Claims to the City

Type of Claims

• Damage to my Home

  Contact your Insurance Representative

  If you have suffered a sewer backup, a watermain break or City tree damaged your home, you should contact your insurance company or broker right away, and refer to your homeowner's insurance policy. Should your insurance company believe the City is responsible for the loss, the insurer may seek compensation against the City on your behalf.
  

  All claims made against the City must be filed in accordance with the following:

  Notice of Claim in Writing

  When filing your notice of claim letter with the City, it must be submitted in writing and contain the following information:

  • name
  • your mailing address
  • your telephone number
  • date of occurrence (must include: day, month and year)
  • provide the nearest municipal street address (i.e. 1111 Main Street, Niagara Falls, Ontario) of where this incident happened
  • time of day (include a.m. or p.m.) when this incident happened
  • a brief description of what happened
  • explain why you are making the claim
  • identify the value of loss you are claiming
  • if available, provide copies of any estimates, or paid invoices. If not available at the time of filing your claim, please indicate they will be provided at a later date. Please retain your originals.
  • Include printed PHOTO evidence:
    • of the damaged area
    • a few photos of damaged contents in the home
    • the City is unable to accept photos on a USB key or disc
  • Address your letter to the CITY CLERK
  • sign your letter
  • date your letter

  Please note:

  1. Claims must be submitted in writing and cannot be accepted through email or fax.
  2. Registered mail is deemed received by the City Clerk’s office when they affix their date stamp to your letter NOT when it is received by the Post Office.
  3. If any of the requested information is missing in your notice letter, this will delay processing your claim.
  4. There is NO claim form on the City’s website or at City Hall.

  Submit A Claim

  Any new claims to be submitted to the City Clerk’s office can be delivered either:

  1. In person at the Clerk’s counter inside of City Hall at the main entrance of 4310 Queen Street.

  2. In person by using one of two Exterior Dropboxes located at City Hall, 4310 Queen Street. The drop box to be used says: “Payments Only No Cash”. The secure exterior drop box is available 24-7.

     The drop box is emptied by the City Clerk’s office every Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. except not on holidays.

     Dropboxes are found on:

     • Erie Avenue at City Hall
     • Main entrance at City Hall

  3. Registered Mail via Canada Post

     Attention: City Clerk
     The Corporation of the City of Niagara Falls
     Clerk’s Department
     4310 Queen Street
     P.O. Box 1023
     Niagara Falls, Ontario
     L2E 6X5

  City Hall is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  Should you have any questions please contact the Risk Management Administrator at 905-356-7521, extension 6700.

• Damage to my Vehicle

  Contact your Insurance Representative

  If you have hit a pothole, utility trench/road cut or a City tree has fallen on your vehicle, you should contact your insurance company or broker right away, and refer to your auto insurance policy. Should your insurance company believe the City is responsible for the loss, the insurer may seek compensation against the City on your behalf.

  PLEASE NOTE:  This section does not apply to auto collision incidents. If you have been in an auto collision with a City vehicle please go to the Type of Claim section called “Accident with a City vehicle”.

  Time Limits for Filing a Claim

  If your claim involves the maintenance of a highway (including sidewalks or boulevards) pursuant to the Municipal Act, 2001 section 44 (10), you have ten (10) calendar days from the date of the occurrence to file your claim in writing with the City.

  All claims made against the City must be filed in accordance with the following:

  Notice of Claim in Writing

  When filing your notice of claim with the City, it must be submitted in writing and contain the following information:

  • name
  • your mailing address
  • your telephone number
  • provide the make, model and year of the vehicle
  • date of occurrence (must include: day, month and year)
  • location of the nearest municipal street address (i.e. 1111 Main Street, Niagara Falls, Ontario) of where this incident happened
  • time of day (include a.m. or p.m.) when this incident happened
  • a brief description of what happened to you, including:
    • which direction were you travelling
    • which side of the street were you on
  • explain why you are making the claim
  • identify the value of loss you are claiming
  • if available, provide copies of any estimates, or paid invoices. If not available at the time of filing your claim, please indicate they will be provided at a later date. Please retain your originals.
  • Include printed PHOTO evidence:
    • a picture of what caused the damage to your vehicle
    • a picture showing the surrounding streetscape of where the incident happened
    • the City is unable to accept photos on a USB key or disc
  • address your letter to the CITY CLERK
  • the owner of the vehicle must sign the letter
  • date your letter

  Please note:

  1. Claims must be submitted in writing and cannot be accepted through email or fax.
  2. Registered mail is deemed received by the City Clerk’s office when they affix their date stamp to your letter NOT when it is received by the Post Office.
  3. If any of the requested information is missing in your notice letter, this will delay processing your claim.
  4. There is NO claim form on the City’s website or at City Hall.

  Submit A Claim

  Any new claims to be submitted to the City Clerk’s office can be delivered either:

  1. In person at the Clerk’s counter inside of City Hall at the main entrance of 4310 Queen Street.

  2. In person by using one of two Exterior Dropboxes located at City Hall, 4310 Queen Street. The drop box to be used says: “Payments Only No Cash”. The secure exterior drop box is available 24-7.

