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Who Decides To Repair Or Replace A Home After A House Fire | Claimsmate Public Adjuster
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Engineers and Insurance Claims: How an Engineer Inspection Could Influence your Claim
Unfortunately, engineers often represent the best interests of the insurance company – not the policyholder. In some cases, insurance companies and engineers have even been accused of teaming up to commit insurance fraud, finding faults with your claim where there are no faults to find.
Yes, engineers could influence your insurance claim. Today, we’re explaining the role engineers play in insurance claims.
Why is the Insurance Company Sending an Engineer?
Insurance companies send an engineer when there is a dispute between the two of you regarding damages and the cause of the damage, or the accurate way to repair or replace the damaged item.
The engineer will check various aspects of your claim to verify damage. They will often document all other damages in the home as well, whether they are related to the claim or not. Then, the engineer will produce a report.
Your insurer may send a notice about an engineer inspecting your claim. When this happens, it is often time to reach out to a Public Adjuster or another engineering firm to represent you at the time of the inspection.
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In the past, engineering firms have been accused of falsifying reports, publishing erroneous reports, and conspiring with insurers to deny legitimate claims.
Engineers Analyze your Insurance Claim to Verify Damage
An insurance company usually hires an engineer to verify damage related to your insurance claim when there is a dispute about coverage, repair methods and the cause of damage.
Your insurance company’s adjuster may be unable to determine the difference between hail damage and windstorm damage or water damage and wear and tear. An engineer, however, can determine the difference.
The engineer will check the damage, then produce an engineer’s report based on the findings. This report is based off of a visual inspection. So if you don’t agree with the report, hiring your own expert to dispute the report and perform some additional invasive testing might be necessary to prove your claim.
Sometimes, the insurance company lets you see the engineer’s report. In other cases, the insurance company only discloses the results upon request. This report can often take 4 to 6 weeks to become available to you. You should always request a copy and make sure that you agree with the explanations that were provided to the insurance company.
If you need help handling a dispute or any aspect of a property damage insurance claim, contact a licensed Public Insurance Adjuster for a free consultation.
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What is an Engineer’s Report?
An engineer’s report is a document explaining the engineer’s findings for your insurance claim.
Engineer’s reports are designed to look impressive. Some even seem designed to intimidate the policyholder using big terms, scientific language, and jargon.
You might see citations of studies, articles, and other reports on the engineer’s report. It’s a formal, professionally-formatted document featuring the engineer’s findings.
The engineer’s report will disclose the engineer’s opinion on the damage, including the cause of the damage, the extent of the damage, and whether the damage took place suddenly or over a long period of time.
Why the Engineer’s Report is Important
Based on the engineer’s findings, your insurance company could adjust the value of your claim – or even deny your claim entirely.
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses that are not on your side. Their goal is to make as much money as possible.
The best way to make money is by limiting payouts on claims. By hiring an engineer, the insurer may discover a reason to deny or reduce your claim. They often use the report from the engineer as a type of “plausible deniability”, so they did not fully make the decision to deny your claim, the engineer did.
Example: Let’s say there is a hurricane and you make a claim for wind damage to your home. Most insurance policies cover wind damage, and you assume your insurer will cover the cost of repairing the damage. However, the insurance company hires an engineer. The engineer determines the damage was caused by flooding that took place after the windstorm – not the windstorm itself. Your insurance policy does not cover flooding, so the insurer will deny your claim.
Despite what insurance companies claim, they are not on your side and they do not have your best interests in mind. That’s why many homeowners hire Public Adjusters.
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Forensic Engineers and Insurance Companies Could Have a Close Connection
When your insurer hires an engineer for your claim, you expect the engineer to be unbiased.
However, many forensic engineering firms are closely connected to insurance companies. In fact, some even claim there’s a natural conflict of interest:
When an insurance company hires an engineering firm, the engineering firm may feel pressure to side with the insurer.
If the engineer sides with the insurer, then the insurer will continue to use the engineer on future claims.
If the engineer sides with the policyholder, then the engineer loses future business.
Forensic engineers specialize in analyzing insurance claims for clients. The insurer hires the forensic engineer to assess the damage, and the forensic engineer produces a report.
In major large loss insurance claims, the insurer could pay the forensic engineering firm millions of dollars to create the reports after a disaster such as a hurricane.
As a forensic engineer hired by the insurer, it’s in your best interests to keep the client happy. You want more multi-million dollar projects.
For all of these reasons, many people have accused forensic engineering firms of producing engineering reports that are in favor of the insurer – not the policyholder.
Forensic Engineering Bias: Is your Forensic Engineer Being Honest?
Insurers hire forensic engineers to review insurance claims. Theoretically, the forensic engineer is an unbiased third party. In reality, the forensic engineer may be biased towards siding with the insurer instead of the policyholder.
Dealing with insurance claims and property damage can be messy. In some cases, it’s impossible to distinguish the difference between the initial cause of flood damage and windstorm damage.
In cases where the cause of the damage is ambiguous, the engineer may want to side with the insurer. In this situation, the “tie” goes to the insurer.
Not all forensic engineers are biased towards the insurer. Many forensic engineers are honest professionals.
