Frequently Asked Questions

Accidents are very stressful. We suggest that you keep a copy of the Glove Box Accident Form in your vehicle. It will help you ask key questions and record important information if you are in an accident.

After an accident:

• Make sure you and your passengers are not injured
• If you can, move your vehicle safely out of traffic. If you can't, lock the doors and safeguard your valuables.
• Call the police if necessary (see question below)
• Report the claim as soon as possible by calling us directly at any time.
• Exchange basic information with the other drivers involved such as name, drivers licence number, address.
• If your car is not driveable, we can help you arrange for towing and safe storage of your vehicle while you take time to collect your thoughts and make an informed choice on repairs
• Your RSA Claims Representative can assist you in finding a reputable repair firm.
• If you choose to have the work done at a RSA Approved and Authorized Auto Repair Centre, we'll guarantee the repair for as long as you own the car and remain insured with us.

Call the police if there are injuries or if you believe the damages will exceed the amount listed in the table below. In certain urban areas, the police may ask you to attend a Collision Reporting Centre instead of attending the scene of the accident. If so, bring your drivers license, ownership and insurance documentation with you as well as the details about the other driver and any witnesses.

• Alberta - $1,000
• British Columbia - $500
• Manitoba - Any damage
• New Brunswick - $400
• Newfoundland - $1,000
• Northwest Territories - Any damage
• Nova Scotia - $500
• Ontario - $1,000
• Prince Edward Island - $1,000
• Quebec - $500
• Saskatchewan - $500
• USA - Any damage
• Yukon - $1,000

Speak to your insurance broker and ask to review your policy limits and coverages. Be sure to contact your broker if your circumstances change, for example, you purchase a new car or move to a new neighbourhood.

Each incident resulting in loss or damage to your automobile covered under either the Direct Compensation or Loss of or Damage to Your Automobile sections of your insurance policy, except (in most provinces) loss or damage caused by fire, lightning or theft of the entire vehicle, will be subject to the applicable deductible.

For Ontario residents, the fault or responsibility of each driver is considered. The amount of compensation will depend on your role in the accident. E.g., if the other driver has been found to be at full or partial fault, you are able to claim for damages. But without Physical Damage coverage, you will not be compensated for the portion of damages that you have been deemed responsible for. In other provinces, the driver may be required to claim directly against the at fault party. Please consult your Claims Representative.

• In Ontario, if you are involved in an accident in which another driver is determined to be 100% at fault, your own insurance company, under the Direct Compensation Agreement (DCA), will supply you with a rental vehicle while yours is being repaired.
• If fault for an accident is determined to be shared by both yourself and another driver and you have not purchased coverage under the Loss of Use Endorsement (see Additional Coverages section on your own policy), you will only receive partial coverage for the total cost of a rental vehicle in the proportion that the other driver is determined to be at fault.
• If you are involved in an accident where either you are 100% at fault or fault is shared by both yourself and another driver and you have purchased coverage under the Loss of Use Endorsement (see Additional Coverages section on your own policy), your insurer will provide you with a rental vehicle while yours is being repaired.

The contents of your vehicle that are permanently attached to, or whose purpose is for, the usual use and operation of the actual vehicle are covered. The contents of your vehicle that are not permanently attached may be covered under your Homeowners or Tenants insurance policy.

Yes, provided the person who is driving it is:

• legally entitled by law to operate a motor vehicle,
• is using it with your permission,
• has not committed an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada while operating your vehicle, and
• has not contravened the prohibited uses clause as outlined in your policy (eg. Racing)

No, they are not all the same. Just like car stereos anti-theft devices are available in a variety of different makes, models, styles and qualities ranging from those that will sound an alarm if someone breaks into your car to those that will automatically shut the vehicle down if the proper key is not used. Please refer to information found at the Insurance Bureau of Canada's Theft Deterrent Program site.

It is recommended that you speak with your broker to discuss any questions you may have regarding the impact your loss many have on your premium.

In Ontario, fault is determined according to Fault Determination Rules which are part of the Insurance Act. The Fault Determination Rules outlines different accident scenarios. Fault and degree of fault is allocated to each driver based on which scenario most closely fits the accident.

Once you have reported the circumstances of an accident to your insurance adjuster, he or she will speak to the adjuster representing the other party and agree on the fault allocation. Extenuating circumstances, such as slippery road conditions, don't enter into the decision.

In other provinces, fault may be determined by settlement charts or fault may be determined based on common law and the existing rules of the road.

