When a small transport business owner accidentally damaged a trailer he had hired, his insurer initially rejected his claim, but the Gallagher claims team stepped in to turn the situation around.
The business owner had overlooked updating his insurance documentation, an omission that proved significant and problematic when the trailer was damaged, leading to extensive repair costs and towing fees. The business owner's insurer denied coverage, pointing out that the trailer was not listed on their vehicle insurance policy.
Claim background
The business owner tried to rectify the situation by quickly adding trailer cover to the business's vehicle insurance policy retrospectively and paying the necessary premium, hoping to make a feasible claim for the costs. Unfortunately, this didn't change the insurer's position.
However, the Gallagher claims team scrutinised the insurer's product disclosure statement and identified the terms of the business's vehicle insurance policy actually included cover for non-owned trailers, to the value of $100,000 indemnity.
Resolution
Gallagher gave the business owner the good news that the trailer did not need to be listed on the vehicle insurance policy and that no additional premium was required.
Our team then engaged with the insurer to discuss the coverage and presented the required documentation to prove that the client was not the trailer's owner, including registration papers and the original purchase invoice which we had obtained from the trailer hire company.
On this evidence the insurer accepted the claim under the non-owned trailer benefit and offered a cash payment, which with our support and client advocacy, was subsequently increased to just over $50,000, covering all costs except for the policy excess and GST.
The Gallagher difference
The Gallagher claims team is committed to advocating for and ensuring that our clients receive the right entitlements under the applicable policy.
We leverage our strong relationships with insurers and assessors to challenge and overturn incorrect settlement terms, ensuring our clients are fully supported and protected.
