Perhaps your property experienced flooding or significant wind damage in a recent storm. You might expect the insurance company to be totally overwhelmed with claims in the days following major weather events. Putting off making a call to your agents might just seem like a smart choice so that you don’t end up on hold for two straight hours.
However, if filing a claim remains a low-priority action, you might continue to find reasons to put off submitting the necessary paperwork to your insurance company. Many people fall into a trap of acclimating to the damaged condition of their home and then failing to get the benefits they actually need and deserve.
While you may not indefinitely delay filing a claim, putting it off for too long could compromise how much you receive from the insurance company.
Delayed repairs can worsen the damage
When the insurance company looks into a claim related to storm damage or flooding, one of the first considerations will be when the damage occurred. If it has been weeks or months since the initial storm and now other weather events have worsened the damage, the insurance company may try to hold you partially responsible for the situation.
Essentially, by failing to repair the property in a timely manner, you have directly contributed to its continued worsening. The insurance company could then reduce what it offers you based on what it believes to be your portion of responsibility for the current issues affecting the property.
Timely action and thorough communication benefits claimants
When acting, know that most policyholders need to review their documents to affirm what kind of coverage they have, report the issue to their insurance company and possibly secure a quote from a local contractor capable of performing the necessary repairs.
Communicating in writing is often beneficial, as there is then documentation of your efforts to resolve the matter at hand. Typically, homeowners trying to repair property damage will benefit from quickly communicating with their insurance company and knowing their rights. Understanding common mistakes that occur when large homeowner’s insurance claims are filed can help you to avoid similar complications in your case.