Two of the biggest fears that homeowners have are that their home will be damaged or destroyed, and that when it does, their insurance company will refuse to cover the costs of repairs or replacement items. Unfortunately, this is not an unrealistic fear, as many homeowners insurance claim lawyer are notorious for denying claims on flimsy grounds, or just flat out refusing to pay any claim at all. When your homeowners insurance claim is denied, do you know what steps you need to take next? Learn more by reading this guide on what to do if your homeowners insurance claim is denied.
File an appeal with your insurer
If you’ve filed a homeowners insurance claim and it has been denied, you need to contact your insurer right away. If they feel that the claim was not handled properly, they will have a process in place for filing an appeal. Give them all of the information they ask for and make sure that your homeowners insurance claim lawyer has all of the paperwork in order. It can be tough going up against such a big company, but with the help of your homeowners insurance claim lawyer, you should prevail. You’ll know how much time you’re on the clock for when dealing with your homeowners insurance claim lawyer. They have so many cases going at once and if yours doesn’t seem like a priority, then you may just want to take care of things yourself.
Consider going through an independent organization
Homeowner’s insurance companies exist for one reason: to provide coverage for homeowners in the event of a property loss. You may be surprised, then, when your claim is denied by the insurance company. This could happen if you’ve made any kind of misrepresentation or omitted information on your application. For example, if you didn’t disclose that you have a swimming pool in your backyard and there was an incident involving someone drowning in it, this would be considered a material omission and your claim could be denied. Or, if you did not tell the insurance company about major renovations done at your house without their knowledge and approval, this too would result in a denial. What do you do when this happens? Consider going through an independent organization. One option might be to contact your state’s department of insurance. Another might be to hire an independent claims advocate who will work with both sides to reach a settlement that makes sense for all involved parties.
Get legal help if your claim is denied
Many people assume that their homeowners insurance policy will protect them in the event of a disaster. Unfortunately, in many cases, these policies are denied when the homeowner files a claim. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, it’s important to get legal help before your deadline expires. A homeowners insurance claim lawyer can step in and file an appeal on your behalf so that you don’t have to go through this frustrating experience alone. In some cases, they might even be able to take care of your case for free! Contact a local attorney as soon as possible for more information about how they might be able to help. If you live in one of the areas hit by Hurricane Harvey, please visit this page for ways to help those affected by the hurricane.
Take notes, document everything
If your homeowner’s insurance claim has been denied, you have the following options:
1. Accept the denial and move on – You may not be happy with the decision but it’s time to cut your losses. 2. Seek a second opinion from another company – This will involve shopping around for another insurer that offers homeowners coverage and submitting a new application. 3. Appeal the denial – Submit a formal appeal in writing explaining why you feel your claim should not be denied, such as if there are extenuating circumstances or if you feel like the damage was already caused by something else when the policy was active. 4. Sue the insurance company – Suing an insurance company is never recommended because of all the added expenses it can incur. 5. Switch companies and get a higher deductible – It’s important to find out what this would cost before deciding on this option. 6. Find out about other types of coverage for your home- For example, renters insurance might provide more protection than homeowner’s insurance does in certain situations (such as stolen jewelry).
Work with the agent in charge of your file
homeowners insurance claim lawyer are a pain, but you don’t have to go through them alone. Many companies will let you get quotes from other insurers before making a decision on which your carrier will be. You can also take a look at your current coverage and see what needs updating. Some things that might not be covered by homeowners insurance are: Floods, earthquakes or any damage done by fire. Make sure you understand the coverage of your policy before filing a claim. Keep in mind that if the insurer won’t cover it they may offer you alternate solutions like an emergency fund.
Get a quote from another insurer if you don’t trust yours
1. Don’t assume that your insurance company will provide a reasonable settlement. Get quotes from other companies and make sure you’re getting the best price.
2. Contact your attorney, who can help you with the process of filing a suit against your insurer and also take legal action if they are violating state law.
3. Keep in mind that it might be difficult to find an attorney who specializes in this area because homeowners insurance claims are not very common occurrences, but it’s worth making the effort to find one if you need help with this issue in the future.
4. You may also want to contact your local Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency for assistance.
5. Take a deep breath: It may be tempting to argue with your insurer when they deny coverage, but try not to let emotions get in the way of negotiating effectively on your own behalf. 6. If all else fails, don’t give up! There are some things you can do if you feel like your claim is being unfairly denied
