Getting into a car accident or seeing your home damaged by storms can be physically and emotionally painful. In these situations, the only comfort you might have is the assurance that you have insurance.
In order to ensure that you are properly compensated for damages under your policy, though, you need to take some important steps to solidify your claim. Failure to do these things can give an insurance company all it needs to shortchange you or deny your claim.
- File your claim in a timely manner. Your insurance policy should specify the amount of time you have to file a claim. In some cases, it could be as little as 24 hours after the incident. In other cases, there may not be a specific time limit or date set. In either case, it is critical to understand that the clock is ticking.
- Stay off of social media. As this article points out, insurance agents can look at what you put out on sites like Facebook or Instagram. Should they find material that contradicts your statements in an insurance claim, they can deny your claim. Avoid posting pictures of damage, discussing the situation or publicizing behaviors or events that an agent could take out of context or use against you.
- Keep records of any additional expenses you take on after an incident, as they can be covered along with other damages. For instance, you might need to pay for a rental car or hotel room until your claim is approved and damage can be repaired. Your insurance policy should include details on what expenses they will cover, so review that before making any significant payments.
These are just a few things you would be wise to do after a car accident, storm or other incident that leads to property damage. You will also want to do things like take photos and make a list of damaged items.
Covering your bases when filing an insurance claim can be confusing and overwhelming, particularly when you are struggling with pain and/or serious property damage. However, you can talk to an attorney about the specifics of your claim as well as any coverage questions or concerns you may have.
