Dealing With Insurance Adjusters In A Property Damage Claim

Your home or items on your property can become damaged due to fires, acts of theft, or adverse weather events. Property insurance policies you have in place can help to protect you from having to pay out-of-pocket for the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars that can easily result. Unfortunately, dealing with insurance companies often proves challenging, as they have a financial motive for either denying or undervaluing your property damage claim. As insurance adjusters are your main source of contact with the company, it is important to understand their job and the best ways of dealing with them.

The Role Insurance Adjusters Play In Your Property Damage Claim

Insurance adjusters may be referred to as claims representatives, claims analysts, or other titles but their job is basically the same. As your main point of contact with the insurer, they investigate your case, determine whether your policy covers your costs, and calculate the amount you may be entitled to in a settlement.

Any time you are dealing with insurers, it is important to remember that they are for-profit businesses. According to the Insurance Information Insitute (III), the insurance industry takes in more than $1.3 trillion each year and one of the ways they protect their bottom line is by reducing payouts on claims. This is where insurance adjusters come in. While they may present themselves as being on your side, their job hinges on settling your claim for the least amount of money possible. Common tactics they are likely to employ include:

• Disputing the terms of your policy;
• Disputing how damages occurred and whether they are covered;
• Disputing the extent of the losses you suffer and the amount you will need for repairs/replacements.

How To Deal With Insurance Adjusters In A Property Damage Claim

The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau advises that there are steps homeowners should take to protect themselves when filing a property damage claim. These include:

• Thoroughly inspect your property prior to visits from the insurance adjuster and make a note of all damages that exist;
• Take pictures of the current damage to your property and use old photos to show what the area looked like previously;
• Get estimates for repairs as well as replacement costs for anything that cannot be fixed;
• Avoid downplaying your damages or blaming yourself in any way when taking to the insurance adjuster;
• Resist accepting the first settlement amount offered, which is likely to be far less than what you deserve.

Contact Us Today for Help

When dealing with insurance adjusters, you can count on Bundza & Rodriguez, P.A. to act as a strong legal advocate on your side. Our goal is to ensure you get the maximum amount you are entitled to in any property damage settlements, helping you avoid out-of-pocket costs. To discuss your case and how we can help, call or contact our Daytona Beach property damage claims attorneys online to request a consultation today.

https://www.daytonalawyers.com/filing-an-insurance-claim-for-condominium-damage/