However, a growing number of insurers have been accused of using biased engineers. These engineers claim to be neutral third parties, yet they consistently produce reports that help insurers avoid liability.
After Hurricane Sandy, Engineers Were Caught Falsifying Reports for Insurers
Engineering report fraud isn’t a myth: it’s a real problem in the insurance industry. We saw it after Hurricane Sandy.
After Hurricane Sandy, insurers were caught working with engineers who falsified reports. Engineers produced reports that helped insurers escape liability. Engineers made money, insurers avoided liability for claims they rightfully had to pay, and customers lost millions.
The problem got so bad that 60 Minutes did a report on the issue. They described the engineering report scam as “the storm after the storm,” claiming many families “didn’t get the help they deserve.”
At a time when homeowners needed their insurer the most, and at a time when insurers should have been liable for damages, insurers and engineering companies may have conspired to deny claims.
One homeowner interviewed by 60 Minutes received just $79,000 of his $250,000 policy after Hurricane Sandy. An engineering report found that there was no structural damage to the home caused by Hurricane Sandy. Instead, the home already had structural damage before Hurricane Sandy. Because of this report, the insurance company avoided liability.
Here’s how one lawyer interviewed by 60 Minutes described the rampant insurance fraud perpetrated by insurers and engineering firms:
“The fraud is taking engineers' reports and changing them from saying there was structural damage to saying there's no structural damage or giving the engineers a form to fill out that already has the conclusion of no structural damage.”
That lawyer claims he has found “thousands of cases” with similar issues. When insurance companies see a chance to avoid liability, they’ll often take it.
Other Lawsuits Have Been Filed Against Insurers and Engineering Firms
Insurance fraud is common. You can find plenty of lawsuits filed against insurance companies and engineering firms.
In Daigle v. Haag Engineering Co, for example, homeowners sued an engineering company that sided with their insurer, State Farm, after hailstorm damage.
State Farm hired Haag Engineering Co. to perform certain engineering services on five homes after the hailstorm. Prior to the inspection, Haag submitted documents to State Farm suggesting that hail stones smaller than one inch in diameter would not cause damage to composition shingle roofs. Although the homes were damaged, the hail stones were smaller than one inch. Because of this, the claimants argued that State Farm’s rejection of their claim was “preordained.”
The lawsuit eventually made its way to the Texas Board of Appeals.
You can find plenty of similar cases from other states. Some engineering firms have been accused of denying millions of dollars in homeowner compensation based on fraudulent reports.
With false engineering reports, insurers win big, engineering firms get paid, and homeowners lose.
How Public Adjusters Help Avoid Fraudulent Engineer’s Reports
Public Adjusters can help navigate complex insurance claims. A good Public Adjuster manages your claim from start to finish. Public Adjusters can also increase the amount of compensation you receive from your insurance company. In some cases, a Public Adjuster could triple the insurance company’s initial offer.
It’s easy to get intimidated by an engineer’s report. The report is loaded with jargon, scientific information, and technical data. You might struggle to decipher any of it. Often times, the reports contain more information about damage that is not related to the claim than the claim related damage that is in dispute.
Public Adjusters, however, have plenty of experience reading engineer’s reports. They can spot errors and omissions on the report – including fraudulent and non-fraudulent mistakes.
Public Adjusters know the tricks insurance companies use to deny and reduce claims. When you hire a Public Adjuster, you get a licensed professional on your side who can spot errors in engineer’s reports, correct those errors, and maximize compensation for clients.
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Public Adjusters Spot Errors and Omissions on Engineering Reports
Engineering reports aren’t perfect. They may have errors and omissions.
Public Adjusters spot these errors and omissions to ensure policyholders like you get fair treatment.
Engineers make mistakes too. Not all errors and omissions are based on fraud. Engineers may overlook items, make mistakes, and forget to check certain aspects of your claim.
In other cases, errors and omissions are based on fraud, and the engineering firm is intentionally trying to deceive the policyholder while siding with the insurance company.
Whether the engineering report errors and omissions are intentional or not, a Public Adjuster has the experience to spot these errors, ensuring you receive fair treatment for your claim instead of having your claim denied because of an erroneous report.
Other Things to Know Before an Engineering Inspection
Did you receive a notice from your insurer about an engineering inspection? It is in your best interest to stop your insurance company before they send an engineer and seek outside representation to help with your claim. This call for an engineering inspection is often the first sign that something is going wrong with your claim.
Engineering inspections are a normal part of many insurance claims. However, there are certain things you need to know before the inspection takes place, including:
- The Engineer May Inspect Everything: Engineers have a serious job to perform. To make a thorough report, the engineer may need to inspect everything related to your claim in and around your home. Expect the engineer to do a deep dive into your property and your insurance claim to determine the truth. If you have damage that is clearly not related to the claim, such as deferred maintenance, you should attempt to repair these items before the inspection, so the engineer can focus on the items that are claim related.
- Wait for the Engineer’s Report: The insurance company is sending an engineer to your property to assess the claim. The engineer will assess the claim, then produce a report determining the cause of the damage. You should be able to see the engineer’s report after the inspection, including the findings from the report and how they relate to your claim. However, this can often take 4 to 6 weeks, so be prepared to wait.