For accidents, it varies by province and /or driving record. Convictions within the past 3 years are usually taken into consideration.

Home insurance provides protection against loss or damage to your home and personal belongings. It also helps protect your financial assets against financial loss in the event of a lawsuit against you. For example, if someone is injured in your home, your home insurance (which includes liability protection) will provide you with legal defence in the event of legal action brought against you. There are exclusions and limitations that may eliminate or restrict coverage provided by your policy. We have a number of Optional Additional Coverages that are available to meet your needs. Be sure to discuss your needs with your broker.

Home insurance is often necessary to secure mortgage financing - your bank will want to ensure they will be reimbursed in the event of loss or damage to the property. Even if you don't have a mortgage, home insurance ensures that you assets are protected from loss. For example, if you don't carry insurance and your home is destroyed by fire, most people can't afford to rebuild their home.

Your property insurance policy covers the person who is named in the policy and the following individuals provided they live in the same household

• Your spouse
• Relatives of both you and your spouse
• Any person under 21 in your care
• Dependent student temporarily residing away from home to attend a school, college or university

Your broker will help you determine the amount of home insurance that's right to protect your home and personal belongings. The replacement value (this is the cost to rebuild your home, not the market value) of your house and the value of you personal property will be key to determining your insurance needs. Your broker will also assist you in selecting the type of coverage and deductible (the amount you are responsible for paying before we will begin to pay for a loss or damage) best suited to you.

Yes. Our home insurance policies provide a range of coverage options at competitive rates. Our most economical home insurance product provides the necessary basic coverage whereas our deluxe and most popular home protection offers comprehensive coverage. Your broker can help you select the right policy to tailor to your specific needs.

No. Home insurance policies provide a level of coverage that is sufficient for most people. Certain items such as jewellery, furs, coin collections and bicycles are subject to Special Limits, which limit the amount of insurance coverage included in the policy. If you require limits higher than your policy provides for such items, you can purchase additional optional coverage for those items. Your broker can help you develop the best policy package for your specific needs.

If you have suffered a loss for which you are insured, you should inform your broker or your insurer directly of your loss. If there has been a burglary or theft, the police must also be informed. You will be required to supply information about the loss.

You should take reasonable steps to protect against additional damage. For example, if a pipe has burst, shut off the water supply.

Do not dispose of damaged goods without first getting our approval. Depending upon circumstances, we may arrange assistance for temporary repairs. For example, such as covering a damaged roof or boarding over a broken picture window.

This is a very personal decision. Before making a home insurance claim, you should consider the cost of the damage compared to your deductible. The deductible is the initial amount of a claim that you've agreed to pay.

If the difference is negligible, you may choose not to make a claim as it may mean losing your "no-claim discount" which would result in a premium increase. In determining the rates we charge, consideration is given to the claims in the last five years. Your broker can help you in making your decision.

In the event of a loss, you will be asked to supply a list of your possessions and a record of their value. Original sales receipts for major items are the best way to show ownership and the cost of these items. Taking photos of your personal belongings in your home is also helpful and can speed up the time it takes to settle your claim. Service or maintenance records can also be relevant.

It is often difficult to remember all the details of your personal belongings, therefore, we suggest that you video tape or photo your belongings, and keep a detailed inventory list. This information should be kept in another location to ensure it is available in the event of a loss. Many people store this information in a safety-deposit box or another secure location.

A home under construction is also subject to loss or damage. In addition, it creates an additional exposure to injury. Depending on the arrangement, you may be required to insure the home. You should check with your broker and builder regarding this.

If you are renovating, you will need to inform your broker of this change in risk in order to ensure adequate coverage is maintained.

Coverage for losses due to sewer backup is available in most areas. Some of our policies include this coverage and provide an option to purchase additional coverage. On our other polices, our Water Damage Extension is available as an option.

No. There are conditions in your insurance policy that give you permission to take steps to prevent further damage to your home, such as safely taking steps to patch a roof, or remove a section of damaged fence to prevent it from causing further damage. This would also include taking initiative to contact someone do these repairs such as a handyman, roofer or contractor.

We also encourage you to take photographs of any damages before and after emergency services or repairs have been undertaken.

There is NO coverage for damage to a tree, shrub, bush or lawn caused by wind. However, if the tree strikes or causes damage to your home, deck, garage, fence or shed, we will reimburse you the amount minus your deductible, or arrange to have someone remove the tree to allow access and make the necessary repairs. Please take photos, retain all receipts and relevant documentation to present to your adjuster.

