Impact damage claims: Northern Ireland claims

Damage to household and commercial buildings, and their contents, by impact Incidents.

The most common impact damage involves destruction to domestic or commercial buildings, including houses and businesses such as factories, warehouses, offices or their contents by a third party or the insureds own vehicle. Impact damage caused by forklift trucks within and around commercial premises is also not very common.

Impact damage insurance claims to buildings can range from cosmetic cracking on walls or to complete or partial demolition of the structure. Dependent on the circumstances a recovery of the ultimate outlay can be pursued against responsible third parties.

Immediately following impact damage to buildings or other property Premier Property Claims Loss Assessors will act as your expert claims advisor and will offer guidance and assistance with the arrangement of emergency repairs to make the building safe and watertight and to ensure that mains services are safely terminated or resumed. We assist all our clients by preparing a schedule of the loss, discussing any appropriate salvaging measures, and finally presenting your insurance claim in a professional manner and negotiating settlement with insurers or their loss adjusters on your behalf.

Impact damage that may initially appear to be minor can still affect the structural integrity or performance of a building. Premier Property Claims has vast and extensive experience of these impact damage insurance matters. When appropriate our claims handling service includes the engagement of associated structural engineers and other experts and advisors to comment on the cause and extent of damage and to offer their expert opinion on remedial works required.

Your insurance company is likely to appoint a Loss Adjuster or claims handler to deal with your claim but this is to protect their own interests. These representatives operate under heavy workloads and your claim may not be given the focus it deserves. Adjusters and Insurance Claims Inspectors do not prepare your claim, they adjust the claim you submit. Other expenses may be recoverable of which you are unaware. If you prematurely agree a claim with insurers it may be too late for them to subsequently reconsider additional items.

Insurance policy wordings are complex and difficult for a policyholder to understand and an insurer or their representative have the advantage, and will often attempt to construe the policy wording in their favour. As your dedicated Public Loss Assessor, we understand policy wordings and have the knowledge and experience to redress the balance and ensure that your insurance claim is given the fullest and fairest consideration it deserves.

It is therefore essential that you are suitably (Who are FCA Regulated) represented by your own professional Loss Assessor as soon as possible after an impact incident is discovered to ensure the claim is properly and accurately presented and you receive the maximum benefit under the policy.