- Talk to an Adjuster or Attorney to Prevent Insurance Fraud: Engineering reports can be difficult to understand. A Public Adjuster or attorney can help you decipher an engineering report. If you’re concerned about the items discussed in an engineering report, then sit down to discuss the issue with a Public Adjuster or attorney. Most offer free consultations. Whenever possible, it is always best to reach out before the inspection so there is someone there to help point out damages and try to ensure the first report is accurate, and if not, at least the inspection is documented by a claims professional or another engineer.
What to Do If Your Claim is Denied After an Engineering Report
If an engineering report has led your insurance claim to be denied, then you may need to hire an attorney or Public Adjuster.
Let’s say your home was damaged in a disaster. The disaster was a covered event, and your insurer should be liable for the event. However, the engineer’s report finds there was damage before the event. As a result, the insurer denies your claim.
In this situation, the insurer may have a legitimate reason to deny your claim.
However, it’s also possible the engineer’s report was not accurate. It’s possible you’re dealing with insurance fraud, a bad faith insurer, and a clearly biased engineering firm. It’s also possible the engineering firm made a simple mistake.
A Public Adjuster or attorney can help you navigate the claim, overturn the denial, and ensure you receive the compensation owed to you based on the terms of your insurance contract.
When insurers hire forensic engineers to inspect insurance claims, it’s a clear sign something could be going wrong with the claim.
Insurers hire engineers who do good work for them. When an engineer sides with the homeowner, it means the insurer has to pay. That’s bad for business.
Every day, homeowners across the United States become victims of insurance fraud because of engineers and insurance companies. If your claim has been denied or reduced because of an engineering report, consider hiring a Public Adjuster today.
Contact ClaimsMate for a free consultation with a Public Adjuster.
ClaimsMate’s Public Adjusters have a proven track record of overturning denied claims, challenging erroneous engineering reports, and ensuring you receive every penny owed to you based on the terms of your insurance contact.
Read Full Article Here: Engineers and Insurance Claims: How an Engineer Inspection Could Influence your Claim
Monday, October 4, 2021
Everything You Need To Know About Tornado Damage Insurance Claims
However, some homeowners insurance policies do not cover windstorm damage. If you live in a wind-prone area of the country, for example, then your policy may exclude windstorm damage. You may need to pay extra for it.
Today, we’re explaining everything you need to know about tornado damage insurance claims and how they work.
How Homeowners Insurance Policies Cover Tornado Damage
You buy homeowners insurance to protect your home and your possessions. After a tornado, your home and the contents inside your home may be damaged. That’s why you make a homeowners insurance claim.
Most homeowners insurance policies include dwelling coverage. Dwelling coverage covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home after unexpected events – like a house fire, windstorm, or tornado.
Most homeowners insurance policies also include personal property coverage, which covers the cost of replacing or repairing the belongings inside your home after a loss.
Here’s how these coverages work for most tornado damage insurance claims:
Dwelling Coverage: Dwelling coverage covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home from tornado and windstorm damage.
Personal Property Coverage: Personal property coverage covers the cost of repairing or replacing damaged or destroyed belongings inside your home. If a tornado destroyed your computer, for example, then you could make a personal property coverage claim for the value of your computer.
You should be able to make a claim for your tornado damage to cover your dwelling and personal property. However, check if your policy excludes windstorm or tornado damage before proceeding with your claim.
Some Homeowners Insurance Policies Exclude Wind Damage
Most homeowners will be able to make a claim for tornado damage through their policy. However, if your policy excludes windstorm coverage, then you will not be able make a claim for tornado damage.
Your insurance policy may exclude windstorm or tornado coverage if you live in a wind-prone area of the country.
In this situation, your standard insurance policy may exclude windstorm damage but many homeowners pay extra for windstorm coverage.
As a general rule, most homeowners insurance policies in the United States cover tornado damage through windstorm coverage. However, check your policy to make sure you’re protected against tornado damage.
How Insurance Companies Cover Windstorm Damage
If your insurance policy covers windstorm damage, then you can proceed with a claim.
Insurance companies compensate your windstorm damage in two different ways.
Depending on your policy, insurance companies will cover the actual cash value or replacement cost of your dwelling and property up to the limits of your policy.
Actual Cash Value (ACV): With actual cash value home insurance, your insurance company pays you the actual value of the contents of your home, minus depreciation of these contents over time. If you paid $1,500 for your laptop five years ago, for example, then you might receive just $400 in compensation today because of depreciation.
Replacement Cost Coverage: If you have a replacement cost coverage policy, then your insurer will pay to replace the damaged item with one of similar type and quality. If your $1,500 laptop was damaged in the tornado, for example, then your insurer will cover the cost of replacing that laptop with one with similar specifications.
When shopping for homeowners insurance, you choose which insurance policy you like. Replacement cost coverage policies cost more than ACV policies, but they also provide significantly more compensation after a loss.
Both ACV and replacement cost policies cover tornado damage up to the limits of your policy. If your home was a total loss from the tornado, for example, and you have a homeowners insurance policy with a $100,000 limit, then your insurer will pay you $100,000.
Tornado Damage Accompanied by Water Damage
Tornados may be accompanied by a heavy rainstorm. Many homeowners insurance disputes arise because of confusion about the source of the damage.
