How to Claim Compensation for a Car Flooded in the Garage?
3 Answers
As a public facility and site, the parking lot is the responsibility of the property management company to maintain and manage, which falls under the agreed management scope of the "Property Service Contract". In the event of a car being submerged due to heavy rain, if the car owner has purchased water damage insurance, then even if the engine is damaged, they can file an insurance claim.
I've got plenty of experience with flood damage claims for vehicles. If your car gets flooded in your own garage, the first thing to check is your insurance policy. Many car owners overlook this - standard comprehensive insurance often doesn't cover flood damage, you'll need additional wading insurance or natural disaster coverage. First step: don't start the engine! If water gets into the engine, repair costs can double. Best to take video evidence of the waterline and damage. Then contact your insurer to file a claim - they'll send an assessor; if the damage is severe they may total the car and pay market value. The whole process takes weeks to months, just be patient. Some owners complain about lack of evidence leading to reduced payouts. Remember to choose higher garage locations or discuss waterproofing with property management to avoid unnecessary expenses.
Last year, my garage was flooded, and my beloved car was half-submerged in water, which really worried me. I didn't touch the car immediately but called my insurance company to report the incident, while also taking photos and videos as evidence. The compensation depends on the type of insurance—comprehensive coverage might not cover this, but water damage insurance could potentially reimburse repair costs or the vehicle's scrap value. After inspection, they assessed my car as a total loss and compensated me about 70% of its value. The lesson learned is not to delay: waiting for the water to recede before taking action can lead to greater, irreversible losses. If the garage was rented, it might be possible to hold the management accountable, so don't shoulder all the blame yourself. The compensation process was lengthy, but after receiving the money, I added new insurance coverage to be wiser. Next time, I'll know to add waterproof padding to the garage door.
