The largest insurance companies in Poland have sent additional employees to the flood-affected areas. The goal is one: to provide assistance as quickly and simply as possible.
Insurance companies promise to act quickly
Water damage can be documented with photos taken with your own phone. – Show the general state of damage, a holistic picture. We collect and store all the damaged items in one place so that we can take photos and send them to the insurer – explains Agnieszka Durska from Polish Insurance Chambers.
Estimating losses and reporting damage can be done after the threat has completely passed. – We start estimating damage when it is already possible to return safely to a given place. When the authorities and appropriate services have said that it is possible. This is very important, when the water is high, then we should absolutely focus on saving lives first – explains Durska.
However, you can start cleaning the property right away. You don't have to wait for an expert, because with simplified procedures or smaller damages, it is very likely that there will be no need for such a visit at all. There will be no problem reporting the damage, even if you don't remember your policy number or the insurance documents have been destroyed. In such a case, it is best to contact the hotline of the specific of the establishment insurance. Aid is to reach flood victims even within one day.
Don't agree with your insurer? You'll have to wait
If the insured person does not agree with the amount of the proposed compensation, they have the right to file an appeal. However, it will take longer to be considered. – Standard appeal procedures will apply here, just like in the case of any other damage. If the injured party does not agree with the decision of the insurance company, they can write a letter in which they provide additional information and the arguments for why the amount of compensation should be higher – explains Rafał Mańkowski, director of property insurance at the Polish Chamber of Insurance.
Donald Tusk also promised quick help
Prime minister Donald Tusk also announced comprehensive assistance for flood victims from southern Poland. Non-refundable emergency assistance is to amount to PLN 8,000 in social assistance and PLN 2,000 of simple flood benefit. For this purpose, applications will have to be submitted to the local commune office.
The head of government assured that the application in this matter would be simple and “two signatures would be enough”. He announced the quick consideration of applications, which officials are to approach “with empathy and understanding”.