     The drop box is emptied by the City Clerk’s office every Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. except not on holidays.

     Dropboxes are found on:

     • Erie Avenue at City Hall
     • Main entrance at City Hall

  3. Registered Mail via Canada Post

     Attention: City Clerk
     The Corporation of the City of Niagara Falls
     Clerk’s Department
     4310 Queen Street
     P.O. Box 1023
     Niagara Falls, Ontario
     L2E 6X5

  City Hall is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  Should you have any questions please contact the Risk Management Administrator at 905-356-7521, extension 6700.

• Accident with a City Vehicle

  Contact and Report the Incident to your Insurance Representative

  In the Province of Ontario individuals are to deal with their own insurance company for physical damage sustained to their vehicles. If your vehicle was damaged in an auto collision with a City vehicle you must contact and report the damage to your insurance company or broker right away, as required by the no-fault auto insurance legislation in Ontario. Your insurance company will contact the City to confirm details of the incident.

• Storm Event

  Contact your Insurance Representative

  If you have suffered a sewer backup, flooding or a City tree damaged your home, you should contact your insurance company or broker right away.

  You should refer to your homeowner’s insurance policy as your insurance company may be able to help recover the costs of your damages.

  Begin to:

  • take photos and/or video of the damage.
  • Make an itemized list of what has been damaged.

  This will be helpful when making an insurance claim with your insurance company.

  Should your insurance company believe the City is responsible for the loss, the insurer may seek compensation against the City on your behalf.

  See the "Damage to my Home" section for the following claims:

  • Sewer backup claim
  • Flooding claim
  • Tree damaged home

  Should you have any questions please contact the Risk Management Administrator at 905-356-7521, extension 6700.

• Claim for Injury

  All claims made against the City must be filed in accordance with the following:

  Time Limits for Filing a Claim

  If your claim involves the maintenance of a highway (including sidewalks or boulevards) pursuant to the Municipal Act, 2001 section 44 (10), you have ten (10) calendar days from the date of the occurrence to file your claim in writing with the City.

  Notice of Claim in Writing

  When filing your notice of claim with the City, it must be submitted in writing and contain the following information:

  • name
  • your mailing address
  • your telephone number
  • date of occurrence (must include: day, month and year)
  • location of the nearest municipal street address (i.e. 1111 Main Street, Niagara Falls, Ontario) of where this incident happened
  • time of day (include a.m. or p.m.) when this incident happened
  • a brief description of what happened to you, including:
    • which direction were you travelling
    • which side of the street were you on
  • explain why you are making the claim
  • identify the value of loss you are claiming
  • if available, provide copies of any estimates, or paid invoices. If not available at the time of filing your claim, please indicate they will be provided at a later date. Please retain your originals.
  • Include printed PHOTO evidence:
    • a picture of what caused your injury
    • a picture of the surrounding streetscape including what caused your injury
    • pictures of your injuries
    • the City is unable to accept photos on a USB key or disc
  • Address your letter to the CITY CLERK
  • sign your letter
  • date your letter

  Please note:

  1. Claims must be submitted in writing and cannot be accepted through email or fax.
  2. Registered mail is deemed received by the City Clerk’s office when they affix their date stamp to your letter NOT when it is received by the Post Office.
  3. If any of the requested information is missing in your notice letter, this will delay processing your claim.
  4. There is NO claim form on the City’s website or at City Hall.

  Submit A Claim

  Any new claims to be submitted to the City Clerk’s office can be delivered either:

  1. In person at the Clerk’s counter inside of City Hall at the main entrance of 4310 Queen Street.

  2. In person by using one of two Exterior Dropboxes located at City Hall, 4310 Queen Street. The drop box to be used says: “Payments Only No Cash”. The secure exterior drop box is available 24-7.

     The drop box is emptied by the City Clerk’s office every Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. except not on holidays.

     Dropboxes are found on:

     • Erie Avenue at City Hall
     • Main entrance at City Hall

  3. Registered Mail via Canada Post

     Attention: City Clerk
     The Corporation of the City of Niagara Falls
     Clerk’s Department
     4310 Queen Street
     P.O. Box 1023
     Niagara Falls, Ontario
     L2E 6X5

  City Hall is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  Should you have any questions please contact the Risk Management Administrator at 905-356-7521, extension 6700.

• Construction Projects

  If your home has suffered damage from a City construction project, please contact:

  • Municipal Works at 905-356-7521 x. 4211 or x. 4212
  • ask to speak to the assigned City Project Manager
  • Municipal Works has a “Construction Related Notice of Claim” form which may be applicable in your situation

  If the damage is extensive (i.e. sewer backup or flooding) you should contact your insurance company or broker right away, and refer to your homeowner's insurance policy. Should your insurance company believe the City is responsible for the loss, the insurer may seek compensation against the City on your behalf.

  If your vehicle has been damaged you must contact and report the damage to your insurance company or broker right away, as required by the no-fault auto insurance legislation in Ontario. In the Province of Ontario individuals are to deal with their own insurance company for physical damage sustained to their vehicles.