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Claims and Insurance
Claims
A claim is any situation or loss where an individual feels that they have suffered an injury or damage as a result of the actions of the Town of Cochrane and/or its employees. Anyone can pursue a claim; however, it does not guarantee that you will be paid for damages stated in the claim.
We recommend you contact your insurance company for advice on how to deal with injury or damage first. Your insurance coverage may be more extensive than what you can recover from the Town of Cochrane. If your insurer believes Cochrane was responsible for your damage, they may seek compensation on your behalf.
The Town of Cochrane will only provide compensation when it is found legally liable for the damage sustained. This approach helps to reduce costs for the tax paying public, who ultimately bear the cost of these claims.
If your claim is denied
If records show that service levels and a reasonable standard of care were met, your claim may be denied. The results of the investigation along with supporting evidence justifying the denial will be provided to you.
Claim submission procedure
- Download a Claim/Incident Report Form and complete as instructed, attaching all relevant information, estimates and photos as applicable. Forms may also be obtained by emailing legislative@cochrane.ca or calling 403-851-2500 and asking for the Risk Management Advisor.
- Submit the completed claims package by email, mail, or hand deliver to:
Town of Cochrane - Legislative Services:
101 Ranchehouse Road, Cochrane, AB T4C 2K8
ATT: Risk Management Advisor
Email: legislative@cochrane.ca - Receipt of a claims package will be acknowledged within two (2) business days.
- Claims will be investigated to determine whether the municipality was negligent and whether liability for the damage might lie with the Town of Cochrane.
- A written or email response advising of the decision and/or next steps will be provided within 30 days of receipt of a completed claims package.
- Depending on the nature of your claim, an adjuster appointed by Cochrane’s insurer may also contact you.
How long do I have to submit my claim?
Limitation periods for claims against municipalities are governed by the Municipal Government Act:
Snow, slush and ice – 21 days
Road repairs or non-repair – 30 days
All other actions – 2 years
Incident Information
Report the claim to your insurance company regardless of who was at fault. Liability is determined in part by insurance companies.
Effective January 1, 2022, Alberta implemented Direct Compensation for Property Damage (DCPD). This means that drivers claim from their own insurer instead of claiming damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance. The Insurance Bureau of Canada has more information on their website.
If the total damage to all vehicles and property appears to be more than $2,000, a Collision Report Form must also be filed with the RCMP.
Municipal employees are not permitted to discuss the circumstances of accidents nor liability with other parties.
Should you wish to pursue a claim, please follow the Claim Submission procedure.
The Town of Cochrane takes the care and condition of its sidewalks and roadways seriously. All reasonable attempts to inspect and maintain municipal property to alleviate tripping hazards are taken; however, we cannot guarantee no trip hazards exist within the municipality.
Section 532 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), states that a municipality may only be held liable in the case of a trip and fall if they knew or should have known of the state of repair and did not take reasonable steps to prevent it. Incidents must be reported to the municipality within 30 days.
Alberta experiences a wide variety of weather conditions, often all in the same day. The Town simply does not have the resources to remove all ice and snow from sidewalks and roadways. Section 531 of the Municipal Government Act, states that in order for a municipality to be held liable in the case of a slip and fall, they must be found to be grossly negligent. Incidents must be reported to the municipality within 21 days.
The Town of Cochrane and/or its insurers will only accept responsibility or provide
compensation when legally liable for the damage sustained.
Should you wish to pursue a claim, please follow the Claim Submission procedure.
Property Damage
If you have reason to believe your personal property has been damaged by a Cochrane vehicle, equipment or employee, please follow the Claim Submission procedure. You will be required to provide evidence and information to support your claim.
If you have home insurance, report the damage to your insurer; your own policy may cover the costs of the damage.
If you witness any damage to municipal property, or have caused damage, please complete an Incident Report by following the Claim Submission procedure and an Advisor will be in contact with you.
Should you wish to pursue a claim, please follow the Claim Submission procedure.
If you have water damage, report the claim to your insurance company.
If your insurer believes the Town of Cochrane is responsible for your damage, they will proceed with recovery on your behalf.
Protect yourself from flood damage by:
- Practicing prevention techniques. Install back water valves, combination floor drains and keep contents high off basement floors.
- Check with your insurance company for possible coverage. Many insurers have sewer back-up endorsements to cover damage to buildings and their contents.
Practicing prevention, combined with carrying adequate insurance, are good ways to protect yourself from costly water damage.
Should you wish to pursue a claim, please follow the Claim Submission procedure.
Where a fallen tree or branch from a municipal tree causes damage to private property and the incident was not readily foreseeable, it is considered an “act of God”. In such cases, Town of Cochrane Parks crews will remove municipal trees or branches and clean up any tree debris.
Owners of damaged property are responsible for the cost of repairs to their property. If you have home insurance, report the damage to your insurer as soon as possible.
If you see a tree down or any other dangerous situation involving municipal trees, contact Cochrane Operations at 403-851-2590 or submit an Incident Report through the Claim Submission procedure.