Claims Management Spain | C1 Broker

When a client has a claim this is the moment to demonstrate that we are here to help you. In your C1 Broker agency we have a claims department that will help to process your claim and defend your interests. To declare a new claim, please fill out our forms providing as much information as possible,

• To declare a Car Claim: Click here

• To declare a Property Claim (Home, Business, Community, Hotel): Click here

You can also send us by email (siniestros@c1broker.es) relevant photos, police statements, estimates, invoices or any paper work which will help to document the claim or pre existing content or building damage.

Our Claims department will start to work on your claim immediately and will contact you with the claim number and send when necessary, an assistance company or Adjuster.

We have prepared a summary about the system of claim management in Spain between Companies, Agreements and waiting periods. We hope you find it useful and help to solve any doubts.

The purpose of your insurance policy is to help you and to compensate you financially in the event of a loss.

If a loss covered by this policy occurs, we recommend that you do the following:

• Use all means within your power to minimise its consequences.

• Read the “Object and scope of the Insurance” section of your policy carefully and make sure that the loss really is covered.

• Contact us  and give a detailed explanation of what caused the loss and what its consequences are.

• Send the claim report form to us as soon as possible giving as detailed an account as you can of any damage sustained.

• Make a statement to the judicial authorities or report the incident to the police, depending on the type of claim, stating the date and time when it occurred, the causes, circumstances, damaged objects and an estimate of the damage.

​

1. How to act?

When we find ourselves involved in a traffic accident, besides the initial shock we have to speak to the other driver with a view to fill out together the “Accident Agreement Report”. To avoid a confrontation or failing to reach an agreement, where ever convenient always call the National or Local Police or the Guardia Civil.

The accident agreement report or DAA (Accident declaration report) is a European document that exists translated in various languages. We have the accident declaration report available to download in English, German, French, Estonian etc.. It is very important that you understand what you are filling out because once signed the report acts as a contract and you cannot deny what you have signed. Remember that the translations serve merely to help and that here in Spain you should preferentially sign the Spanish accident report.Once the police have arrived at the scene of the accident they will consequently write a statement with legal value to the effect of accountability and to claim damages out of or through the courts. If the other driver isn’t always willing to collaborate it is always recommended to get all his identity details (number plate, details of any present witnesses).

If there have been injuries it is also advisable to request the corresponding medical reports and that they show that the traffic accident was the cause of the injuries. This medical report also serves as evidence when determining the appropriate compensation, and therefore the amount of claim to the Insurer.

You have to immediately inform the accident to your Insurance Company, within a period of 7days. If we consider that the responsibility is that of the other driver we have a period of 6 months to file a criminal report and if it is not considered an offence 1 year for a civil claim.

Always read in detail the terms of the Insurance policy you could have already accepted the cover of Legal Defense.

2. What does my Insurance Company do once the claim has been declared?

When you report a claim to your insurance company, a management process begins which aims to pay for repairs and indemnities to the insured and his vehicle as well as injured third parties.

The majority of insurance companies in Spain have established a system of collaboration in claim management, so that the client will have their claim resolved in a few days with the least amount of inconvenience where possible.

​

This claim management system includes the CICOS system and the CIDE and ASCIDE agreements. The majority of Insurance Companies are affiliated to CICOS although there are still some who are not. CICOS which means “Claim Compensation Computer Centre” is a computerized system and all the companies that belong to CICOS are connected. This system actually resolves nearly 83% of all claims that are produced in Spain, which is more than 2.5 million claims per year.

It consists of a direct compensation system between insurance companies, which undertake to address accidents involving only property damage (collision between two vehicles).

This system provides flexibility, because: when there is a claim, whether or not there is an accident agreement form, whether or not there is consistency with the facts of the accident, each driver reports the claim to his Insurance Company.

​

The company whose vehicle is not at fault will communicate the claim to CICOS. The company whose vehicle is at fault must accept the claim, or in the case of no reply, it is as if they will accept it. If declined they must communicate this to the company whose vehicle is not at fault, and they can only do this if the vehicle is not insured with the said company.

​

This is to say that this cannot be refuted if the vehicle is insured. Once responsibility has been accepted, each company repairs the damage to their insured. This means that if you are not to blame, it is Zurich that pays for your claim, not the other company. The opposing company will pay a fixed amount, regardless of vehicle damage. The CICOS module in 2011 is 882€.

CICOS reduces the time in which a claim is handled. For example, if there is a signed Agreement Form, both vehicles have declared the claim and are in agreement, the claim can be processed in less than a week.

If any of these things fail, the opponent hasn’t declared the claim, the declaration form doesn’t exist, someone isn’t in agreement, etc. the claims are usually resolved within 2 – 4 weeks. The CICOS system will not affect the insured’s (who is not to blame) no claims discount, even though it is Zurich who pay for the repair of your vehicle.

Which Claims are managed through the “CICOS” system?

The CICOS system is made up of the CIDE and ASCIDE agreements.

CIDE: Direct Spanish Compensation Agreement. In the said agreement those claims that are produced by direct collision between TWO vehicles, whichever class or use of vehicle it may be. It is necessary that the TWO vehicles have compulsory Liability insurance and that they correctly fill out and sign the Agreement form.

ASCIDE: Supplemental Agreement to the Direct Spanish Compensation Agreement. An Extension to the CIDE agreement -claims where the Agreement form is not completed or signed.

Do all Claims enter the “CICOS” System?

No, not all car claims are managed by the CICOS system. There are specific cases of claims that are treated by another type of agreement: the SDM.

​

For example, those that do not enter the CICOS system: Physical damages to people will be done through a separate agreement. Claims that are between vehicles from the same Company. The implication of two or more vehicles in the same claim. The non existence of a direct collision between vehicles. Damages produced by a detached load. Non vehicle property damage (for e.g suitcases).

​

SYSTEM ”SDM” is a system similar to CICOS, formed in the year 2002, with the participation of the most important companies, Property Damage claims system. In this system enter those claims where material damage exists and is not set out in the CICOS system. For example:

• Chain Claims: For example, when on the motorway various cars collide back to back, where the last vehicle collides to the one in front, and this in turn to the one in front, and so on.

• The non existence of direct collision between vehicles: For example, in an accident where a vehicle jumps a traffic light and the other vehicle, not to be hit, turns the wheel and crashes into a shop.

• Damages produced by a detached load: For example, when you are transporting a Surf board on the top of your car, which comes loose and causes an accident to the vehicle travelling behind.

• Non vehicle Property Damage (for e.g suitcases): For example, when you have an accident and apart from vehicle damage, there are damages to a box of glasses that you have just bought.