Accidents, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters happen. That is the reason you must prepare for them and acquire some form of insurance coverage. Whether it is water damage caused by a burst pipe, or severe weather like floods, wildfires, and thunderstorms, it’s imperative to know the potential hazards that could impact your property and family.
The process of filing an insurance claim and getting it paid is time-consuming. However, it helps if you already understand that your insurer isn’t your relative or colleague, but your adversary. Here is a guide to get your insurance paid fast.
Act quickly
Often, insurers handle claims on a first-come, first-serve rationale. In a disaster that might affect many people, it’s best to move quickly to get a quick response. Call your insurer to report a claim immediately after the disaster. Generally, insurance companies respond to such hazards fast, and it’s recommended to contact a reliable public insurance adjuster in Florida to help handle the valuation of your claim and other important aspects of the claim payment process.
Keep all necessary documents and copies in a convenient folder. Details about your land titles, mortgage, and insurance policies should be kept in a safe, easy-to-access folder that you can easily retrieve in case of an emergency evacuation. Besides, keeping your files organized facilitates easy reference following an accident or disaster.
Track your inventory and take pictures
You don’t have to wait for a disaster to strike to take inventory of your business, home, and your possessions. Take photographs and short video clips of your property and other important items. Digitize and catalog this information as a backup on cloud computing platforms like Picasa, Flickr, and more.
When a disaster strikes, you will still have reliable evidence of your property and possessions, even if much of it got damaged or lost.
Handle all necessary repairs
If you realize your property needs a few repairs, take a picture of the damaged section and do the necessary repairs to ensure the problem doesn’t get worse. Most homeowner’s insurance policies require this level of diligence. Keep all receipts for supplies acquired and all the expenses you incurred, as your insurer should reimburse you.
Also, if you’re unable to stay in your property due to the damage, keep track of all the expenses you incur during this period. Your insurer may give a stipend to cover these expenses or reimburse you for the costs.
Get in touch with an insurance adjuster
Even if you had to evacuate because of the disaster, it is important to be there when an insurance adjuster inspects and analyzes the damage. This will allow you to explain what happened and respond to all questions that might arise.
Providing detailed information and having first-hand, reliable proof can help you get a higher amount of compensation.
Do not just file your claim and relax. It is essential to talk to your insurer to get more information about your claim. In case your claim is denied, find out why, and consider hiring a lawyer.
