A Complete Process to File Home Damage Insurance Lawsuit In 2024
According to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), approximately 85% of homeowners have home insurance policies. From an injury that occurs on your property to the damage from the storm or fire, there are many good reasons to file a home damage insurance lawsuit. Informing the insurance company about all the damages before the deadlines helps you put more money in your pocket faster.
First, you need to figure out whether you are eligible to file a claim or not. If repairing the damages costs you less than or close to your deductible, you may want to either make repairs yourself or pay for the contractor out of pocket. You should take professional assistance from a skilled lawyer to get a smooth and fair settlement for your claim.
Filing a claim will help you ensure that repairs are done promptly and professionally. In addition, the damaged or destroyed items are placed and your life begins to return to normal as soon as possible.
Process of homeowner’s insurance claim
1. Report the issue to your local police
For certain types of insurance claims, your provider will require a police report, especially if theft or an act of damage occurs. Therefore, you should file a report and give it to the insurance company to support your claim.
2. Contact your insurance company
It’s important to call the insurer immediately after the incident occurs to get a hassle-free claim. Consequently, the claims department will assign a claim number and an insurance adjuster to your case. That person will be responsible for assessing the damage and estimating the costs. You should also provide the adjuster with all the descriptions of damage to your property, details about the loss, and documentation related to your claim. They will report the loss immediately to your insurer.
3. Gather every evidence
If your home is damaged or burglarized, take photos or videos along with detailed notes to provide documented proof to your insurance company. You may also need this documentation for an appeal if the insurance company gives you a lower payout than expected.
Moreover, if there is an injury or damage to your property, document everything, including the date, time, and details of the incident. Explaining all these details to your insurance company makes the property damage insurance claim process much easier.
However, if you want to leave your home and need to claim the additional living expenses, you should keep receipts to be reimbursed. Review your ALE coverage if you can’t live there due to the mandatory evacuation or damage to your home from an insured catastrophe.
4. Cooperate with your insurer during the
investigation of the claim
You are required to have a proper inspection, produce documentation, and give a recorded statement to your insurance company. In addition to calling your insurance company, or insurance agents directly, some insurers let you contact them online. However, unless you are making a minor claim, it’s ideal to speak directly with an agent or company representative.
5. Make urgent repairs
Do you have a leaky roof or water damage that is making your home unlivable? If yes, consider temporary repairs. It is the obligation of every homeowner to prevent damage from getting worse.
For example, you should hire a water remediation professional if you suffer emergency water damage, or if you want to install a tarp on your roof to prevent interior damage stemming from a roofing problem and get a fair homeowner’s insurance claim.
However, keep all the receipts along with the additional copies for repairs and give them to your insurance company to reimburse you. You should temporarily move out of your home because it’s uninhabitable. You should also keep a record of all your lodging and other expenses, such as food, and submit them to your insurance company for reimbursement.
6. Consider hiring a public adjuster
The insurance company provides an adjuster at no charge to you. A public adjuster doesn’t have any relationship with your insurance company and charges a fee of up to 15% of the insurance settlement for his or her services. Just like a company adjuster, a public adjuster will investigate your property and assess all the pre-existing damage.
He will ask questions about the routine maintenance you have performed or other safety measures you have implemented to reduce the risk of theft, injury, or damage on the property.
It’s not compulsory to agree with the adjuster’s final determination. After all, the insurance company’s payout may be significantly lower than expected. In such cases, you should hire a skilled and experienced home damage insurance lawyer in Philadelphia to independently evaluate the cost of the damage and represent you when you appeal.
Types of losses covered in a home damage insurance lawsuit
- Damages from snow or ice.
- Damage caused by an aircraft.
- Explosion.
- Damage caused by motor vehicles.
- Fire.
- Lightning
- Riot or civil commotion.
- Smoke.
- Theft.
- Vandalism or malicious mischief.
- Volcanic eruption.
- Windstorm or hail.
Types of coverage
Most of the standard policies of home damage insurance coverage contain four essential coverages. It includes:
- Coverage for the structure of the insured person’s house.
- Coverage for the personal belongings of the insured person. It includes furniture, clothing, household electronics, and more.
- Liability protection for personal injury.
- Coverage for additional living expenses of the insured person or family incurs if they live elsewhere while their house is repaired or rebuilt.
Reasons to choose Ethen Ostroff Law Firm
- We partner with firms who are focused in helping file insurance claims on your behalf and help bring knowledge, skills, and experience into your case.
- We know how to negotiate and get the fair settlement you deserve.
- We analyze your unique situation and inform you of all the available options.
- We will gather all the strong evidence you need to win your case.
If you want a lawyer who cares about you and the outcome of your home damage insurance lawsuit, choose Ethen Ostroff. He and his professional connections ensure you get every dollar possible for what you went through.
