We often get this question: “what if [insert hypothetical situation] happened? Would I be covered?” It is impossible to answer this question because every claim is unique. Maybe you’ve heard an insurance broker give you vague, evasive, unsatisfying answers. That’s potentially because you’re asking the wrong question. Instead of asking “what’s covered?” you should be asking “what’s not covered?”
Most insurance policies work like this: everything is covered, except what is explicitly excluded by the policy. This allows for all kinds of unanticipated, unimaginable types of losses to be covered. It also ensures wordings aren’t 10,000 pages long. When you submit a claim, the adjuster will look through the wording to see if an exclusion applies. Some typical exclusions are: “wear and tear,” “mechanical breakdown”, “fungus”.
Lots of people buy camera gear second-hand. Claims adjusters are aware of this fact. If you don’t have original receipts, don’t panic. You can still cover the gear with your insurance.
Proof of ownership can take different forms, depending on the loss. If a lens is cracked, the proof is the cracked lens in your possession. You would only need to provide documentary proof in “total loss” situations (theft, destroyed in a fire, etc.). In these situations, original receipts are obviously best, but in the absence of these, the adjuster may use their judgment or common sense. They may try to work with you to find “creative” ways to substantiate prior ownership.
In all cases, it is up to the adjuster’s discretion; they need something that will “hold up”, and they will be using their “Spidey-senses”. If they think something is suspicious, they will ask for more concrete evidence and they may decline a claim. So, do what you can prior to a loss occurring to substantiate your ownership of the items you wish to have covered.
When a crime has been committed, you will need to report the crime to the appropriate authorities. For a theft claim, an adjuster will ask for a police report number as part of your supporting documentation. This also applies in foreign countries.
There are also special conditions related to theft from an unattended vehicle – there must be visible signs of forced entry. Basically, the insurance company is saying: if you leave your gear in your car, make sure you lock your car. They will need visible evidence that someone had to pry their way into your vehicle, so take photos of the broken glass, or the scratches on your car. Without visible evidence of forced entry, your claim could be denied.
The insurance company's policy wording on unattended/unlocked property reads as follows: "we will cover theft of covered property from a locked container, vehicle or trailer when there are visible signs of forced entry. This exclusion does not apply while covered property is in the care or custody of a common carrier." (Note: This policy wording is current as of Nov. 2022 but is subject to change)
A deductible is the amount of the loss that you are responsible for covering before the insurance policy will respond. Say you have a USB drive stolen. Replacing it would cost $60, but your deductible is $350. Although, “technically” the claim would be covered, it is below your deductible, so the insurance company wouldn’t be responsible for paying any part of the claim.
If you damage a $500 lens, you would pay for the first $350 (your deductible), then the insurance company would cover the next $150.
After you’ve made a claim, an insurance company will generally increase your rates. There is no one-claim forgiveness. So, it may not make sense to submit a small claim, as you may end up paying more for insurance over the long run. Insurance is not meant to cover small losses. It’s best used to cover the things that could really make or break your business.
The only person who can give you a definitive answer to the question, “is it covered?” is a claims adjuster. In order to speak to an adjuster, you will need to report the claim to the insurance company. The adjuster will then review what happened and the supporting documentation, and advise whether coverage can be provided.
Once you have a clear answer, you can either decide to proceed with the claim or to withdraw it. Don’t be afraid to open a claim and talk to an adjuster.
As this is a blog post about claims, the assumption is that you already have insurance for your gear, but just in case you don’t: Front Row’s photography insurance policy is a good option. Many Canadian photographers have come to recognize Front Row as the industry’s best coverage – and rely upon us to protect their valuable camera gear. In case a claim does occur, you can work with your broker to resolve the claim and get compensated for covered losses as quickly as possible.
Based on customer demand, we’ve setup our referral marketing program and if you refer a friend to Front Row, you could win a $15 Amazon eGift Card OR be entered into a random draw to win a $99 Amazon eGift Card! (depending on your province)
Disclaimer: Informational statements regarding insurance coverage are for general description purposes only. This blog post does not make any representations that coverage does or does not exist for any particular claim or loss, or type of claim or loss, under any policy. Whether coverage exists or does not exist for any particular claim or loss under any policy depends on the facts and circumstances involved in the claim or loss and all applicable policy wording.
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