Inform your insurer of damage straight away, either in writing or by phone.
Many insurance companies provide toll-free phone numbers for declaring damage or accidents and hand these reference numbers out to customers on slips the size of credit cards.
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Insurers have the right to ask for written statements on incidents declared over the phone.
- For written notification of damage, the customer is usually required to fill out certain forms which contain all necessary questions.
- Read your insurer's general conditions of insurance and your policy as a reminder of contract details.
Third party coverage:The insurer will act either as your representative or in their own name and carry out negotiations with the damaged party (details in general insurance conditions).
As an insured customer, you are obliged to support your insurance provider and not acknowledge any right to claims or provide any sort of payment directly to the party affected by damage.
Own damage claims:
Insurance companies must determine how to go about collecting evidence and proof.
- In order to avoid cutting coverage, the insurer must be given a chance to examine the damaged vehicle before repair.
- Depending on the extent of damage, the police authorities might have to be notified (usually in cases concerning theft of vehicle or personal belongings, stationary damage or acts of vandalism.
- The insurance company may also demand you file a complaint against unknown persons.
- For accidents involving animals, the driver must immediately contact either the police or gamekeeper so they can register the accident, or he must notify the owner.
Accidents:After the accident occurs, a registered physician must be consulted as soon as possible and provide necessary treatment.
The insured individual must free his/her treating doctors from patient confidentiality towards the insurance company.
In case of death, those relatives entitled to benefits must give their consent to an autopsy. This insurance coverage is supplementary to comprehensive insurance and covers damage to your parked vehicle caused by unknown third parties.
Stationary insurance is usually only available for newer vehicles and for a limited amount of time.
Many types of intended damage to your vehicle caused by third parties ( Vandalenakte) are covered by comprehensive insurance.
Stationary insurance for cars will provide additional coverage for the following acts of vandalism caused by unknown third parties:
- dents,
- damage to paintwork,
- and sometimes damage due to painting or spraying your vehicle.
For motorbikes, stationary damage is sometimes directly covered by partial cover insurance - however, in a limited amount and generally without coverage of damage to paintwork. .
Collision insurance covers stationary damage after deduction of the agreed retention.
Insurance companies usually require a police report as proof of damage.
Tip:
There is a national guarantee fund accessible to all insured customers through their motor vehicle third party insurance. Each customer pays a small contribution to this fund included in the third party premiums.
The fund will cover costs after deducting CHF 1,000.-- for retention for damage caused by unknown or uninsured vehicles as long as damage is not already covered by another insurance provider. A police report must be provided.
Phone Swiss National Guarantee Fund 0800 831 831
