What do you do when someone claims against your business?

What do you do first when someone is hurt or their property is damaged?

Tell your insurer as soon as you can. GIG Gulf’s wording says you must give notice as soon as practicable after you become aware of an event that may lead to a claim, with all the particulars.¹ If malicious damage, robbery, theft or fraud is suspected, tell the police straight away and get a police report.¹

Take every practical step to stop further injury or damage, and keep damaged property unaltered for as long as the insurer needs.¹

What must you not do?

Do not admit liability, offer, promise or pay anything to the claimant without the insurer’s written consent, and do not negotiate with them.¹ The Civil Transactions Law allows a policy to release the insurer if you admit liability or pay compensation without its consent. That does not apply when you only confirm a fact, or the payment was in the insurer’s interest.²

What information will the insurer ask for?

ADNIC asks for these details to open a liabilities claim:³

GIG Gulf asks for a completed claim form and its list of supporting documents, which it sends after you first report the claim, and details of any other insurance covering the same event within 30 days.¹

How do you report it?

By the routes your insurer publishes. ADNIC takes liabilities claims by phone, fax or email, with separate contacts for Abu Dhabi and Dubai.³ Tokio Marine registers general claims by email to genclaim@tmnf.ae or on 04 350 2777.⁴ Your schedule or policy booklet gives your insurer’s claims contact.

Who handles the claim against you?

The insurer, if it chooses. GIG Gulf can take over and conduct the defence or settlement in your name and has full discretion over the claim and any proceedings. You must give it the information and help it reasonably needs.¹ ADNIC assesses the case, may inspect the damage in person, and sends a claim reference number by SMS within a couple of days of opening the claim.³

How long do you have?

The injured person has 3 years from learning of the damage and who caused it to claim against you.² When your claim against your insurer arises from a third party’s claim, your 3 years run from the day the third party sues you or recovers compensation from you.² Work out your dates with the claim time limits calculator.

If the insurer turns your claim down, ask for its reasons in writing and follow how to complain about an insurer.