Once you've ensured that everyone is safe following the loss, your first step will be to contact your insurance carrier and begin the claims process. You can do this by calling the company’s claims department to report the loss.
TIP: If you don’t know the number for your insurance carrier you can also start the process by calling your local agent who sold you the insurance policy.
Your insurance company will probably send an adjuster to meet with you shortly after you report your loss. The adjuster is working for your insurance company, not you. This person may ask you to provide recorded statements, and request signed releases in order to gather financial and other confidential information. Sometimes the company will also have an “expert” come to interview you and investigate the damage.
TIP: Remember, the adjuster doesn’t work for you—he or she works for the insurance company. Their job is to process the claim in a way that works out best for the insurance company, not necessarily you.
Your insurance policy is the contract between you and the insurance company. It spells out the coverage you have, how much coverage you have, and what you need to do in order to get paid. If your copy of your insurance policy was destroyed in the loss, ask the insurance company for a complete copy of your policy, including the declarations page and any endorsements.
TIP: After the loss, as soon as you can, get a copy of your insurance policy and read it. You will quickly see that insurance policies are complex documents that are difficult to understand—and the insurance companies use that to their advantage. Ask the adjuster questions and make sure he or she is addressing all your concerns and is explaining all the possible coverage which you are entitled to. If you aren’t getting straight answers, or if you find that your policy is extremely difficult to understand—call us.
In order to make a claim you will be required to document your loss. The adjuster will ask you to provide information on the value of the building before the damage was done, the extent of the damage, and will likely ask you to write down all the things that were destroyed or damaged. Depending on your policy, you may have coverage for the things in your home that were damaged: furniture, appliances, clothing…..all the things we have in our homes. The insurance company may also tell you that they will hire someone to “help” you put this list together. The claim process can cover many, many categories and take a long time to complete. This is complicated and can be hard to “learn as you go”.
TIP: Make sure to take your time writing a list of damaged property. In most cases people can barely remember half the things they had off the top of their heads—especially right after a traumatic event like a fire or flood. Instead, take your time and go room-by-room thinking about what was in each cupboard or drawer. After a while, take a break and clear your head and then go back to your list. Ask family and friends if they have any photos taken inside your home—this will often times help you visualize the rooms and remind you of furniture or other property that you owned.
Almost all insurance policies require that you submit to an “examination under oath.” An attorney for your insurance company will contact you to set up the examination and likely ask that you bring personal documents - everything from tax returns to debit card statements. If you are asked to take an Examination Under Oath, most policies say that your insurance company doesn’t have to pay you until the examination is done.
TIP: Contact an attorney who handles these types of cases immediately. If your insurance company is asking for an Examination Under Oath it is likely that they believe you had something to do with causing the fire or other loss, or that you are being dishonest in the claims process—which are both reasons to deny your claim. You do not want to go into a lawyer’s office for a day of questioning without your own lawyer who is there to help you.
1. Not taking the steps, immediately after the loss, to completely understand your insurance policy, and the protection it provides.
2. Believing that your insurance company representatives are there to help you. They may seem very nice and supportive, but they work for the insurance company, not for you.
3. Giving a recorded statement to the insurance company about the loss claim before understanding the process.
4. Signing things you don’t understand, and also signing blanket releases that allow the insurance company to obtain your confidential records.
5. Not speaking with an attorney. Even when you think things are going well, you must understand that insurance claims are very complicated.
TIP: The earlier in the process that you contact a lawyer to represent you, the better they can handle your case. Call Irwin & Morris to get what you deserve today. 1-833-237-FIRE (3473)
