In six days and six nights of urban violence since the death of Nahel, killed during a police check, the toll of destruction has already exceeded that of the riots of 2005, which lasted three weeks. According to figures from the Ministry of the Interior, more than 5,000 vehicles were set on fire and nearly 1,000 buildings burned, damaged or looted. After the videos of flames and explosions at night come back every morning the annoyed looks of shopkeepers or residents in shock.
The question of the reconstruction of the affected neighborhoods is pressing, but depending on the target of this vandalism and the damage suffered, the terms of compensation are not the same. 20 minutes contacted Stéphanie Duraffourd, co-founder of the insurance comparator Assurland.com. Review:
If it is a vandalized business
The overwhelming majority of businesses have taken out professional multi-risk insurance, according to the expert. The latter takes into account all material damage, from simple broken glass to looting, including fire. Two small drawbacks: the deductible to be paid before the refund, which can be expensive, and the time limit for this refund, a real source of concern for traders. Aware of these two problems, the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, asked insurers that compensation “arrive as quickly as possible, within deadlines which must be in days and not weeks”, and to “reduce maximum the price of the franchises”.
The price of a deductible, precisely, normally partly depends on the insurance contract. The more expensive it is, the less the deductible to pay will be onerous, and vice versa.
There remains a thornier point: the operating loss. Imagine a business closed as a precaution, for fear of damage. Will the loss of profit be reimbursed? Shops are far from being as covered as for material damage. To be reimbursed, “you must have subscribed to an operating loss guarantee, which is far from automatic”, specifies Stéphanie Duraffourd.
If it is a municipal building attacked
As far as town halls, schools, libraries or youth centers are concerned, “the municipalities insure their buildings with specialized insurers”, reassures Stéphanie Duraffourd. Same framework as in a business: a deductible to be paid, with a different price depending on the type of contract chosen. All material damage is covered, and count more or less long delays.
If it is a degraded personal accommodation
If you are a co-owner or tenant, you are required to have home insurance. Which is not mandatory for an owner, “even if in fact, the vast majority of people have one”.
This home insurance covers you in the event of damage due to vandalism. You have five days to declare a claim, and two to declare a theft. The value of the refund will depend on the guarantee you have contracted: new value or a value in the state in which the accommodation was before its degradation. Again, a question of the cost of insurance.
If it is a common room in a damaged building
Has the wall of your building been tagged? The broken digital code? Has an exterior window been broken? Can you do something ? “It is the syndic of co-ownership who takes care of the common areas”, specifies our expert. It remains to be seen whether yours has taken out insurance or not: “If it doesn’t, the tag may stay for a long time…”
If it’s a burnt out car
The most common case, as we have seen with the figures from the Ministry of the Interior, and paradoxically the least well covered. There are three types of car insurance. First, all risks, the most protective level. It covers everything, as the name suggests, and is often taken for young drivers or when buying an expensive new vehicle. If you have it, “just file a complaint at the police station and report the loss within 5 days”. An expert will come to verify that the fire is not an insurance fraud and estimate the value of the vehicle, which will be compensated to you.
Second level, the intermediate third, which again takes into account fire, theft, damage such as broken glass… Same approach as for all risks.
Finally, the last level, civil liability, also called third-party insurance. Basically, it covers people you might hurt, but not you. Understand: in the event of fire or damage to your vehicle, it will not be compensated. However, “this is the case for just over 50% of automobile insurance contracts”, estimates Stéphanie Duraffourd.
However, you can turn to the Civi, the Guarantee Fund for victims of acts of terrorism and other offences. He will have two months to offer you an amicable offer capped at 4,601 euros. Another even more ambitious maneuver, you can engage the responsibility of the State and file a complaint in the prefecture, by relying on article L211-10 of the Internal Security Code. According to the latter, “the State is civilly liable for damages and damages resulting from crimes and offenses committed, with open force or by violence, by armed or unarmed crowds and gatherings, either against persons or against property”. Success not guaranteed. Less romantic, you can in the future take out fire insurance for a few tens of euros, in addition to your third-party insurance.