Water damage is a common, and often disputed, category of boat and caravan insurance claims. Whether it's covered usually comes down to one key question: was it sudden, or was it gradual?
Insurance is generally more likely to respond to sudden, identifiable events than to gradual water ingress from ageing seals or a lack of maintenance.
Because water damage claims are so often contested, understanding this distinction before you need to make a claim can make a real difference.
Water damage rarely announces itself the moment it happens. It develops behind panels, under flooring, or above ceiling linings, often for weeks or months before it's discovered. By the time it's visible, it can be genuinely difficult to tell whether the water got in suddenly, during one storm event, or gradually, through a seal that had been slowly failing for a long time.
Insurers approach this by examining the type, location and pattern of damage to make a judgement about the likely cause, but this isn't always clear-cut, and disagreements between owners and insurers over this exact question are common.
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An insurer may initially deny a water damage claim by asserting the damage developed gradually rather than from a sudden event. But an insurer's initial assessment isn't automatically the final word: if the insurer can't clearly show the damage was gradual rather than the result of a sudden event, the owner may have grounds to dispute the decision, including through a body like the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
The key point is that the burden of clearly demonstrating the cause applies to both sides of a dispute, which is why thorough documentation connecting the damage to a specific event matters so much.
If you need fibreglass repairs in Brisbane or South-East Queensland, get in touch with us today. We're happy to discuss your repair and provide advice on the best solution.
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Disclaimer: This information is general guidance only and is not financial, legal or insurance advice. Policy terms, exclusions and claim outcomes vary by insurer and individual circumstances. Always refer to your specific Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), or speak with your insurer or a licensed adviser, for advice relevant to your situation. LBM Fibreglass accepts no liability for any action taken in reliance on this general information.