Claims Process

Reporting vehicle damage

If your vehicle is damaged due to a road issue (example: potholes):

• Let your insurance company know about the damage as soon as it happens
• Costs may be covered by your insurer
• Vehicle owners are responsible for making sure your vehicle is safe for driving. This may require having it repaired

Minimum Maintenance Standards (MMS)

The Town is required to meet the Provincial Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways (MMS). The MMS are standards from the Province of Ontario for road maintenance. They can be different depending on speed limit and traffic volume on a roadway.

Pothole reporting and repairs

If you see a pothole:

• Contact the Roads department at 705-789-1751, option 5; or
• Submit a road question or concern

The Town finds potholes through regular patrols. Also through reports made by the public to the Town.

• Potholes are repaired faster on higher speed roads and those with higher traffic volume 
• Potholes are repaired within 7 days of it being reported, on the Town's busiest roads
• Potholes may be repaired between 14 and 30 days of it being reported, on smaller roads

Town responsibility

The Town follows the MMS. The Town will not be held responsible for damages if the MMS have been met.

District responsibility

The District of Muskoka owns and maintains many roads in the Town's limits.  

If you have a concern or have damage from a pothole on a District road:

1. Confirm if it is a District road. Check the list of District roads 
2. Report it to Muskoka Public Works at 705-645-6764; or email publicworks@muskoka.on.ca

Submitting a claim

Anyone wishing to make a claim against the Town must do so in writing within 10 days of the accident/incident in accordance with Subsection 44(10) of the Municipal Act, 2001. The claim must include the following information:

• Name, mailing address, telephone number of the person making the claim
• Date, time, and exact location (address or closest intersection) of the incident
• Full description of what happened including: photographs, police report (if available), diagrams, etc.
• Name(s) of any other parties involved, including Town staff or contractor
• List name(s) and contact information of any witnesses

For claims involving potholes, the Town of Huntsville is not considered responsible for damages unless it fails to inspect and maintain roads according to standards set out in the Municipal Act, 2001, Ontario Regulation 239/02 (Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways).

You can submit a claim to the Asset and Risk Management Coordinator:

• By completing the Claims Report form; or
• By mail to 37 Main Street East, Huntsville, ON P1H 1A1

Reporting collision damage

If your vehicle is damaged in a collision with a Town vehicle, you must:

• Let your insurance company know about the damage as soon as it happens, regardless of fault
• Costs may be covered by your insurer
• You are responsible for making sure your vehicle is safe for driving. This may require having it repaired

Property loss could include:

• Damage from fallen trees
• Flooding
• Sewer back up

Reporting property damage

If your property is damaged, you must:

• Let your insurance company know about the damage as soon as it happens
• Costs may be covered by your insurer

District responsibility

The District of Muskoka is responsible for water and wastewater services. If you have damage from these systems, report it to District Public Works at 705-645-6764; or email publicworks@muskoka.on.ca 

Injury at Town-owned facilities could include:

• Buildings
• Roads
• Sidewalks

Injury could happen from:

• Slips
• Trips
• Falls

You must report these to the Town in writing, within 10 days of the incident.

Reporting bodily or personal injury claim

If you have been injured while at a Town facility, please report the injury to staff immediately.

Process

Prepare a notice of injury claim in writing within 10 days of the incident. These details are needed: 

• Name, mailing address, telephone number of the person making the claim
• Date, time and exact location (address or closest intersection) of the incident
• Full description of what happened including: photographs, police report (if available), diagrams, etc.
• Name(s) of any other parties involved, including Town staff or contractor
• List name(s) and contact information of any witnesses

Send to

Send your claim (with above details) to the Asset and Risk Management Coordinator:

• By completing the Claims Report form; or
• By mail to Asset and Risk Management Coordinator, 37 Main Street East, Huntsville, ON P1H 1A1

Next steps

After receiving your claim, the Town will/may:

• Confirm any details needed
• Start an investigation from all of the details given
• Send claim to a private insurance adjuster. They will review and determine if the Town is legally responsible for the claim