Filing A Claim

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• Report a burglary or theft to the police immediately. Obtain a copy of the police report and the officer’s badge number and phone number.
  
  
• Review your insurance coverage before reporting a claim. Your policy will outline what perils are covered and the policy limits.
  
  
• Notify your insurer as soon as possible.
  
  
• Photograph damage to your home or property at the time of loss and before making repairs.
  
  
• Make only temporary repairs that help prevent further damage to your property. Do not allow contractors to make permanent repairs until your claims adjuster has inspected the damage. Keep receipts of materials and repairs made for reimbursement.
  
  
• Make a list of stolen or damaged property. Include your personal property inventory with receipts and photos of your property.
  
  
• Follow the insurer’s instructions. If you have major damage, ask if you should hire inspectors for the structure, plumbing and electrical systems and if your policy will pay for them.
  
  
• Complete any paperwork your insurer sends you quickly and completely and make copies.
  
  
• Document any conversations you have with your insurer, contractors, estimators or anyone else associated with your claim.
  
  
• Meet the insurance adjuster to survey the damage. Offer any documentation you have to support your claim.
  
  
• If you have to move out of your home due to a disaster, keep receipts for your expenses.
  
  
• Partial payments. In the case of a major hurricane or other widespread disaster, insurance adjusters may be under a strict deadline from state officials to see everyone who has filed a claim within a certain time period. In this case, adjusters may provide a rough estimate of damages and give you an initial check. If more damage is discovered later you can submit an amended claim.
  
  

Consumer Rights

For disagreements beyond this point, most policies allow for an independent appraisal of the loss. Both you and the insurance company would hire independent appraisers who chooses a mediator. The decision of these experts is binding. You and your insurer will share the expense of the mediator. Some companies prefer to hire an arbiter, who listens to both sides and makes a binding decision.

In the rare case that the claim is not settled to your satisfaction, you can contact your state’s department of insurance.