FEBRUARY 14, 2015
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- One snow storm after another,
and damage to homes is piling up and so are the expenses. So how do you get
your insurance to pay? FOX25's Joy Lim Nakrin found an insurance adjuster with
advice for our viewers ahead of the next storm.
Adjusters at Independent Claim Services have been flooded
with calls for damage from all the recent snow. They work with more than a
dozen insurance companies across the country and say, if you have to file a
claim, do it as soon as you can.
Dave Plantinga has been adjusting claims for nearly 30
years, but rarely has he seen so much damage as in this stretch of snow.
"This is gonna be one of the busiest seasons that we've
ever seen," he said.
People are dealing with leaking, ice dams, freeze ups and
more. How much will be covered, is what most homeowners want to know.
"In the event of a loss the insured has a duty to
protect their property from further damages, and if that is not done there's a
possibility that some of those damages may not be covered," he said.
Most say it's stressful to file a claim, but "best
allayed when insurance has paid."
"That's part of being a homeowner you know, nothing we
can do about the weather so that's why you have the coverage," Plantinga
said.
He went on to say that most insurance companies will take at
least a week to pay out a claim so the earlier you file the sooner you could
get paid.
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
- Do not try to pass an old damage as a new one; you will get caught. It is rather easy to determine the new vs. old property damage;
- Have receipts readily available for expenses, repairs, etc. No receipts means no claim check; this is the rule and very few exceptions are allowed;
- If you do not agree with the insurance company’s investigation report and findings, feel free to hire your own expert to do the investigation and prepare your own report. This is probably the best thing you can do for large claims;
- Do have in mind that the insurance company’s experts are looking for the best interest of the insurer and not yours. Thus, as has amply been documented during the Superstorm Sandy litigation, the insurance experts will downplay your damages and either find no damage or very little damage. This is unfortunately the game that is played. Instead of getting upset, please do yourself a favor and hire your own expert.
