Hurricane Sally: Steps in Filing for an Insurance Claim

In mid-September, Hurricane Sally touched down and left close to $10 billion worth of damages. If your property suffered substantial damages, you would need proper documentation to support your insurance claim. If you need to clear away some debris, make sure to take photos and videos of the original state of the area, and keep the debris for further investigation. Check even those areas that seemed intact at first glance, as thorough inspection may reveal otherwise.

The next step is to contact the insurance company before doing any repairs, as these may become grounds for the denial or reduction of your claim. Emergency repairs should be properly documented and must be conducted only to prevent further damage. Within 14 days after filing your damage claim, the insurance company should send you an acknowledgment and have a field adjuster inspect your damage. It will be a great advantage to hire someone to represent you, as field adjusters are trained to find faults in your answers and use the same to lower or deny your claim.

Prepare a detailed list of your losses and attach copies of the corresponding receipts, especially for more valuable appliances and furniture. The insurance company might require you to submit a Proof of Loss statement, so be sure to comply by the deadline. Within 30 days, the insurance company should inform you if you will receive full or partial payment, or if your claim is denied, or if they need to further assess your claim. Within the next 90 days, you should receive payment for the undisputed portion of your claim or receive a letter of denial.

Before entering into any contract, take time to search for licensed contractors around your area, verify their licenses, and check out for feedbacks. A proof of insurance should also be presented before commencing any repair works. You also need to be aware of expenses that you will directly finance, or fees that will be based on your settlement pay. If your damaged property is unsafe to live in and you have to stay away for a while, take the necessary precautionary measures before leaving and provide the insurance company of means to contact you.

Finally, the law states that property owners have three years to file or reopen a claim for loss or damage after being hit by a hurricane or windstorm. This gives you ample time to thoroughly check your property for actual damages and other damages that may erupt later. However, it is advisable to file a claim as soon as possible, so repair works can start immediately and prevent further damages. Moreover, insurance adjusters may be inclined to think that the damage is not caused by the hurricane if you take too long to file a claim.