Insurance Claims Investigation
If you have been injured or your property damaged, and you believe it was caused as a result of Council’s negligence, you can submit a claim against Council for consideration.
Please ensure that you have reported the problem that caused the injury or damage to Council before you make a claim. This will initiate Council's investigation and ensure repairs are undertaken if necessary.
Council will only accept liability in cases where it can be proven that Council knew there was a problem and was negligent in dealing with it.
Council will consider your claim against the requirements of the New South Wales Civil Liability Act 2002 (CLA).The Act describes the principles in deciding whether a public or other authority has a duty or has breached a duty.
For Council to be held liable the incident that caused the alleged injury or property damage, must have been foreseeable and it must be shown that Council owed a duty of care and that the duty was breached, resulting in the alleged injury or property damage.
Section 42 (a) of Civil Liability Act 2002
- The functions performed by Councils are limited by financial and other resources
- The general allocation of financial or other resources is not open to challenge
Council acknowledges that incidents occur and Council can be at fault. All claims against Council will be investigated and considered however, there are certain claims that Council will not accept, including:
- Damage to tyres and rims which result from normal wear and tear or modifications,
- Damage due to debris (if it occurs in the normal course of driving),
- Damage resulting from criminal actions,
- Damage resulting from extreme weather events,
- Matters already the subject of an insurance claim,
- Damage resulting from the actions of a third party,
- If the damage is caused by a contractor engaged by Council, your claim may be directed to the contractor to assess the claim.
When deciding whether to make a claim, please consider the following options:
Claim against your own Insurance policy
It is recommended, in the first instance, to make a claim on your own insurance policy. If your insurer believes that Council is at fault they will consider seeking recovery against Council.
There may be an excess fee to be paid by the claimant and you should discuss this with your insurer.
Your insurer is more likely to pay your claim on a replacement new for old value whereas settlement by Council will be on an indemnity basis (current depreciated value).
Claim directly from Council
When submitting a compensation claim, you will be required to provide the following information to support your claim:
- Details of exact location, date and time of the incident and how the incident occurred,
- Photographs or video of the damage and what caused the incident, if available and safe to do so,
- Evidence that Council have been negligent in causing the incident to occur,
- Two quotes for the replacements or repair of the damaged item or alternatively receipts for expenses paid to date,
- Reports from relevant expert such as doctors, arborists, building professionals,
- Witness reports and contact details,
- Reference number from Council where you have reported the problem,
- When you submit a claim, it will be assessed on a Without Prejudice basis, meaning we review the details fairly and independently without admitting liability upfront. The process of evaluating a claim for compensation can be complex and depends heavily on the information and evidence you provide, so it's important to include as much relevant detail as possible. We understand this can take time, and while we aim to process claims promptly and efficiently, we appreciate your patience and cooperation throughout the process.
Claims against Council may include property damage, damage to motor vehicles, or personal injury.
Please contact us directly to discuss the claim process.
Customer Service: 02 6023 8111