MEC&F Expert Engineers : TOP 12 INSURANCE CLAIM TIPS –AND KEEP YOUR FRUSTRATION DOWN

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

TOP 12 INSURANCE CLAIM TIPS –AND KEEP YOUR FRUSTRATION DOWN



Top 12 Insurance Claim Tips –and keep your frustration down






An Arctic surge has resulted in bitterly cold temperatures and heavy snow in many areas of the United States, resulting in car crashes and damage to property, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).



Winter storms are the third-largest cause of U.S. catastrophe losses, behind only hurricanes and tornadoes. Winter storms caused $1.9 billion in insured losses in 2013, up dramatically from just $38 million in 2012. From 1994 to 2013 U.S. winter storms resulted in about $27 billion in insured catastrophe losses (in 2013 dollars), or more than $1 billion a year on average, according to Property Claim Services (PCS).




"Standard homeowners policies provide coverage for damage caused by wind, snow, severe cold and freezing rain," said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and chief communications officer of the I.I.I. "Car accidents caused by slippery road conditions are also covered under standard auto insurance policies."




The I.I.I. offers the following information on insurance coverage for winter storms:




Auto Policies



Vehicle crashes between two or more drivers caused by snowy and slippery roads are covered by liability insurance. A car that crashes into an object would generally be covered under the optional collision portion of an auto policy.



Physical damage to a car caused by heavy wind, flooding or fallen ice or tree limbs is covered under the optional comprehensive portion of an auto policy. 




Homeowners Insurance Policies



Wind-related damage to a house, its roof, its contents and other insured structures on the property is covered under standard homeowners insurance policies. Wind-driven snow or freezing rain that gets into the home because the home was damaged by wind is also covered.



Tree limbs that fall on a house or other insured structure on the property would be covered for both the damage the tree inflicts on the house and the cost of removing the tree, generally up to about $500. Ice and other objects that fall on the home are also covered.



Damage to the house and its contents caused by weight of snow or ice that creates a collapse is covered under standard homeowners insurance policies.



Freezing conditions such as burst pipes or ice dams, a condition where water is unable to drain properly through the gutters and seeps into a house causing damage to ceilings and walls, is covered. However, there is generally a requirement that the homeowner has taken reasonable steps to prevent these losses by keeping the house warm and properly maintaining the pipes and drains.



Standard homeowners policies also include additional living expenses (ALE) in the event that a home is severely damaged by an insured disaster. This would pay for reasonable expenses incurred by living elsewhere while the home is being fixed.



Melting snow that seeps into a home from the ground up would be covered by flood insurance, which is provided by FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, and a few private insurers. Flood insurance is available to both homeowners and renters. Damage caused by flooding is not covered by standard homeowners or renters insurance policies.



"Consumers who need to file an insurance claim should contact their insurance professional as soon as possible," said Salvatore. "Let your agent know the extent of the damage and start to document your loss with lists, receipts or photographs. If you have a home inventory, now would also be a good time to access it."




hERE ARE THE TOP 12 TIPS FOR HANDLING THE WINTER STORM PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM.



1. Be pro-active in the claim process.  File the claim as soon as the damage occurs.  Do not delay a minute.

2. You’re not on a level playing field when you’re dealing with an insurance claim.

3. Think of your insurance claim as a business negotiation—you’re dealing with a for-profit company.

4. Give your insurance company a chance to do the right thing, but don’t mistake a friendly representative for a friend.

5. Document and support your claim with proof, details and estimates.

6. Present clear requests in writing that explain what you need, when you need it, and why you’re entitled to it.

7. Don’t pad or exaggerate your claim.  The insurer can accuse you of insurance fraud and deny the claim - this is critical to remember.

8. Don’t sign legal documents without consulting with a qualified attorney.

9. Try to resolve problems informally but complain in writing, go up the chain of command and/or use government agency help when necessary.

10. Get specialized professional help when you need it, start in the “Find Help” section of www.uphelp.org.

11. Do not rely on the insurer’s expert report, as it represents a biased investigation;  that expert is not on your side.  If you disagree with the expert report findings, hire your own expert – this is crucial.

12.  Do not get frustrated with thje investigation process – it happens with almost all claims.  Keep calm and be patient.






Key Flood Insurance Claim Tips:

·         Focus on completely inventorying and valuing all damage and costs to repair or replace your property, regardless of your insurance situation. 

·         Keep a diary of conversations with insurance, repair, government and other professionals. 

·         Flood policies have different rules than home policies. 

·         If you did not have flood insurance, there may still be Sandy damage that should be covered under your home policy, depending on how it is written.  Examples could be wind-driven rain, sewage backup due to electrical failure of a pump or other device, other damage due to power outages or surges. 

·         Give your home and/or flood insurer a chance to do the right thing, but advocate for yourself and get help from the NJ DOI and/or experienced professionals if you feel you’re not being treated fairly.

·         If a home or flood insurance adjuster says damage isn’t covered, but you feel it should be, get an independent professional opinion before giving up on getting some or all of your claim paid.





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