Making a Claim
If you have incurred damage to your property, had an injury and/or you believe the City may be responsible, please follow the process below to send your claim to the City for consideration. In most situations, you are required to place the City on notice within 10 business days of the incident. We recommend that you inform the City as soon as possible.
The Municipal Act requires that the City receives notification in writing. Please complete the attached form below to ensure that your claim meets the notice requirement, please forward your claim to claims@stthomas.ca
Please Note: Payment for property damage or bodily injury is contingent upon the City being found legally liable. We suggest that in all cases of damage that you also contact your insurance company or broker.
Claim Reporting Process
Complete the following form – Claim Report Form – and email to claims@stthomas.ca
Fraudulent claims cost all taxpayers. The City will prosecute all fraudulent claims to the full extent of the law.
Response Time
Upon receipt of your claim, claims@stthomas.ca will acknowledge your claim within two (2) weeks. An investigation begins upon receipt of your claim and typically a final response will be sent within three weeks.
City Compensation for Your Costs
The City will not be held responsible for your costs unless you can provide evidence that the City committed a negligent act or omission which resulted in injury or damage. Like most Canadian municipalities, the City of St. Thomas only compensates when it is legally liable for the damage sustained. This approach helps to reduce costs for the taxpaying public - who ultimately bear the cost of these claims.
While Waiting for a Response from the City
We suggest that you contact your own insurer regarding damages to property or your vehicle. Depending on the situation, you may be eligible for more compensation from your insurers than you can recover from the City. If your insurer believes the City is liable, it will deal with the City on your behalf.
It is important that you make efforts to minimize damage. If you do not, you may be held responsible for part of the damage cost.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Whenever damage to City property is caused by a third party the City seeks recovery of the related costs from the responsible party (e.g., for damage to property such as street lights and hydrants).