 Insurance tips from a Houston hurricane property damage lawyer
Was your home or business hit hard by Hurricane Ike? If so, you need to file an insurance claim as soon as possible. That means taking certain measures. First, alert your insurance carrier that you are reporting a claim. You may have separate carriers for homeowners and flood insurance, which will mean contacting agents for both. Or you may run a business, which means you should contact your business interruption insurance carrier.
Next, you’ll want to photograph your property both inside and outside to capture any damages, including flooding. For flooding damages, try to show with your photos the height of the water line. You might place a ruler or a yardstick in the photo to indicate the water line’s height. Also, inventory all household items – room by room, inside and out – to determine how much in damages you’ve suffered. If damaged items constitute a health hazard, you may have to remove them before an insurance adjuster arrives, but you can keep a record of which items required disposal. Note the value of hurricane-damaged goods When possible, note the value of any damaged or missing goods, including the price at the time of purchase. Collect as many receipts as possible, particularly when the missing or damaged items are major appliances or pieces of furniture. Finally, contact your insurance company and report the claim in full, adhering to the requirements of your policy. For flood insurance, an agent will prepare a Notice of Loss form and will assign an adjuster to you. Make sure all damaged property is visible and available for the adjuster to inspect. Of course, all of the detailed records and evidence in the world won’t guarantee you’ll get a fair shake from your insurance provider. Insurance fraud is a multi-billion dollar business – too big of a temptation for some to resist. A Houston hurricane property damage lawyer can help |