How to Not Get Screwed by Your Insurance After Hurricane Ida
In the face of Hurricane Ida and the recovery we are all experiencing, it is important to remember certain things when preparing to make insurance claims. Although we want to believe that our insurance companies will do right by us time and time again it has been proven that the most efficient way to hold our insurers accountable is by making sure we have all the documentation necessary. To that end here is a list of things to keep in mind when preparing to handle a hurricane related claim.
1. Make A Hurricane Ida Claim Now. Don’t Wait. – If you have a homeowners or business insurance policy and sustained damage as a result of Hurricane Ida, make a claim with your insurance company now. Do not wait to fully assess your damage. Insurance companies are inundated with claims following a major hurricane. The sooner you make your claim, the sooner the process will begin (and hopefully end).
2. Document All Communication With Your Insurance Company – Keep a journal of communication with your insurance company and the adjuster it assigns to your loss. When at all possible, confirm verbal conversations with follow-up emails, letters, etc., so that everyone remains on the same page about requests and/or commitments made throughout the claims process.
3. Don’t Rely Upon The Insurance Adjuster Assigned To Your Hurricane Ida Claim – Your ability to efficiently rebuild your life after Hurricane Ida depends to some degree on your insurance claim. Insurance adjusters are assigned to losses by insurance companies to assist with the claims process. But ultimately, your insurance adjuster will return to their undamaged home after their job is done, and you will be stuck with the funds provided to you by the company to rebuild your life. Do not rely upon an insurance adjuster to document and calculate the amount you are owed under the policy you paid for. The stakes are too high. Value your own Hurricane Ida loss by obtaining Louisiana licensed contractor repair estimates, etc. and submit such documents to the insurance company. For any personal property lost, research online the replacement cost of such items and submit such lists and supporting documentation to your insurance company.
4. Review Your Insurance Policy Thoroughly – Your insurance policy is the deal between you and your insurance company. You dutifully pay a premium year after year in exchange for the insurance company’s promise to pay for certain losses you may sustain as a result of a hurricane. The policy is essentially the insurance company’s written promise to you. It outlines in detail those losses the insurance company promises to cover and those losses it does not. Educate yourself on your policy.
5. Beware Of Your Hurricane Ida Deductible – Most homeowners and business insurance policies have separate hurricane deductibles that are substantially larger than the normal deductible. These special hurricane deductibles can require you to personally assume tens of thousands of dollars of hurricane-related losses before your insurance company is obligated to pay anything. Understand your Hurricane Ida deductible early to properly set your expectations for the claims process.
6. Photograph/Video Everything – Most of us have smartphones with us at virtually all times. Use these devices to photograph and/or video everything relating to your loss. If you are riding out the storm in your home or business, video the impact of the storm on your property in real time if you can safely do so. There may be disputes about whether certain damage to your property was caused by the storm or some other event not covered by your insurance policy. Documentation of the property being damaged in real time via video can put such arguments to rest. Likewise, after the storm has passed, photograph and video every inch of damaged structural and personal property. This evidence can be very important in substantiating the extent of your Hurricane Ida loss.
7. Get Contractors’ Estimates – Insurance adjusters often estimate the cost to repair your damaged property by using a pricing database contained in a computer software used by the insurance industry. This software does not always account for price spikes that can occur due to supply chain issues following a storm. As a result, adjusters may drastically underestimate the true cost to repair your property. The best valuation of your Hurricane Ida damage is the repair estimate of the Louisiana licensed contractor that you select to perform the repairs to your home.
8. Make Lists Of Damaged Personal Property – Damaged personal property such as clothes, furniture, books, etc., are typically covered under your insurance policy. Start making lists immediately of these types of items that have been damaged and document the damage to such items with photographs/videos. Use the internet to research the replacement cost of such items and save such supporting documentation to submit to the insurance company.
9. Save Receipts For Additional Living Expenses – If you incurred additional living expenses associated with evacuating for Hurricane Ida or cleaning up your post-hurricane mess, these expenses may be covered under your policy. Such expenses might include hotels, meals, gas, long-term rent, etc. Save documentation for any such expenses incurred so that they can be provided to the insurance company during your claims process.
This list is not exhaustive but is a good starting point, the other thing to do is contact an attorney if you are having a difficult time dealing with your insurer. Call us today if you have any questions. 504-300-8338. Remember … When No One’s Carin’ Call McLaren!