Severe property damage can affect life to a standstill. It can leave you displaced and without income for the foreseeable future, while the insurance company resists and looks for as many ways to avoid paying as possible. So what should you know about property damage claims?
To say it’s a frustrating experience is an understatement. If your home or business has been damaged and you are struggling to recover damages from a loss, contact a public property damage adjuster. LU Adjust Consultant has been helping property damage victims for years, and we will help you improve your chances of recovering the most for your losses.
Call us anytime at 407-684-5040 or contact us online, and we can schedule a no-risk consultation to discuss the details of your property damage case.
1: You have to prove everything: your first steps
After identifying the damage, one of the first things you should do is to protect the remaining personal possessions by taking the necessary precautions to protect your property from further damage. You should then seek the advice of a property damage claim expert. Failure to receive adequate property damage mitigation advice may result in a reduced likelihood that you will be able to successfully recover all of your losses. Your policy will likely have a clause that requires you to give them timely notice of a potential claim, even if the actual claim is filed later.
To stay current with your policy, keep track of all damaged property, including structures, possessions and anything else to which you can attribute a monetary value. Any major changes in the value of the home or your belongings should be reflected in the most current policy possible.
When dealing with the insurance company, keep in mind that all insurance claims are essentially business negotiations. You will be dealing with an adjuster who has the financial interests of the insurance company in mind. Be careful what you tell them, as any hint of negligence, failure to proactively protect against property damage, or other indications, could lead you to be partially responsible for the damage, which could overload your emotional distress.
When you consider the insurance company, the adjusters, the language of your policies and their insurance legal teams, it’s unlikely that you can just contend at their respective standards. For most people, the insurance policy is more or less a mystery.
Despite this, your rights as a property owner and insured provide you with some benefits. Seeking the help of an experienced property damage Pubic Adjuster can give you every legal advantage, so there’s a better chance of covering your damages. That’s the first vital piece of information you need to know about property damage claims.
2: Major disasters may result in a different claims experience.
If you live in an area affected by a hurricane, tornado, massive flooding, fire or other disaster, you may begin to receive requests from public insurance adjusters. These are usually independent of the insurance companies, which is an advantage, as they will have similar interests to yours.
The benefit of this is, some public adjusters do not charge a single penny either at the beginning or in the claim process. They only charge a fee based on the final settlement you receive from the insurance company.
In a scenario where you are the only unfortunate person facing damage, such as a fallen tree or a home fire, you are likely to face an insurance adjuster unless you specifically seek out an independent adjuster.
Insurance adjusters who work for an insurance company will have the same interests as the insurance company. Although they will not charge you for their services, you may have to dispute their estimated coverage to seek the maximum amount possible for your damages. Seeking the help of a skilled and knowledgeable team of public adjusters for your property damage can help you with this process.
3: Your policy will detail stipulations and what you can claim.
The language of your insurance policy will provide details on what type of damages are covered and which ones are not. Try to familiarize yourself with your policy or ask your legal representative to explain it to you.
Generally, the following types of damage are covered:
Fallen tree damage
Storm damage
Water damage
Fire and smoke damage
Hurricane damage
Tornado damage
Wind Damage
Hail Damage
Mold Damage
Theft
Vandalism
Roof damage
Sinkhole Damage
While all of these are commonly covered in a general sense, there are often details in your policy that may prevent your insurance company from paying. Once you read your policy, you will know about property damage claims.
(For example, if a tree falls on your property, but does not damage any structures or possessions, you may have to deal with its removal at your own expense. If it falls on your car, most of the time you will have to deal with your auto insurance provider).
Another common example is water damage. Some types of water damage, such as damaged pipes or rain damage, are generally covered. Other types, including clogged sewers and flooding, may not be (This varies depending on your insurance policy).
It is no coincidence that basic insurance policies in areas prone to floods or earthquakes often exclude those types of disasters from covered damage. For this reason, supplemental insurance is a good idea.
4: What NOT to do when dealing with home insurance?
Don’t forget to record and keep track of your possessions, the value of your home and your losses. Having an inventory of valuable possessions is a great way to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
Don’t start repairing anything that is damaged until you have contacted your public adjuster and verified that it is okay to do so. You will need to reach an agreement on the repairs and the necessary costs before you can expect to recover any financial losses from such work.
Don’t forget to get all agreements with your insurance company in writing. Failure to do so can cause problems down the road. Having everything in writing is also a good way to keep everyone on the same page.
Don’t throw anything away. Damaged possessions may go unused, but having these items to prove their damage and value can help with the claims process. Also be sure to keep all receipts related to home purchases, improvements or repairs.
Don’t accept the first offer unless you are 100% sure it covers all of your losses. Often, the first offer from an insurance company will be an attempt to get you to settle for less than your damages are worth. Expecting a better deal may get you closer to the maximum possible amount of your losses. Something some insurance companies wish you didn’t know about property damage claims.
5: An experienced public adjuster with property damage experience can help you recover the maximum amount possible.
When you try to take on the insurance company alone, you run the risk of making a mistake, one that could cost you the money you need to recover for repairs after a disaster. Seeking the help of a trusted legal team with extensive experience handling property damage can help. Knowing when to hire a public property damage adjuster is just as important as knowing that you need one in the first place.
LU Adjust can help you get your life back on track after a disaster strikes your home or business. Whether you’re dealing with a downed tree, fire damage, major hurricane damage, theft or vandalism, we can help you fend off the insurance company when their dogged tactics come into play.
Call us at (407) 684-5040 or contact us by chatting with an actual agent, and we can go over the details of your case as soon as possible during a free, no-risk review. When it comes to property damage, we can make sure you get the money you deserve.
