Storm Victims Face Insurance Gridlock

Nearly two weeks after a severe storm system hit the Greater Toronto Area on Sept. 2, many residents are struggling to navigate a convoluted insurance claims process, according to CityNews Toronto.

The storm, which brought torrential rain exceeding 100 millimetres in some areas and high winds, left a trail of destruction including flooded basements and crushed vehicles. John McCorkell, an East York resident whose car was crushed by a tree, told CityNews Toronto that the write-off process has been frustrating, citing "silly paperwork" and conflicting information regarding the vehicle's location. McCorkell added that his insurance company has since terminated his access to a temporary rental car.

Local businesses are seeing a surge in demand, but some are stalled by insurance approvals. Raj Singh, a manager at Carstar Toronto Eastern, reported an electric vehicle impaled by a tree branch that could be a total loss, but noted the shop is still waiting for the insurance company to authorize the next steps. Singh indicated that full repairs could take one to two months once approved.

In Scarborough, Excellence Auto Collision has seen an influx of hail-damaged vehicles. Director Mark Millson said the shop brought in a specialist from DccScan in Calgary to use high-tech scanners to avoid human error in counting dents. One customer, Tomel Sidi, reported seeing hundreds of dents on his Hyundai and noted he must pay a $2,000 deductible.

Anne Marie Thomas, the consumer and industry relations director for the Insurance Bureau of Canada, told CityNews Toronto that such events are "no longer unexpected." She estimated it will be another month before the bureau can provide a rough estimate of the total damages across the region.