Claims Assistance - Edge Insurance Brokers

Overview of our Claims Services

Edge’s role extends beyond designing and obtaining the right insurance policy and placing it at a competitive price, to efficient claims handling and management services which is of paramount importance to our clients. This is when we, as a broker, really prove our worth.

We will take the lead to help you manage your insurance claim from initial notification to the insurer until final settlement, ensuring that claims are settled promptly, fairly and in accordance with the provisions of the applicable insurance policy. We will negotiate with the insurer on your behalf to get the maximum benefits you are entitled to under the policy.

Our philosophy is to act as your advocate throughout the life of a claim, and by using our expertise, market knowledge, and relationships, achieve favorable claim resolutions whilst minimizing disputes and conflicts often associated with insurance claims, ultimately ensuring your interests are fully protected.

When you turn to us following a loss, you can rest assured we will respond with the same degree of urgency and high level of proficiency and dedication that we demonstrated when negotiating the original placement.

Our value-added claims service mainly includes:

Forwarding to Insurers any information received from you regarding a claim or an incident that may give rise to a claim.
We recognize the reputational and financial implications of a claim on a business, and therefore, we ensure this process is proactively managed, with active and clear communication being key, from first notification onwards.
We will provide advice on individual claims including the application of policy cover, the nature of extent of information required to progress a claim and actions you should take to mitigate your loss.
We will assist you with the preparation of the submission of the required claim documentation.
We will promptly communicate any information, comments or advices received from Insurers in relation to the claim
We will diligently pursue settlement and assist in negotiations with insurers including attendance at meetings with them, loss adjusters, law firms and other parties in connection with the claim, in order to secure the fullest recovery possible within the terms, conditions and limitations of the insurance policy.
Where possible, we will analyze loss statistics and identify trends to assist you in future loss prevention and the more effective management of risk.

Claim Responsibilities – What you need to do

Every insurance policy has claims conditions that impose certain requirements. A failure to meet these can lead to problems obtaining a full settlement or, in some cases, getting any payment at all. Your basic responsibilities where a claim or accident reporting incident arises are:

Do Not Delay

Immediately notify us, as your insurance broker, by telephone, facsimile or email, as soon as possible following an incident against which you wish to make a claim. Please carefully consider any claims reporting instructions and time limits Insurers provide to you because failure to report a claim in a proper and timely manner may jeopardize coverage of the claim.

Take all reasonable steps to minimize the loss

It is a condition of most, if not all policies that a policyholder should immediately take all reasonable and necessary actions to mitigate the loss and prevent any further damage to the remainder of your property – you must in effect, act as if uninsured. For example, premises must be secured or boarded up as quickly as possible in the event of damage to windows or doors.

Advise the authorities, where appropriate

Call the Fire Brigade, Ambulance, Police or other appropriate Emergency Service. If you fail to notify the relevant authorities, then you could prejudice your claim.

Recording of events

Write down everything that has happened with regards to the incident. This type of information will not only be required when you notify the police (where appropriate) but will also be needed when you notify your insurer or ourselves of an incident against which you wish to make a claim. Immediately identify and obtain details of all employees and/or witnesses who were on the spot at the time of the occurrence

Conduct of Repair Work

With regard to physical damage losses, unless an emergency, do not undertake repairs to property until first discussed with us, the Insurer or the appointed Loss Adjuster. In the event of urgent remedial steps being required, keep accurate records and sketches / photographs or video recording to prevent later disagreements as to the extent of the remedial measures that were necessary.

Co-operate with us and/or your insurer in any investigation including the supply of supporting evidence

Keep full and accurate notes, records, photos or video of your property prior to and after a risk incident occurring can be a useful way to provide supporting evidence. Complete all claims documentation (where applicable) as soon as practicable and forward to Edge Insurance Brokers together with any supporting documents requested. Please respond promptly to any communication you receive from Insurers or our office and be sure to cooperate fully with any request throughout the course of clam investigation.

Disposal of damaged articles

Damaged property and other relevant evidence must be preserved for Insurer’s consideration. Do not throw anything away until the Insurance company has inspected it and/or authorized its disposal.

Do not admit Liability

For liability claims, whatever the circumstances of the incident, make no statement to admit liability, even if you think you are at fault.

We understand you need to file a claim, and we’re here to help.

We’ll ask for some brief information about what happened.

You’ll have the opportunity to provide additional information, such as photos, documents, and police report.

A claim representative will be in touch after you file your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Quickly find out if we’ve already addressed your query.

When I report my claim, what information do I need?

When reporting a claim, it’s helpful if you have the following:

• Your policy number
• The date the loss occurred
• The address of the loss location
• A brief description of the loss
• The contact information for any other parties involved

We would like to remind you of your obligation to notify claims promptly and to disclose all material facts and advise subsequent developments as soon as possible

How long will it take to settle my claim?

Every claim is unique, and the length of the claim process depends on a number of factors, including receipt of any documentation required to assess your claim, whether or not a Loss Adjuster is required to fully assess your damages, and whether any coverage questions exist and require additional investigation. In all scenarios, our goal is to provide you with prompt, efficient and accurate claim handling. We will make every effort and take every step necessary to ensure prompt and fair settlement.

Where can I send documents related to my claim?

You may forward your documents to us by email, mail or fax. Be sure to include your claim number on any documents you send.

How do I get my deductible back if I was not at fault for the damage to my property?

Your business could be responsible for paying for claims or lawsuits on your own. These expenses could be in the form of damages to third parties, legal defense costs, replacement of uninsured property, among many others. Depending on the nature of the loss, this could result in an unexpected expense for the business. Or, in more severe cases, it could have a significant impact on the ability for your business to remain open.

With proper insurance coverage in place, business owners can achieve peace of mind and focus their attention on operating a productive, profitable and rewarding business for years to come.

How long do I need to keep damaged items?

Do not dispose of any salvage without authorization from your Insurance Company or the assessor appointed to act on their behalf. Talk to us before discarding any damaged items. Once Insurers have inspected the property or obtained documentation from you supporting that the damaged articles are non-repairable, the items can typically be discarded. In some cases, they may want to obtain your damaged items for salvage.