If the tree belongs to your neighbour and it has not damaged your property, we would recommend that you simply work with your neighbour to have the tree removed. If that tree damages your property (house, fence, shed etc.), coverage would apply. Under these circumstances, we would also pay the cost of removing that portion of your neighbours tree off your damaged property to conduct the repairs, but we would not remove the tree from your neighbour’s property. Normal practices is to remove your neighbour’s tree to the property line.

If your shared fence is damaged, it would be handled and appraised the same way as if you owned the entire fence, and we would settle for your share of the fence only. The repair would have to be coordinated between yourself and your neighbour. You are still responsible for your full applicable deductible.

You are fully within your rights to have your own contractor view your roof, and complete any directly related emergency services or repairs. We would suggest that you photograph the damaged area first and/or have the contractor take photographs and provide you with copies. A reputable contractor will provide a detailed estimate of the required repairs. We encourage you to use a service you are familiar with, has been referred by a friend, family or neighbour. Caution: before you sign anything, take the time to fully read and comprehend the contents of the document. It is wise to do your research and ensure the vendor is fully insured.

If your house is exposed to the elements and in danger of having further damages, we would encourage you to arrange temporary repairs to reduce the threat of more damages. You can proceed with repairs, however to ensure the ease of your claim, we would ask that you obtain photographs of the damages and of the repairs; obtain a detailed estimate for repair of the direct related damages and obtain the invoice/proof of payment to submit to your adjuster.

Generally it can take 1 to 5 days on average. However, we are unable to guarantee a specific time frame due to the volume of windstorm claims experienced by the industry.

Therefore, we caution fence, decks, gazebos and sheds, for example are lower priority situations which may take several weeks to address. We do apologize for any inconvenience this may pose, however you may want to expedite your situation by obtaining your own trades people.

Our adjusters have made contact on all current claims. We have centralized all of our windstorm claims with a specialized catastrophe team. They are in the process of communicating with our customers to provide you with their contact information. We are generally making contact on any new claims the same day as it is received by our claims department.

To prevent further delays, we would encourage contact with your adjuster only on urgent matters, otherwise the adjuster will be in contact with you to keep you apprised on the progress of your claim.

If the wind damage has made your house uninhabitable, then the policy would cover the reasonable “Additional Living Expenses” you incur until your house is liveable again. We would ask that you keep all receipts of expenses incurred to present to your claim adjuster.

Once your claims adjuster has been assigned your claim, they will reach out to you to advise you of your specific coverages, deductible and any potential limitations.

Most insurance policies are now based on Replacement Cost, however there still a number of policies out there that are settled on what is called an Actual Cash Value basis or depreciated basis. This will be communicated to you by your adjuster.

Please take steps to prevent further damage to your home by retaining an electrician and/or reporting the matter to your local Power Utility. Please photograph the damages and keep receipts for any expenditures in restoring power to your home to present to your adjuster. Please be alert for any downed power lines and stay far away!

It would be our preference that you do not throw out any damaged property until you have spoken with your claims adjuster. However, given the sheer volume of claims, should you be required to dispose of any items you are wanting to claim, please make a list of the damaged content(s), including make, model and age and take a photograph to present to your adjuster. Having a completed list of damaged contents with the original price paid, will also help expedite the settlement of your claim.

 

It may and it may not. Before travelling, be sure to read your group plan benefits booklet/contract to learn about the existing travel coverage you may have through your employer's plan. If your plan does offer travel protection, be aware of possible coverage limitations (such as benefit limits, number of days away, age limits, coverage exclusions) and coverage that's not included (such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, or lost baggage).

If you need to supplement your current travel protection, we can assist with options to top-up group coverage for additional days of coverage or provide coverage that's not available through group plans.

Some credit cards may include travel insurance, so it's very important that you carefully review what your credit card offers. If your credit card does offer travel insurance, be sure to read and understand the coverage as well as the limitations of the coverage before you travel. Ask yourself these key questions:

• Does my credit card coverage protect my entire family?
• Is the coverage only valid if part or all of the travel arrangements were paid for with the credit card that includes the travel insurance?
• Does the coverage provide for both medical and non-medical benefits (such as trip cancellation, trip interruption or lost baggage)?
• Does an age limit apply?
• Does the coverage adequately cover all my potential needs?
• Does my credit card allow for top-ups should I wish to travel longer than the number of days offered?

If in doubt about any of the above, don’t take chances – call your broker to learn about the travel protection options they can provide to you and your family.