Homeowners insurance policies do not typically cover flood damage. If your home damage was caused by a flood, then your insurance company may deny your claim.
Homeowners insurance policies generally do cover windstorm damage. If your home damage was caused by the winds of the tornado, and as a result of that damage water got inside your home, then your insurance company should pay for damages, as long as your policy covers windstorm damage.
As you can imagine, claims can get messy.
What happens if a tornado damages your home, but then floodwaters from the street pour into your home through that damaged area? What happens when stormwater systems back up into your home? What happens when a tornado causes a tree to fall onto your home, allowing rain to enter your property?
In all of these situations, claims can get messy quickly. That’s why it’s important to document damages and stay detailed and organized through the entire claim process – or hire a licensed Public Adjuster if for large claims or difficult situations.
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If you live in a flood-prone region, you may be able to buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. The NFIP provides flood insurance to flood-prone areas of the country where traditional insurance companies do not want to provide it.
Tornado Damage Caused by Fallen Trees
Trees may fall on your home during a tornado. If a large tree falls, it could cause serious damage to your home, your car, and other property in and around your home.
Your insurer may or may not pay for fallen tree damage, depending on your policy coverage options.
If wind caused a tree to fall onto your home, and your homeowners insurance policy covers wind damage, then your insurance company should pay for repairs. The wind caused the tree to fall over, damaging your home.
However, your insurance company may argue that it was a maintenance-related issue: the tree fell on your home because you didn’t remove the rotting, leaning, or damaged tree, for example. In this situation, the insurer may deny your claim because you failed to take adequate precautions. As a homeowner, you have a responsibility to maintain your home.
How to Evaluate Tornado Damage
If a tornado struck your area, then you might have serious or minor damage. You need to evaluate your home to determine the extent of the damage caused by a tornado.
- Start with a visual inspection of the home. Check your roof, windows, and siding.
- Look for missing shingles or flashing, damage to the gutters, and siding pieces that have been broken or split.
- If you have wood shingles, then look for cracked, dented, or split wood shingles. With asphalt or composition shingles, look for divots, cracks, or visible signs of damage to the shingles (like areas that are soft to the touch or appear damaged).
- The soft metals of your roof may have damage. Check the flashing, vents, chimney, air conditioning units, exhaust caps, and other soft metal components of your roof for any dents or physical damage.
- Finally, check your window frames and gutters for physical damage.
Even if shingles don’t look damaged, they might have significant damage after a tornado because of granule loss. Hail and wind-flung debris can cause significant damage to the granules of your shingles. Once your shingles lose their granules, they become less effective. They don’t wick moisture as efficiently, and this can cause moisture to build up underneath.
For all of these reasons, it’s important to order a professional roof inspection after a tornado or significant windstorm. If you need help with inspecting damage, dealing with the insurance company or handling a tornado damage insurance claim contact a licensed Public Insurance Adjuster for a free consultation.
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Tornado Damage & Storm Intensity
Tornados are graded from F0 to F5. Depending on the category of tornado, you might have minor to severe damage.
The Fujita (EF) scale rates tornadoes from F0 (light damage) to F5 (very heavy damage). At the highest end of the scale, tornados have windspeeds of 261 to 318mph.
Some of the most destructive tornadoes in the United States, including the Tuscaloosa and Joplin tornadoes, were considered F4 and F5 tornadoes. However, even F3 tornadoes can destroy homes and cause serious damage.
Here are tornado severity scales and the typical damage they cause:
- F0: Light damage to chimneys, sign boards, and siding.
- F1: Roof surfaces peeled away and mobile homes overturned.
- F2: Roofs torn off buildings, mobile homes destroyed.
- F3: Roofs and walls torn away from buildings.
- F4: Buildings destroyed with some structures blown a long way away.
- F5: Homes destroyed and swept away.
Tornado Losses Are Increasing
Tornado losses are becoming more common. Nearly half of all catastrophic losses per year occur due to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
As populations increase in rural areas of the country, the number of tornado losses will continue to rise. More homes are being built in rural areas along the path of tornadoes, which increases the likelihood of a tornado hitting a home.
According to Aon, insured losses in the United States from severe convective storms (the types of storms that cause tornadoes) has totaled at least $10 billion each year since 2008. Although scientists aren’t clear if the number of storms is increasing, it’s clear that the number of insurance claims is increasing.
And, as the Insurance Information Institute explains, the United States experiences more tornadoes than any other country.
Two of the costliest tornadoes in American history have included the April 2011 tornado in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (which caused $8.5 billion in damages) and the August 10, 2020 Midwest Derecho (which caused $8.3 billion in insured losses).
Plus, tornadoes can happen at any time of year. Although they’re generally associated with summer thunderstorms, tornadoes can occur during any month, especially if you live further south.
How a Tornado Damage Insurance Claim Works: Step by Step Guide
Most homeowners have zero experience with tornado damage insurance claims. Unfortunately, your insurer may try to take advantage of that fact, pushing you to accept lower compensation than the amount you are owed.
Here’s how a typical tornado damage insurance claim will proceed:
- You experience the loss, notice the damage, and contact your insurance company.
- Your insurance company sends an adjuster to look at your property. You can be present during the inspection, but you don’t have to be. The adjuster will inspect the exterior of your home, including the roof, for visible signs of damage.
