Has Your Car Been Damaged by a Tree? Three Ways to Claim Compensation!

Snow in December, January, or February has been "surprising" Serbia for years. Although the history of measuring snowfall records much larger snowfalls, the one that fell in Serbia this winter will be remembered as one that caused considerable material damage. A record number of fallen trees and broken branches under the weight of extremely wet snow have damaged hundreds of vehicles in cities across Serbia.

If your vehicle happened to be "in the wrong place at the wrong time," we remind you of the ways and conditions under which you can claim compensation for the incurred damage.

INSURANCE CLAIM

The most favorable and least complicated situation is if the vehicle is fully insured. In that case, individuals whose vehicles have been damaged can claim compensation directly from the insurance company with which the vehicle is insured. The procedure is usual - for larger damages, it is necessary to wait for the police, who conduct an investigation on the spot and prepare a report. If it is a minor damage, there is no need to wait for a police patrol; it is enough to go to the police station and report the case. Afterward, the damaged party contacts the insurance company that covers the comprehensive insurance for the vehicle, fills out a damage claim form, and attaches the report from the police. The claims adjuster then issues a resolution determining the amount of compensation for the vehicle damage.

However, if the vehicle is not fully insured, the procedure for claiming compensation is somewhat more complicated.

CLAIMING COMPENSATION FROM THE RELEVANT PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANY

If the tree that caused damage to the vehicle is located in a public area, the compensation should be sought from the appropriate public utility company (such as JKP "Zelenilo Beograd" or JKP "Gradsko zelenilo Novi Sad," for example). The procedure involves the damaged party contacting the relevant public utility company and reporting the case. The utility company then sends its operational team to the site to remove the tree or branches from the vehicle and prepares a damage report, which is signed on the spot by the team leader and the damaged party. The damage report and the compensation request are submitted to the Damage Assessment Commission, and the damaged party must personally do so. The Damage Assessment Commission then fills out a damage claim form based on the liability insurance and refers the damaged party, along with the complete documentation, to the insurance company, which compensates for the damage within the legal deadline.

CLAIMING COMPENSATION FROM PROPERTY OWNERS

If the tree that damaged the vehicle is located on privately owned property, it is necessary to call the police, who will prepare a report. Based on the report, the compensation is claimed from the property owner, which usually involves filing a lawsuit and a legal proceeding against the individual in whose name the property is registered.

As winter is just around the corner, and new snowfall is quite certain, we appeal to you to pay attention to where you park your car on snowy days, and in the event of any damage, react appropriately and promptly.