 With back-to-back Hurricanes that hit the west coast of Florida within two weeks, it can be difficult to document which storm created damage to your property. Some damages could be overlapping but became worse from the second storm.
This is why it’s important to document damage right away. Both storms had flooding and hurricane-force winds. Your insurance policy is a contract with specific language that requires you to mitigate to prevent further damage to your property. Oftentimes, and out of a sense of urgency, property owners start to clean up and remove damaged evidence before the insurance company has an opportunity to inspect the damage. Tips To Document Hurricane Damage When your property gets damaged and you need to file an insurance claim, you should always have proof of the damage before any cleanup/removal begins. Below are some quick tips to help guide you:
If you cannot prove the property was damaged before it was discarded, you may not be paid for it. Mitigating Damages To Protect Your Property Documenting the damage properly is important to your recovery when you file an insurance claim. As I mentioned above, this is a requirement in your insurance policy and includes mitigation/cleanup. There are multiple reasons to mitigate, some can be tree removal from the building or tarping a damaged roof to minimize water intrusion. Other forms would be to remove residual water from rising flood waters or a broken pipe. Either way, documenting the damages before mitigation/cleanup is key to proving the damage. If you need any help with your insurance claim, whether it’s a new or underpaid claim, we have the knowledge, experience, and professionalism to get you everything you are entitled to. Call us at (561) 288-6434 or contact us here.
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 I have spoken several times that not all damage is a covered loss when you have property damage. Oftentimes, when you notice damage to your property, your instinct is to immediately call your insurance company and report a claim.
We receive calls from property owners saying they got denied on their claim and need help. To determine if the claim was properly denied, we need to dive into what is going on and ask a lot of questions. What’s The Cause of the Damage It is always best practice to read and understand your insurance policy to know what is and isn’t covered, then assess what’s causing the damage. If you do not know where the damage is coming from, it’s important to contact an expert and seek help. For example, a roof leak causing water damage to the interior of your property may not be covered in your insurance policy. Water damage going on for some time can be considered long-term and may not be covered. Then the question is asked, will the claim remain on their record? Claim Denial on Claim Record If your insurance claim is denied, it may not affect your claims history or record in the same way that a paid claim might. However, the fact that you filed a claim may still be recorded in the insurance company's internal systems or shared with other insurers through industry databases. Here are a few key points to keep in mind:
Insurance Report If you're unsure of your claim history, you can request a copy of your insurance report from databases like CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) and review its information for accuracy and to see what may be shared with other insurers. The database collects and reports personal property and auto claims. In the event you need help with a new, underpaid or denied insurance claim, Reliant Insurance Adjusters is here for you. Our team has the knowledge and experience to handle all types of insurance claims and we are here to protect our clients’ best interests. Contact us today if you have any questions or need any guidance with your insurance policy. |