- The insurance adjuster may perform a 10’ x 10’ test on your roof to determine if there’s sufficient damage to warrant a claim. If there’s more than a certain number of dents, bruises, or breaks in the test square, then your insurance company should pay for the damage.
- The insurance company might recommend a specific contractor. Or, you can shop around for your own contractor.
- The contractor completes the repairs, repairing your roof and home to pre-loss condition.
Your insurer may pay you before or after the contractor performs repairs. Typically, the insurer sends you a check for the actual cash value of the property within a week of the inspection. The insurer may also send a second check after the repairs are completed.
In a perfect world, your contractor repairs all tornado damage perfectly, restoring your home to the state it was before the loss. You’re happy with the repairs, and you receive fair compensation from your insurance company.
In reality, unfortunately, many homeowners are dissatisfied with tornado damage insurance claims. Insurers may deny claims and contractors could perform low-quality repairs, for example, leaving you frustrated.
How a Commercial Tornado Damage Insurance Claim Works
If you have commercial property insurance, then you may need to make a commercial tornado damage insurance claim.
Commercial insurance covers many of the same things as homeowners insurance, including damage to your property and possessions.
However, commercial insurance may also cover business interruption and other issues.
If your business was struck by a tornado, then your commercial insurance should cover the cost of restoring your business to pre-loss condition.
Common commercial tornado damage insurance claim issues include:
- Broken machinery and equipment
- Damaged inventory and stock
- Fallen trees, destroyed roofing systems, and exposed roof structure components
- Partial or full structural damage to the building
- Interruption of business
Some businesses hire commercial claims public adjusters to identify all issues and ensure you receive adequate coverage for your business. A good commercial claims public adjuster can ensure your business receives every penny owed based on the terms of your insurance contract.
Tornado Damage Insurance Claim Disputes: What Should You Do?
If you and your insurer disagree about your tornado damage insurance claim, then you might need to take action.
Tornado damage insurance claims can be messy. Your insurance company signed a contract with you. It’s important to stand up for your rights – and hold your insurer accountable for your insurance contract.
Here are some of the strategies for dealing with tornado damage insurance claim disputes:
Hire an Attorney or Public Adjuster: Depending on your state, a licensed Public Adjuster or attorney could help you with insurance claim disputes. Public Adjusters fight for higher compensation on your behalf, clarifying policy language to ensure you get the maximum amount owed to you according to your insurance contract. If you have an insurance dispute worth more than $10,000, then it may be in your best interest to hire an attorney or public adjuster. Public Adjusters provide free consultations and can often resolve disputes quicker and more economically than attorney's.
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Get Multiple Estimates: Insurance companies will pay ‘fair market price’ to repair your home after a tornado. The insurer may use a defined price list to determine the cost of repairs. The actual cost of repairs could be much higher or lower. Get multiple estimates to ensure the insurer is paying a fair market price for your repairs.
Challenge your Insurer’s Claims: If your insurer claims the tornado damage came from floodwaters instead of rainwater, then it could change your claim significantly. If you know the damage came from tornado damage (which would be covered) and not flood damage (which would not be covered), then challenge your insurer’s claims. Hire a professional to assess the damage. Hire a Public Adjuster to help if needed.
Fight Against a Denied or Reduced Claim: If an insurance company has denied your claim or reduced your payout, then it’s not the end. Fight back against the claim. You signed a contract with your insurance company, and your insurance company legally needs to abide by the terms of that insurance contract.
FAQs About Tornado Damage Insurance Claims
We get plenty of questions about tornado damage insurance claims. Here are our answers.
Q: Does my homeowners insurance cover tornado damage?
A: Most homeowners insurance policies cover tornado damage. Unlike earthquakes or floods, tornadoes are covered perils that do not require special coverage. However, if you live in a wind-prone area of the country, then your policy may exclude windstorm coverage (or you may need to pay extra for windstorm coverage).
Q: How does tornado insurance coverage work?
A: Your homeowners insurance policy covers tornado damage just like it covers windstorm damage. From an insurance standpoint, there’s no difference between a windstorm and a tornado.
Q: Does car insurance cover tornado damage?
A: If your vehicle has comprehensive coverage, then car insurance protects your vehicle from tornado damage (and other windstorm damage). Comprehensive coverage is a normal part of any vehicle’s full coverage car insurance.
Q: What should I do with a tornado insurance claim dispute?
A: If you and your insurer disagree about your tornado damage insurance claim, then consider hiring an attorney or public adjuster to handle your claim. Public adjusters can double or even triple your insurance company’s initial offer for tornado damage insurance coverage.
Q: Will insurance rates rise after a tornado?
A: Insurance companies usually will not directly raise premiums on most policyholders after a catastrophic loss. However, studies show that insurance rates increase by 8% following a total loss insurance claim. In addition, insurance companies often raise rates by zip codes or other geographical areas following storms with a high volume of claims in those areas.
Q: Which states have the most tornadoes?
A: The top ten states with the most tornadoes include Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Florida, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Alabama, Mississippi, and Colorado.
Q: Where do tornadoes occur?
