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It takes work to report property damage. Still, it is important to do so if you have recently been hit by bad weather or had an accident. Working out a property damage claim with an insurance company can be challenging. It might seem like an even bigger problem in such a bad situation.
Here are a few tips to help you get the best property damage settlement.
Write Down Everything About The Incident
Write it down if your things or property were damaged in an accident or natural disaster. It might seem like an obvious tip, but it is easy to forget in times of stress.
Taking pictures of the damage will help you keep track of your loss and make it easier to tell your insurance company about it. Above all, it will make your property damage claim more meaningful and increase your chances of getting the most money possible.
Get Your Details Together
People must have told you that filing insurance claims smoothly can help you win the case. Getting all the necessary papers in order is one way to make the process go as smoothly as possible.
Before filing a claim for property damage, your lawyer will do this. People in these positions are experts in their fields and deal with legal matters daily. They will double-check the needed documents and get the documents that most people need help to reach.
Get A Property Damage Lawyer As Soon As You Can
Property damage claims should be easy, but they can be complicated if there are a lot of different factors. You might pay your insurance because you think it will cover the damage when you need it. But insurance companies can act in bad faith, which is a shame. When this happens, property damage lawyers fight for you and make sure the costs are paid.
How they can help your case is as follows:
The lawyer will handle all communication with the insurance company, so you will not have to worry about anything going wrong.
They might bring in experts from different fields to help make a strong case for you.
What Kinds Of Property Damage Claims Can They Handle?
A property damage lawyer takes care of problems with both real and personal property. The damage can be due to another person or a natural disaster, including a hurricane, tornado, flood, etc.
Even regarding property damage claims, each lawyer has a different area of expertise. You need to work with someone who knows how to deal with problems like yours. For example if the property has been damaged by floods, it could be dealt by the flood damage lawyers.
Contact The Insurance Company
It can take weeks or months from filing a damage claim to when the money is paid out. Still, the clock starts to run as soon as the damage is done. So, it would be best to let your insurance company know as soon as possible. Even a slight delay in telling someone about what happened can hurt your case.
During the first phone call, you will need to explain what happened and how much it cost. The company will have one of its workers contact you later.
Get A Price Quote For Repairs And Replacements
To get the most money back for your loss, you must first know how much the damage cost. So, it would be best if you got an estimate of how much it will cost to fix and buy new things. This number will be used by your insurance company to figure out how much they will pay.
Get at least three written bids from licensed, insured contractors who know your insurance company’s requirements. If something goes wrong during the repair, you will not be held responsible if you hire these contractors.
Think Twice Before You Say Something
Every word you say when you talk to your insurance company is important. So, when discussing a property damage claim, you will avoid set-in-stone terms.
Be careful once your insurance company puts an adjuster in charge of your case. That person has probably looked at many different property damage claims like yours. Try your best to be professional and polite, and try to get along with them well.
Comply With The Investigation Process
Compliance is another way to ensure your claim goes as smoothly as possible. When the adjuster comes to you to look into something, you should answer their questions even if you do not like them. Being stubborn or putting up a fight can hurt your case, and you might lose.
But remember to write down everything you say to the insurance company. Tell your lawyer about every call, message, and email you get.
Do Not Take The First Offer You Get
In any case, including property insurance claims, people do not give their best offers right away. Most of the time, the adjuster does not give every cent right away. So, you can always assume it does not apply to your claim.
Do not take the first offer, but do not come back with a crazy high number because that would show that you are not very good at negotiating.
Dispute The Denied Claim
Insurance companies will likely deny claims or slow down the process. But that does not mean you have to take rejection as an answer and let yourself fall apart over the loss. You can always fight a dismissed claim and get the money you deserve.
First, take some time to examine why your appeal was turned down. Talk to your lawyer and gather more proof if you do not believe the reason.
Keep In Touch
If your claim was about damage to your home caused by a fire or bad weather, you must show your insurance company proof that the damage has been fixed. The insurance company needs to know if you used the money for what it was meant for. This step is also very important if you think the company owes you more money.
Conclusion
People who have never dealt with the law before may find these processes scary. But if you know what to expect and plan ahead, you can make the process easier. The key is to pay close attention to every little thing.
Most of all, getting help from a professional makes it much easier to deal with. An attorney will take care of every detail of your case and explain every legal term.
