 When you need to file a residential or commercial property damage claim, the last thing on your mind is will my insurance company cover all the damage? After all, you pay your insurance premiums, you have coverage and it’s a covered loss. So why wouldn’t they cover the damage?
Our client sustained water damage to her property when her neighbor’s washing machine leaked. There was extensive damage to kitchen cabinets, baseboards, walls. In adjacent rooms, more walls, wallpaper and flooring was also damaged. There was plenty of damage to the lower portions of the wallpaper which was continuous throughout the living areas. During the inspection with the insurance adjuster, we showed her the damaged wallpaper and she said “we only pay for the wallpaper that’s damaged. Not the undamaged parts. There are no coverage restrictions in the policy, so how can they only pay for “what’s damaged” when the wallpaper is more than 15 years old and is no longer available? What about the upper portions of the wallpaper and the continuous wallpaper? After further discussion and explanation, she agreed that it all needed to be replaced. Now the question remains – will the insurance company stand by their adjuster’s report, or decide to restrict the coverage and change the adjuster’s estimate? When an insurance company does this, how can a policyholder feel they can trust their insurance company when they need them most? At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, our knowledge and experience matter. We never give up and work diligently to obtain everything our clients are entitled to receive for their damage. If you have a new, underpaid or denied insurance claim, we are here to help. Contact us today.
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 Before you file a property damage insurance claim for a commercial or residential property, you need to know what caused the damage and the date the damage occurred.
You then need to find out if the cause of loss is covered under your insurance policy. If you do not, it may result in a denied claim or additional inspections by the insurance company. Just because you see damage, doesn’t mean it is covered. Cause of Loss Our policies cover damage caused by certain losses like fire and smoke, hurricanes, and water damage, just to name a few. Some policies contain limits or exclusions within the policy for specific losses, or time limits for a leak that goes on for an extended period, rather happening suddenly or accidentally. If you do not know the cause of the loss, or the damage appears to have been going on for some time, the insurance company may send an expert to provide the causation and approximate timeline of when the damage occurred. Experts If your roof leaks and causes damage to the interior of the property, the insurance company may send an engineer to inspect the roof to determine what caused the damage and if there is damage to your roof. Some policies require there to be a wind created opening to the roof or building that allows water to enter for any interior damage to be covered. These are some nuances within a policy that can either limit or exclude coverage. Make sure you understand your coverage, and you know what is causing the damage before you file a claim. Insurance Coverage You need to know and understand your insurance policy and the coverage it provides. We receive many calls when a claim gets denied because the property owner had no idea what caused the damage or if the damage was covered. When you see damage to your property, ask the following: What caused the damage? Is the damage covered? Are there coverage limits in the policy? Are there specific exclusions in the policy? What is your deductible? How much damage do you have? Is it worth filing a claim or repairing the damage? Simply put, there are many factors that go into an insurance claim, and you shouldn’t file a claim without knowing your insurance policy or the coverage it provides. If you have a new or underpaid insurance claim, or you are unsure if you are covered, we are here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation. |
