Persistence and perseverance eventually pay off in a real battle of a claim.

A couple of years ago, a long-term client who was a truck driver, took out a Personal Accident and Illness policy with Westralian Insurance.

What happened

Early one night at home, he fell down his stairs and injured his leg.  At the time, he didn’t think he had done anything serious.  The pain was extreme, however he assumed he just had a minor injury. 

He had dinner and a beer, but with the pain becoming increasingly worse, his wife decided to drive him to the Emergency Department of his local hospital. 

Shortly after, scans revealed that he had in fact broken his leg and would need at least three months off work to recover.

On admission to the hospital, the doctor had noted he could smell alcohol on our client’s breath, so the Personal Accident insurer immediately declined the claim.   We argued that alcohol was consumed AFTER the accident and the hospital had never undertaken a blood test or breathalyser to prove he was intoxicated.

The insurer once again declined the claim.

We then had the matter referred to the insurers Internal Disputes Facility and their management also declined the claim.

The outcome

Not happy with this decision, we involved AFCA (Australian Financial Complaints Authority) who in turned agreed with us and forced the insurer to pay the claim.

The client was extremely happy that he had an insurance broker on his side, armed with knowledge and the facts, in order to push the claim decline further and further, until all options had been exhausted.

The insurer agreed to pay out the claim and we are happy to report that our client has made a full recovery and is back working again.

This true story is another demonstration of our commitment to our clients, and an example of why you should engage a professional insurance broker.

Call Westralian Insurance today on (08) 9302 1388, or visit www.westralianinsurance.com.au 

 Are you looking to diversify within your business?

Whilst we are all going through this period of economic uncertainty, many businesses will be looking to diversify, in order to maximise their ability to generate a profit.  Diversification is a great way of adding an alternative revenue stream and could, in some cases, mean the difference between the business’s success and failure. 

However, changing the direction in which the business is going or modifying the way the business operates, is not without its pitfalls.  From an insurance point of view, you could fall into the trap of becoming uninsured if your new operating structure hasn’t been approved by your insurer.  This is where an insurance broker can be invaluable.

An insurance broker can offer advice on updating your policies to accurately reflect the new business model and avoid the dangers associated with non-disclosure. They can deal with the insurer on your behalf and make sure your insurance policies cover everything you need them to, taking into account all changes to the structure of the business.

For more information and friendly, professional advice, call Westralian Insurance, on (08) 9302 1388, or visit www.westralianinsurance.com.au

Do I need cyber insurance?

Any business today should consider cyber insurance, as it is an increasingly large risk.  If your business has a website, emails or electronic records, you’re vulnerable to cyber hacks or social engineering attacks. 

A cyber attack can cost you money, threaten your intellectual property and put your customers’ personal information at risk, which can cause untold damage to your reputation.

For more information on cyber insurance and whether it's right for your business, call the friendly professionals today.  Westralian Insurance is a locally owned and operated business who pride themselves on finding the right insurance solution for your business.

Call (08) 9302 1388 or visit www.westralianinsurance.com.au

Is my business underinsured?

Underinsurance is a concern for businesses as well as homeowners.  The results of underinsurance can be catastrophic for a business who makes a claim for property damage or business interruption.  Some insurers apply an 'average' or 'co-insurance' clause on their policies, which means if you insure for less than the full value of the property (or less than your full annual turnover or gross profit in the case of business interruption claims), a claim can be reduced in proportion to the amount of the underinsurance. 

Consequently, an underinsured business can be left with a fraction of the true claim cost in the event of a loss. The best way to avoid underinsurance is to get a survey of your building or appraisal of your goods by a professional, who will advise you of the correct value to insure for.  An accountant can offer the same service for your turnover and gross profit figures, in order to avoid underinsuring for business interruption.

If you've got questions about underinsurance, Westralian Insurance can help!  Call our friendly and knowledgeable staff today, on (08) 9302 1388 or visit www.westralianinsurance.com.au

Do I need special insurance to be a delivery driver?

Motor insurance for couriers and delivery drivers has to be with a specialist commercial motor insurer, who is able to insure vehicles used for deliveries.

Public Liability should also be taken to cover any potential claims for third party property damage or personal injury.  It is also a legal requirement for courier and delivery businesses with employees to have a current Workers Compensation policy in force.

For more information on insurance cover you may need, call the friendly professionals at Westralian Insurance today, on (08) 9302 1388 or visit www.westralianinsurance.com.au

If I already have Income Protection insurance, do I need Workers Compensation?

If you have employees or contractors, or anyone to whom you pay a wage, then you have a legal obligation to take out Workers Compensation insurance to cover them.  If you are a working director and have already covered yourself with an Income Protection policy, then you may wish to exclude yourself from the Workers Compensation policy as there is no legal obligation to insure directors.

However, there are some differences between Income Protection and Workers Compensation insurance which should be researched before making a decision.  A couple of examples are, that Income Protection covers you both during working hours and outside of working hours, whereas Workers Compensation only covers you whilst you are working.  Also, Workers Compensation covers both loss of income and medical expenses, whereas Income Protection only covers loss of income.

If you've got insurance questions, Westralian Insurance can help!  Call us today on (08) 9302 1388 and speak with our friendly, knowledgeable and local brokers, or visit www.westralianinsurance.com.au

Can I get Public Liability insurance for a 1 day event?
There are some insurers who will provide Public Liability insurance at a small cost for a 1 day event. They are normally direct insurers who transact these low-cost policies online. 

Many general insurance brokers typically only provide 12 month Public Liability policies.  

If you're looking at Public or Product Liability insurance for your small to medium business, Westralian Insurance can help.

We are a local, family owned business, and pride ourselves on our friendly, knowledgeable and honest service and advice.

Call Westralian Insurance today on (08) 9302 1388 or visit www.westralianinsurance.com.au