After a big disaster, it is quite common for everyone in the immediate area to have their lives permanently affected. Whether the disaster is a big fire, storm, or natural disaster, massive damage and multiple claimants involved can also complicate the insurance process.
If your home and property have been damaged in this type of incident, your very first priority will be to get to safety and to get any emergency medical help you need. You will also want to contact your insurer as quickly as possible to start the claims process. In addition, be sure to keep records and receipts of everything possible. This may mean taking photos of the damage, making an itemized list of all the damage, writing down the details of the incident which caused the damage, keeping receipts for hotels and every other expense you have incurred. Do not throw away any damaged property.
Waiting Times May be Longer
If you have been affected by a natural disaster or any event which has impacted many people, it can take longer for your claim to be processed. You may also need to stay on top of your claim or may need to adjust your claim if your home becomes more damaged due to the aftermath of the event. After a storm, for example, further rains can cause flooding or additional damage after you have reported the events to your insurer.
When you contact your insurance company initially, ask about the timeline you can expect. In general, they will send someone out within a few days to assess the damage and do a rough estimate. If no one shows up or if you are expecting documents or an adjuster and you hear nothing, contact the insurer again. In a major event, it is easy for individual claims to slip through.
When speaking to your insurer, be sure to indicate if there are any immediate repairs you need to make to safeguard your property from further damage. It is best to inform your insurer of this before proceeding.
Be sure to review your insurance policies to determine what is covered and what your caps and limits are. This can help you plan ahead as you move forward.
Getting Help
After a serious disaster, rebuilding can be difficult. You may need to complete extensive repairs, may need to live in a new home for quite some time, or you may need to rebuild entirely and purchase everything anew. Getting fair treatment from your insurance company during this difficult time is essential; you need prompt help as well as fair compensation to help you start over.
If you are having trouble with your insurer or feel you may be entitled to compensation for the damages, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free, no obligation consultation with a Hialeah or South Florida insurance law attorney. Our legal team has more than 60 years of combined experience and we are even willing to travel to come see you if you cannot come to our offices in Homestead, Hollywood, or Miami.