A: Tornadoes can occur anywhere in the United States, and the United States experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world. However, according to the National Weather Service, tornadoes are most common in the central plains of the Rocky Mountains and west of the Appalachians.
Q: When do tornadoes occur?
A: According to the National Weather Service, tornadoes typically occur in the late afternoon and evening during the spring and summer. The southern states experience tornadoes more often in spring, while the northern states in the tornado zone experience more tornadoes in the summer.
Q: What type of damage can tornadoes do?
A: Tornadoes can cause mild to severe damage, depending on the intensity of the storm. A severe tornado (F3, F4, and F5) can rip the walls and roof away from a home. Even a minor or moderate tornado (F0, F1, or F2) can cause serious damage to roofs, homes, and mobile homes.
Final Word: Hire a Public Adjuster for your Tornado Damage Insurance Claim
Tornado damage insurance claims can be messy. Consider hiring a Public Adjuster to help with your insurance claim.
A good public adjuster fights for higher compensation for clients, to help them make all the needed repairs and fully recover after a loss.
Contact a ClaimsMate Public Adjuster today to discuss your situation and get help with your insurance claim. A good Public Adjuster can navigate a tricky tornado damage insurance claim to ensure you receive every penny owed to you based on the terms of your insurance contract.
Original Post Here: Everything You Need To Know About Tornado Damage Insurance Claims
Sunday, September 26, 2021
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
4 Surprising Damages From Fire Loss Insurance Claims
With wildfires increasing across California and much of the western United States, more policyholders are constantly, and often suddenly, finding the need to attain more understanding of fire damage coverage and insurance claims. Fire damage can wreak havoc on your property, but many are surprised by other damages caused when handling fire loss insurance claims.
Smoke and soot, for example, can cause just as much damage as the fire itself – even if it was a small fire.
Today, we’re highlighting some of the most surprising types of damage caused by house fires – and how to ensure they get covered on your fire loss insurance claims. For a full set of in depth tips and the process for fire insurance claims, be sure to also check out our fire insurance claim tips here.
1) Smoke & Soot Damage
Smoke and soot damage is the most common source of damage from a fire damage insurance claim (aside from the fire itself). Smoke and soot can cause damage throughout your home, increasing repair costs by thousands.
Many are surprised to find smoke and soot damage in other areas of their home after a fire. Even if a fire was in your kitchen, for example, smoke and soot damage could spread throughout your home.
The most common signs of smoke and soot damage include:
- Odors
- Stained fabric and upholstery
- Paint discoloration
- Health issues, like a hoarse voice, difficulty breathing, irritated eyes and skin, and unusual headaches
- Flooring damage
- Pitting, corrosion, and rust on metal surfaces (like pipes or jewelry)
Like fire damage, smoke and soot damage requires quick action. Your insurance policy will cover the cost of repairing or replacing this damage in your home. However, you need to document it for your insurance company.
Remember: airborne soot particulate is invisible. We all know what smoke looks like, but soot can cause serious and hidden damage throughout your home.
You may experience health problems associated with smoke and soot damage. Exposure to smoke and soot damage can cause skin and eye irritation, respiratory issues, shortness of breath, asthma, stroke, and heart attacks. It has even been linked to cancer and premature death. Infants exposed to smoke could have long-term health issues.
Soot lodges itself deep within every corner of your home. It may be invisible, but it can impact your health, infiltrate your electronics and appliances, and leave your home with an unpleasant smell for months after the fire.
How Insurance Covers Smoke and Soot Damage: Most insurance policies cover the cost of hiring a professional smoke and soot damage restoration professional. This professional may be able to salvage or clean some items. With other items, you may need to buy a replacement.
Find more insight on dealing with smoke damage claims in our article here.
2) Water Damage
Many homes and commercial properties have severe water damage after a fire. Firefighters spray water on the fire to put it out, but all of that water can create serious structural damage.
Alternatively, automatic sprinkler systems could cause water damage – even if the fire wasn’t serious enough to require firefighters.
On the surface level, water can damage your electronics, appliances, furniture, carpet, and other items and surfaces in your home or business. In many cases, these items need to be replaced after being damaged by water.
On a deeper level, water damage can cause structural damage to your home or property. Water can lead to mold issues behind your walls – especially if you don’t fix the water damage quickly.
Black mold can release spores into the air. After a fire, you and your pets may experience nausea, headaches, and respiratory issues because of this mold. You may think that you fixed all of the fire damage, only to be left with serious mold and water damage issues behind your walls.
How Insurance Covers Water Damage: Insurance does not normally cover mold damage, as it’s a preventable problem in many homes. However, insurance does cover mold damage when it’s caused by a covered loss – like a house fire. If your home has water damage after a fire, then you need to hire an emergency restoration service quickly to tackle the problem.
3) Chemical Damage
Fires can cause chemical damage throughout your property. Even if it’s a small fire, there may be toxic fumes that impact the safety of your property.
Smoke, soot, ash, and burned materials can release toxic chemicals throughout your home. These chemicals are a serious health risk.
Even if your home looks clean after a fire, it may not be safe. A fire could leave invisible chemicals in the air. These chemicals can cause significant respiratory illnesses and other diseases.
When you burn non-organic materials, they release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs are hazardous to long-term health, and they can even be lethal if inhaled or absorbed by your skin. You may feel symptoms immediately after ingestion. Or, you may not notice the effects for years.
