Can You Reopen A Closed Property Damage Insurance Claim?
After filing a property damage claim and receiving a settlement from your insurance company, you may think the process is over. However, that is not always the case. Many natural disasters and accidents can cause damage you did not notice immediately. Once you have accepted the insurance company’s settlement, your case is closed and so, you may think there is nothing you can do.
Fortunately, under Florida law you can reopen your insurance claim any time within five years, but you can only do this under limited circumstances. Below, our Daytona Beach residential and commercial property damage lawyer explains why insurance claims are closed, and why you may need to reopen yours.
Why are Property Damage Insurance Claims Closed?
When your insurance company believes the process is over and there is nothing left to do, they will close your claim. An insurance claim can be closed for many reasons, but the most common are as follows:
- The claimant and the insurance company agree that the claim has been paid in full.
- The claim was denied by the insurance company and the claimant did not file a dispute within the designated time.
- The claimant has not provided the insurer with the necessary information so they could move forward with the claim in the allotted time.
Closed insurance claims are no longer considered active. The insurance company will not conduct any further investigations or provide further communication or payments related to the claim once it has been closed. If your claim was not closed properly, it is your responsibility to take action and let the insurance company know.
When Should You Reopen a Property Damage Claim?
There are many reasons you may need to reopen a property damage claim and they include:
- You found damage after the claim was closed: If you had a house fire, you may not discover the full extent of damage until months later. Or, if your home suffered from water damage, it may take you years to discover mold directly related to the flood, hurricane, or burst pipe. In other cases, you may have simply forgotten to include some personal property in your claim until later, when you realize you were not compensated for it. These are just a few grounds that may allow you to reopen your claim.
- You were not reimbursed properly: You may not realize that your insurance company failed to properly reimburse you until your claim is already closed. For example, after reviewing your policy you may find the insurer reimbursed you for the actual cost value instead of the cost of replacement.
- Your insurance company closed your claim improperly after a denial: Sometimes, insurance companies try to deny claims outright and then close them before the claimant has an opportunity to respond. This can happen due to a filing error or bad faith by the insurer.
Our Residential and Commercial Property Damage Lawyer in Daytona Beach Can Help You Reopen Your Claim
Reopening an insurance claim can be challenging, but our Daytona Beach residential and commercial property damage lawyer at Bundza & Rodriguez can help you through the process and give you the best chance of a successful outcome. Call us now at 386-252-5170 to schedule a free consultation with one of our seasoned attorneys and to obtain the legal advice you need.
Sources:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.70132.html
livemint.com/Money/WPppy7r0eoHdJUsxCwIMhN/What-is-a-closed-insurance-claim.html
