What happens when there is a nearby explosion that causes damage to your house …one of our clients found out the hard way…
October 15, 2024
At the end of August this year, residents of a small central Queensland town near Gladstone were evacuated in the early hours of the morning, following a fiery truck crash on the Bruce Highway. There was a head-on collision between a B-double tanker and a ute, which happened just after 5 am. The tanker was carrying 42 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which triggered an explosion hours later at 9.40 am. The explosion blast radius was 500 metres and could be heard and felt 14 kilometres away which also shook homes in that area.
So why are we talking about it?
Some of our clients lived in the area and suffered property damage from the blast. One client has had structural damage to their house including significant cracking in their walls, external patio area as well as movement in the kitchen area. Their nextdoor neighbour also had their windows blown out. These properties were not near the actual blast zone, but miles away.
How can insurance help them:
Financial Relief: Depending on your policy, you won’t have to pay for repairs upfront, alleviating immediate financial strain. Insurance companies also have established relationships with contractors, which can expedite repairs and have set negotiated rates for work.
Expert Handling: Insurance adjusters are trained to assess damage and ensure proper repairs, resulting in higher quality comprehensive work. Your insurer also guarantees the work undertaken, so any issues that occur with the repair work are looked after properly.
Protection Against Delays: Dealing directly with an insurance company can help prevent delays that might occur when negotiating with the other party’s insurance.
Potential for Subrogation: Your insurer will more than likely pursue the responsible party for reimbursement, which could minimize your future premium increases.
Stress Reduction: Letting Rivers manage the process can alleviate the stress of dealing with the other party.
All of this is organised by our dedicated claims team, who are here for you every step of the way.