Experts need to assess your home to determine its safety after a house fire. Once an expert has declared your home to be safe and free of toxic chemicals, you can move back in.
How Insurance Covers Chemical Damage: Ordinary home and commercial insurance policies should cover the costs of repairing or replacing chemical damage after a house fire. Insurance policies also cover the costs of a hotel and other emergency expenses if you are unable to live in your house after a fire.
4) Other Invisible Damages
A soot particle is just 2.5 picometers in size (PM 2.5), making it invisible to the naked eye.
In comparison, a dust particle is PM 10 and human hair is PM 50 to 70. Fine beach sand, meanwhile, is PM 90.
That means your house could be filled with invisible damages caused by smoke, soot, VOCs, and other compounds. You might not notice this damage during a walkthrough. In fact, your home could look pristine during a walkthrough. However, it’s crucial you have experts check your home for invisible damages before you move back in. Find further information on the harmful effects of Particulate Matter here.
How Insurance Covers Invisible Damage: Insurance companies cover most damages related to house fires, including visible and invisible damage. As long as you properly document this damage, and you can prove it was caused by the house fire, your insurer should cover the damage without issue.
Insurance Restrictions After a House Fire: How Insurers Deny & Reduce Claims
In theory, your home insurance policy covers all damage caused by your house fire. In practice, many insurance policies are loaded with restrictions.
Common restrictions on a fire loss insurance claim include:
- You must take reasonable steps to mitigate further damage. If you did not place a tarp over the hole in your kitchen wall after a house fire, for example, then your insurer may not cover the damage caused by water entering your home after an overnight storm.
- You need to contact the police if you believe a crime was committed. Arson is covered by home insurance (assuming it was not committed for insurance fraud purposes). However, your insurer needs a police report.
- You must promptly notify your insurer. Failing to notify your insurer of the loss within a specific time period could cause your claim to be denied. Contact your insurer as soon as possible.
- You must cancel any debit cards or credit cards damaged, compromised, or lost during the fire.
Check your home insurance policy for other restrictions. Many home insurance policies have dozens of restrictions that could limit your payout after a fire loss insurance claim.
How Public Adjusters Help
Public adjusters are certified insurance industry professionals with a reputation for solving tricky insurance problems.
A good public adjuster maximizes insurance claim payout on behalf of clients like you. The public adjuster works for you – not the insurance company. Their goal is to represent your needs against the insurance company, allowing you to obtain an adequate and fair settlement after a house fire.
A public adjuster helps document evidence, prove damage to your insurance company, and maximize the amount of money you receive as compensation for your fire loss insurance claim. Read more about how experienced fire claims adjusters assist with fire damage restoration estimates here, or contact us for a free consultation with an experienced fire loss Public Adjuster.
Learn More Here: 4 Surprising Damages From Fire Loss Insurance Claims
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Should You Rebuild or Repair Your Home After a House Fire?
In some cases, your home needs to be razed and rebuilt after a house fire. There’s too much damage to the home, including structural damage that has permanently compromised the safety of the home.
In other cases, your home can be safely salvaged and repaired to pre-loss condition.
Insurance companies will push for the cheapest option. However, the cheapest option may not be the best choice for you, the homeowner.
Should you rebuild or repair your home after a house fire? Who decides whether to repair or rebuild your home? Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about repairing or rebuilding your home during a fire loss insurance claim.
How State Laws Protect You During Insurance Claims
Many states have passed laws protecting policyholders from greedy insurance companies. 20 states, for example, have passed valued policy laws. These laws allow policyholders to obtain fair compensation for their damaged home without jumping through hoops.
Each state’s valued policy law works differently. However, most states have a valued policy law that works similar to the following:
When the home should be considered a total loss, the homeowner no longer needs to prove the value of the home, such as Actual Cash Value (ACV), and the insurer must pay the full policy limit for the dwelling.
In some states the valued policy laws will apply when the cost to repair a home exceeds 51% of the home’s insured value. In many states, the valued policy laws only apply to certain causes of loss (perils), such as fire or lightning.
Some states have stricter laws. In California, for example, policyholders now have the right to collect all benefits that would have covered rebuilding your destroyed home then use those benefits to buy a replacement home. In other words, insurance companies in California must pay the same amount they would owe to rebuild your home and let you use those funds to buy a home instead.
In other states, things can be less clear. Many fire damage insurance claim disputes arise from the repair versus replacement issue. Insurers push for the cheapest option, while homeowners want the option that’s best for them.
Replacement Cost Value Versus Actual Cash Value
To understand the cost of repairing or replacing your home, it helps to understand the difference between replacement cost value and actual cash value.
All homeowners insurance policies have either replacement cost value (RCV) or actual cash value (ACV) coverage. RCV plans are more expensive and can provide additional compensation after a loss.
Replacement Cost Value: RCV coverage compensates you based on the dollar amount it would cost to replace or repair your home with a home similar to the kind and quality of the home you lost. The insurance company does not apply depreciation to these costs because you need brand new materials to calculate costs.
Actual Cash Value: Actual cash value coverage compensates you based on the fair market value of your home on the day before the loss. In other words, it’s the actual value of your home based on the price a willing buyer would have paid a willing seller. Some homeowners insurance policies have other definitions (like RCV minus depreciation).
