A hurricane can lead to severe damage, including flooding, collapsed roofs, damaged windows, uprooted trees, and mold growth, among other consequences.
A homeowner’s insurance policy typically includes coverage for hurricane damage, hail damage, and other storm-related damage. If you have faced hurricane damage, then you have to take the following actions to get reimbursement for the tropical storm damage:
- Documentation: The damage done to your property by a hurricane should be immediately recorded through pictures and videos. This process should be applied inside and outside your home. The pictures and videos should include roofs, windows, and any personal property like cars.
- Contact with the insurance company: Report the tropical storm damage to the insurance company as soon as possible so that your hurricane insurance claim process can start at once. You have to explain the damage to the company. Your company will guide you about the duration of the process and expectations for the claim.
- Detailed inventory: Make an estimate of the damaged and lost belongings. Pictures and videos of every damage will act as evidence for the claim. You will also have to provide the receipts for some of the belongings.
- Temporary repairs: You should make temporary repairs so that your property can be saved from further damage. All receipts for the labor and materials should be provided to the insurance company.
- Insurance company inspection: Your insurance company will send an executive who will make an assessment of the damage. You have to guide the executive to the place of damage and provide the documentation.
- Review the claim settlement offer: After the inspection, the company will provide the claim settlement offer, which you should review thoroughly.
- Consult a hurricane claim adjuster: If you are not satisfied with the settlement claim, you can hire a hurricane claim adjuster and tell him about the claim. He will document everything related to the tropical storm damage and will help you get the maximum settlement.
What is a Public Adjuster?
A public adjuster is a professional who works on your behalf and helps you navigate the insurance claims process. In the case of a hurricane, they are also called hurricane claim adjusters.
Role of a Public Adjuster in Hurricane Damage
A public adjuster plays a major role in helping you maximize the settlement from the insurance company. They have to perform the tasks as follows:
Examine insurance policy: A public adjuster examines your insurance policy to determine the coverage for the settlement claim. After assessing the policy, he will investigate the losses and create a comprehensive document for the claims settlement, and also gather evidence for the loss.
Navigate the claims process: You should hire an experienced public adjuster who can understand your insurance policy and file the insurance claim. They help with the paperwork and speed up the claims process. If you have received insufficient settlement, your public adjuster can reopen the claim and renegotiate it.
Understand the policy: You may not be able to understand all the terms and conditions written in the policy. IN such a case, a public adjuster can help you in understanding those terms and will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
Pros of hiring a Public Adjuster
There are many advantages of hiring a public adjuster, and some of them are discussed below:
- Claim process expert: Public adjusters have experience in understanding the insurance policy. They also document the hurricane damage, noting down the minutest detail. They will also let you know about the coverage that you may not know.
- Settlement maximization: Public adjusters may help you get the maximum settlement by negotiating the payout, which will be more than the settlement claim offered by the insurance company.
- Less burden on you: The hurricane insurance claim is a long process in which many tasks have to be done, like paperwork, meetings, phone calls, and many more. A public adjuster can help in performing all of these tasks for you, and you will have no stress.
Aspects to be considered before hiring a Public Adjuster
There are many benefits of hiring a public adjuster, but you should think about whether it is necessary or not. Here are the aspects to be considered before hiring a public adjuster:
- Severity of the damage: A public adjuster is not needed if the damage from the hurricane is minimal and you can handle the settlement process. In the case of major damages, you may need a public adjuster to document the damages and go to the insurance company for maximum claim settlement.
- Comfort with the claims process: If you have understood the insurance policy and can navigate the claims process, a public adjuster is not required. In case you do not know about the steps to be taken for the settlement, you have to hire a public adjuster who will work on your behalf and assist you in dealing with the claim.
- Fee of the adjuster: Public adjusters are paid based on the claim settlement that you receive. You have to think about affording the fee claimed by the adjuster.
Conclusion
Hurricanes can be mild or strong, and they can damage your property. In such a case, you will have to go for an insurance claim. If you find that the company is providing insufficient settlement, you can hire a public adjuster who can do all the paperwork, understand the insurance policy, and maximize the claim settlement.
FAQs
Can the insurance claims be negotiated?
Yes! Insurance claims can be negotiated as many components can be covered, which include repair cost, cost of goods, depreciation cost, and many more aspects.
Why is it beneficial to hire a public adjuster?
It is beneficial to hire a claim adjuster because the insurance adjuster from the insurance company may overlook the hidden damages, which can result in a low settlement. A public adjuster will take care of all the damages, whether major or minor, and help you in maximizing the settlement.
Can a public adjuster help us if our claim is denied?
Yes! A public adjuster can help you if your settlement claim is denied. He will assess and make a comprehensive document that will include all the damages. He can reopen the denied claim and go for the settlement.
Can my insurance company discourage me from hiring a public adjuster?
There are chances as the insurance companies try to minimize the settlement while the public adjuster maximizes the claim settlement.
Can my insurance company cancel my claim for hiring a public adjuster?
No! Your insurance company will not cancel your insurance if you hire a public adjuster for the settlement. An insurance company may not renew your insurance policy, but this happens rarely.