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LegalHelpforDisasterVictims
TranscendTranslations HomeownersInsurance PlainEnglishwww.transcend.net
HomeownersInsuranceMyhomewasdamagedinadisaster.HowdoIgetmoneyfrommyinsurancecompany?§ First,figureoutwhichpoliciesyouhaveandwhat
theycover.Mosthomeownersinsurancepoliciesdonotcoverearthquakeorflooddamage.
§ Ifyouthinkyourinsurancepolicymaycoveranyofyourdamage–evenifyou’renotsure–callyouragent,broker,orinsurancecompanyassoonaspossibleandreportyourloss.
§ Writedownthenameofthepersonyouspeaktoandtheclaimnumbertheygiveyou.
§ Asktheinsurancecompanytosendanadjustertolookatyourpropertyassoonaspossible.It’sagoodideatoputyourrequestinwriting.
WhatcanIdotopreparefortheinsuranceadjuster?§ Takephotosand/orvideoofyourdamaged
property.§ Makealistofanypropertythatwasdamagedor
destroyed.Describeeachitem,thedateofpurchaseorapproximateage,thecostatthetimeofpurchase,andwhatyouestimateitwillcosttoreplacetheitem.
§ Trytofindtheoriginalbills,canceledchecks,orreceiptsforlostitems.
§ Keepreceiptsforallexpensestoprotectorrepairyourproperty,includingtemporaryhousingifyouneedtorelocate.
§ Getanestimateofthedamageandcompareittotheinsurancecompany’sestimate.
DoIneedtosubmitanydocuments?§ Youmayneedtosubmitasignedandsworn
“proofofloss”formthatprovidesinformationonthelossandthevalueofthepropertythatwasdamagedanddestroyed.
§ Usuallythisformisduewithin60daysaftertheloss,butsometimesthisdeadlineisextended.
§ Makesuretoincludesupportingdocumentationwithyourproofoflossform,suchasestimates,inventories,receipts,etc.
§ Ifyourinsurancecompanyfillsouttheformforyou,makesureyoucheckthateverythingisaccurateandyouagreewithit.
§ Ifyouhavealreadysubmittedaproofoflossform,butbelieveyouareowedmoremoney,youshouldfileasupplementalclaim.
WhatifIhavetomoveoutofmyhouse?§ Someinsurancepolicieswillreimburseyoufor
temporaryhousingrelocationcostswhileyourhomeisbeingrepairedorrebuilt.Checkyourpolicyorcallyourinsurancecompany.
§ Makesureyoulettheinsurancecompanyknowifyouhaveanewaddressorphonenumbersotheycanreachyou.
Whatifmyinsuranceclaimisdenied?§ Beawarethatthedeadlinetofilealawsuit
againstyourinsurancecompanyisoftenoneyearfromthedateofthefirstwrittendenialofanypartofyourclaim.Checkyourpolicytobesure.
§ Speaktoalawyertolearnmoreaboutyouroptions.
Contactusforlegalhelpwithstorm-relatedproblems:
§ Callus:§ Visit:
Thisflyergivesyoulegalinformation,notlegaladvice.Toknowhowthelawappliestoyou,talktoalawyer.
