Typically, severe weather conditions can be unpredictable. You might not know when they’ll strike, leaving your property susceptible to potential damage. Because of this, it’s essential to have a severe damage insurance policy in place to cover the damage caused by weather-related disasters, like hailstorms, hurricanes, storms, and tornadoes. When you have insurance coverage, you may be eligible to file a severe weather damage claim to receive compensation and get back on your feet as soon as possible.
However, like other types of claims, filing one for the damage caused by severe weather can be challenging. Many factors should be considered in order to guarantee that your claims are handled efficiently. One of these considerations is how these processes work.
In this article, you’ll get a read-through of how severe weather damage claims work through these steps.
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Review The Insurance Policy
Your policy contains information about your insurance coverage. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the details, including the instructions for making a claim, the inclusions and exclusions indicated in your policy. By doing this, you’ll have an idea of what to expect before, during, and after filing a severe weather insurance claim.
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Evaluate The Extent And Severity Of The Damage
One of the essential components of a severe weather insurance claim is assessing the damage caused by a weather-related disaster. By doing so, you’ll know the extent and severity of the damage, which is essential in determining the amount of money needed to carry out the repairs and other related costs.
To properly examine the damage, you may do the following:
- Conduct a visual inspection of your entire property, including the windows, roof, and sidings.
- Inspect for damaged or missing shingles, gutters, and other roofing materials.
- Look for dents in your window frames, chimney, and air conditioning units.
- Check for water leaks under the shingles as they may lead to mold growth.
When doing the inspection, make sure to describe the type of damage to ensure proper documentation. If possible, take some photos or videos of the damage before making any repairs. These electronic records can serve as evidence to support your severe weather insurance claim. However, if you think professionals can best handle the inspection and the claims process, you can check some options online. For instance, you can type information like Johnson Exteriors – storm damage insurance claim or other related details in the search tab to find the assistance you need.
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Notify Your Insurance Company
After assessing the damage, it’s time to call the insurance company and file a severe weather insurance claim. In doing so, make sure that all necessary paperwork is ready to support your claim and improve your chances of approval. After filing the claim, expect an insurance adjuster to visit your property. They’ll conduct an inspection and look for any signs of visible damage to the roof and other exterior parts of your property. The purpose is to determine the fair market value and scope of the repair for the damage.
However, to avoid the likelihood of disagreement on these matters, it’s best to allow the insurance adjuster to check the damage with a contractor who represents your interests. That way, you can minimize the disagreement and save you time and energy from the headache associated with the process.
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Stay In Touch With The Insurance Adjuster
Once the insurance claim is filed, you must keep in touch with the insurance adjuster to ensure the quick resolution of your claim. If they ask for other documents, make sure to respond promptly and provide what they need to boost your chance of success. For example, you should prepare and keep an inventory of all the damaged property. Don’t forget to submit documents like invoices and receipts that support the value of the damage.
Remember, failing to communicate with your insurance adjuster can affect your ability to recover a settlement from your severe weather insurance claim. Hence, always make an effort to cooperate with them to attain a more favorable outcome.
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Wait For The Insurance Company’s Response
Once the adjuster has figured out the extent of the damage and determined the pricing, the insurance carrier will pay your claims through a check. It usually covers the expenses for repairing or replacing damaged property elements.
When the repair is finished, they will send a second check to pay the depreciation amount. It refers to an amount of money that can be recovered if the overall expenses are equal to or higher than the total insurance settlement amount. The purpose of the second check is to avoid the likelihood of insurance fraud, which usually happens by gaining personal gain from the damage by fixing a damaged property element at a lower price compared to the insurance company’s estimate.
Bottom Line
Understanding how severe weather insurance claims processes work can make a huge difference to your fast recovery after a natural disaster strikes. The more you’re familiar with the procedure, the more you can achieve a favorable outcome. Therefore, keep the information mentioned above in mind, and you’ll be able to handle your claim more efficiently and quickly.
