsider its decision (each company will have its own appeals process, so check their website or call the company)
• take your claim to the Financial Ombudsman Service (1800 337 444)
• seek legal advice.
Who provides legal advice?
You can talk to representatives from:
• Legal Aid Victoria including at community flood recovery centres (1300 888 529)
• Insurance Law Service (1300 663 464)
• Maurice Blackburn.
Legal Aid Victoria and the Consumer Action Law centre provide free advice regarding your rights.
Maurice Blackburn has the largest plaintiff insurance practice in Australia and ran the leading flood insurance case. We have offices throughout New South Wales and offer free no obligation advice over the phone on insurance issues and will do your case no win no charge (conditions apply).

See below for fact sheets to help you understand your legal rights:

For residential claims

For business claims

For farm claims

What should I do?

Submit a claim to your insurance company. Be as detailed as possible and take photos that show the state of your property and contents. Take time to prepare a full list of all the items lost or damaged. Make a copy of any claim you submit.

You don't have to prove whether the damage was caused by a storm or a flood, this is up to your insurer.

What happens next?

Insurance companies will be processing many claims for the floods, so your claim may take a little while, but insurers must fast track your claim if you are in urgent financial need. If you haven't heard from your insurer within 3 weeks of submitting your claim, you should complain in writing to the company. Hopefully your claim will be paid in full, however, if this doesn't happen, you have the right to appeal.

What are my legal rights?

If your insurance claim is rejected or you feel you have been treated unfairly, you can:

• appeal to your insurance company to reconsider its decision (each company will have its own appeals process, so check their website or call the company)

• take your claim to the Financial Ombudsman Service (1800 337 444)

• seek legal advice.

Who provides legal advice?

You can talk to representatives from:

• Legal Aid Victoria including at community flood recovery centres (1300 888 529)

• Insurance Law Service (1300 663 464)

• Maurice Blackburn.

Legal Aid Victoria and the Consumer Action Law centre provide free advice regarding your rights.

Maurice Blackburn has the largest plaintiff insurance practice in Australia and ran the leading flood insurance case. We have offices throughout New South Wales and offer free no obligation advice over the phone on insurance issues and will do your case no win no charge (conditions apply).

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