FIRE & DAMAGE INVESTIGATION
MOTORIZED VEHICLE & EQUIPMENT
When a vehicle is damaged, or suddenly catches fire, insurers are faced with a host of questions regarding the resulting claim. Our team is available to help you resolve any claim.
CEP Forensic has the expertise to identify the cause of a fire, or damage, to any type of vehicle or equipment, including passenger cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, heavy machinery, motorized equipment and even stationary items such as generators.
Fire & damage investigation
Motorized vehicle & equipment
When a vehicle is damaged, or suddenly catches fire, insurers are faced with a host of questions regarding the resulting claim. Our team is available to help you resolve any claim.
CEP Forensic has the expertise to identify the cause of a fire, or damage, to any type of vehicle or equipment, including passenger cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, heavy machinery, motorized equipment and even stationary items such as generators.
Our investigation team is here to answer questions related to fire and failures in all types of vehicles and motorized equipment.
- A vehicle caught fire after being repaired. Is there a connection between the fire and the repair work that has been done?
- An incident occurred with a lifting device. Is the failure due to material fatigue, or breakage?
- Despite having been repaired, equipment or machinery continuously breaks down. Has the cause of the problem really been identified? Is the equipment defective? Is the replacement part suitable? Is the machine being handled correctly?
- A machine was contaminated by fluid (diesel, hydraulic oil, etc.). What is the source of the contamination? Is the solution that has been chosen to prevent contamination adequate? Is the estimation for the repair costs correct? Is anything missing from this list of repairs?
- Is the damage or fire intentional?
Our vehicle damage and fire investigation experts are at your service. Get the assistance you need today.
Canada’s go-to experts for investigations relating to fire and damage in motorized vehicles and equipment
Forensic engineering is our specialty. Our investigative team is uniquely qualified to help you resolve your claim.
CLEARLY COMMUNICATED RESULTS
Investigating the cause of damage or fire to a vehicle requires a deep understanding of equipment operations and mastery of investigative methodology. Depending on the situation, forensic expertise in areas such as chemistry or metallurgy may also be required. Although the investigation process can be complex, the results shouldn’t be difficult to understand.
Making our findings clear and comprehensible is a priority. Depending on the needs of the client, we conclude our investigations by providing either a letter, a detailed report, or an investigation form.
CERTIFIED SPECIALISTS IN FIRE AND DAMAGE INVESTIGATIONS
Our forensic engineers provide professional investigative services supported by an ISO-9001-certified quality management system. Maintaining this certification requires adherence to strict standards throughout the entire investigation.
In addition to being highly qualified, our engineers specialize in key engineering disciplines, enabling us to handle all fire and damage investigations without having recourse to subcontractors or consultants.
Our certification, combined with our multidisciplinary approach and the accessibility of our experts, enables us to conduct investigations efficiently. We strive to deliver the final report with the utmost efficiency.
OUR TIME-TESTED INVESTIGATION METHODOLOGY
As a company that continues to grow and evolve, below is a list of some of the procedures we meticulously follow in order to maintain our high standards:
- Preliminary communication to ensure that the insurer’s needs and concerns are defined and clearly documented.
- Examination of the damaged or burned vehicle or equipment, as appropriate, in collaboration with responders according to availability (often within one week of being retained).
- Research on the subject vehicle or equipment (such as technical specifications, previous recalls, etc.), including data retrieved from the vehicle or equipment computer.
- Preliminary report communicated to the insurer (often verbal).
- Additional investigation, if necessary (fluid or component analysis).
- Second report communicated to the insurer with updated results.
- Creation of a final report (format pre-approved by the insurer).
The time required between each stage of an investigation can vary depending on the complexity of the case and constraints beyond our control.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
Trust our engineers to get the job done
The time required between each stage of an investigation can vary depending on the complexity of the case and constraints beyond our control.
Need clarification on a residential claim? Contact our building fire investigation experts.
OUR TIME-TESTED INVESTIGATION METHODOLOGY
As a company that continues to grow and evolve, below is a list of some of the procedures we meticulously follow in order to maintain our high standards:
- Preliminary communication to ensure that the insurer’s needs and concerns are defined and clearly documented.
- Examination of the damaged or burned vehicle or equipment, as appropriate, in collaboration with responders according to availability (often within one week of being retained).
- Research on the subject vehicle or equipment (such as technical specifications, previous recalls, etc.), including data retrieved from the vehicle or equipment computer.
- Preliminary report communicated to the insurer (often verbal).
- Additional investigation, if necessary (fluid or component analysis).
- Second report communicated to the insurer with updated results.
- Creation of a final report (format pre-approved by the insurer).
The time required between each stage of an investigation can vary depending on the complexity of the case and constraints beyond our control.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
Trust our engineers to get the job done
The time required between each stage of an investigation can vary depending on the complexity of the case and constraints beyond our control.
Need clarification on a residential claim? Contact our building fire investigation experts.
Frequently asked questions concerning vehicle fire and damage investigations (including cars, trucks, machinery, boats, motorized equipment and more)
We’re here to help you with your claim.
I have to process a client’s claim for a vehicle that was completely destroyed in a fire: Is it possible to investigate the fire despite the vehicle’s condition?
Some evidence may remain despite severe, widespread damage to the vehicle. In such a situation, we generally recommend starting with a preliminary investigation, which will quickly reveal whether or not significant elements are present.
The claim budget for my client's damaged vehicle is low: Is it possible to get a preliminary opinion based on photos alone?
As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words! In some cases, just a few photos can be enough to form a professional opinion, and assessments based on photos alone are generally inexpensive. However, it’s worth noting that the accuracy of the conclusions may differ significantly depending on the quality and quantity of the photographic documentation available.
We'd like to investigate a customer's claim for a machine fire in a remote area that is difficult to access. Is this a problem?
The offices of CEP Forensic are located throughout Canada, allowing us to respond to any incident within a short period of time. If there’s a way to get there, we will reach that destination.
Who can use your investigation services?
People who require our investigation services include insurance professionals, especially claim adjusters. Attorneys and corporate clients may also require our expertise, when a file becomes a legal matter.
How long do investigations take?
The duration of an investigation varies from case to case, but as long as the vehicle or machinery is accessible, it can be completed within a few days.
NEED HELP IDENTIFYING THE CAUSE OF A FIRE OR DAMAGE IN A VEHICLE OR TO EQUIPMENT? CONTACT OUR EXPERTS OR CONSULT OUR ARTICLES ON THE SUBJECT!
Contact our experts or read our articles on the subject!