The ACV of your home will not exceed the RCV. ACV includes the depreciation or your home and its building materials, while RCV does not. There is generally a significant gap between RCV and ACV, although the gap may be smaller on newer homes.
Other Types of Homeowners Insurance Coverage
Some homeowners insurance policies have other coverage options beyond RCV and ACV. Some homeowners insurance policies have building code coverage or extended replacement cost coverage, for example.
Building Code Coverage: With building code coverage, your insurer pays for work and materials required to improve your home to comply with building codes and laws in your area. A standard home insurance policy will not pay for improvements to your home. However, building code coverage could cover the cost of certain improvements after a loss.
Extended Replacement Cost Coverage (ERC): Extended replacement cost coverage provides extra coverage above your dwelling limit after you experience a loss above that limit. You may pay extra for this coverage (via a rider or endorsement). With ERC, you could get compensation that’s 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% above your dwelling limit, giving you more compensation when needed most.
Your Insurer Will Likely Push for the Cheapest Option
Your insurance company is a for-profit business. The company wants to make as much money as legally possible. To do that, your insurer will almost certainly push to pay the lowest possible amount of compensation for your home and its possessions.
When deciding to repair or replace your home, your insurer will push for the cheaper of the two options.
Who Decides to Repair or Replace a Home?
The days following a fire damage insurance claim can be confusing. Homeowners have many decisions to make, and it’s difficult to know which decisions are the right ones.
So who decides to repair or replace a home after a house fire?
Ultimately, there is no single authority deciding to repair or replace a home after a house fire. With most insurance claims, it comes down to whichever party presents the best evidence in favor of a particular decision.
If you demonstrate the greatest will and present the most compelling evidence, for example, then you should be able to repair or rebuild your home (whichever is in your best interest).
Alternatively, if the home insurance company has greater evidence and stronger will, then they could force homeowners to repair or rebuild your home.
This is where many fire damage insurance claims enter a grey area. Insurance companies will point to parts of your policy and argue for their case. You (or your lawyer or public adjuster) will point to legal precedents to support your case. Like many major financial decisions, it can become messy.
If you need help with a dispute or disagreement with your insurance claim, contact a qualified Public Adjuster for a free consultation.
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Some House Fire Repair or Replacement Decisions Are Easy
In some cases, there isn’t a debate on whether to repair or rebuild your home.
Your home has been damaged significantly in a fire to a point where it cannot be repaired. In this case, the destruction is complete, and there should be little issue arriving at a full settlement from your insurer.
In other cases, house fire insurance claims are more complicated, and there’s considerable debate whether to repair or rebuild your home.
The Cost of Rebuilding a Home is Generally Higher than Its Market Value
In most situations, it costs more to rebuild a home after major damage than the market value of that home.
When rebuilding a home, you need to cover expenses that aren’t considered within the actual cash value of the home, including rush labor charges, material, specialists’ fees, and the cost of temporary accommodations for you and your family.
How to Get Replacement Cost Coverage
Some homeowners insurance policies only include actual cash value (ACV) coverage. These policies tend to be much more affordable.
With these policies, the insurance company can simply give you a cash payment for your home after a loss based on its actual cash value. This cash payment is based on the ACV of your home, which is less than the replacement cost value (RCV). The insurer always chooses the cheapest option, which is why the insurer will push for ACV instead of RCV.
However, many homeowners insurance policies have RCV coverage. In some policies, it’s listed as dwelling replacement cost. If your policy has RCV coverage, then your policy includes coverage for a rebuild.
Ultimately, insurance experts recommend insuring your home to its value. A home’s value isn’t the cost a buyer is willing to pay for the home the day before a loss. Instead, a home’s value is the reconstruction value based on an appraisal or calculation.
Dwelling Coverage Customization Options
When buying dwelling coverage (also known as replacement cost coverage) for your home, you’ll encounter multiple customization options. Your policy could have clauses for inflation, for example, or guaranteed replacement.
In some cases, these clauses are included by default. In other cases, you need to add them to your policy.
Inflation Clause: Inflation clauses protect the value of your insurance payout from inflation. If you insured your home for $250,000 today, for example, then that value may not be the same in 10 years, when the purchasing power of the dollar has dropped. As the value of the dollar drops, your payout increases due to the inflation clause. You might receive $250,000 plus an added amount based on the rate of inflation.
Guaranteed Replacement Clause: Some replacement cost policies have guaranteed replacement clauses. With a guaranteed replacement clause, the insurer guarantees that your home’s replacement cost is covered by your plan. Even if the rebuild costs are higher than the quoted estimate, your insurer guarantees replacement costs for your home.
Extended Replacement Clause: An extended replacement clause guarantees additional coverage or replacement costs up to a certain percentage of your home’s value. Under this clause, the insurer increases your payout if costs exceed your limits. You can typically choose extended replacement cost amounts like 25, 50, 75, or 100%.
Cash Out Clause: Sometimes, it’s in your best interest to take a cash settlement on your home, allowing you to build or buy a home elsewhere. If your insurance policy has a cash-out clause, then you have this option. A cash-out option is common on homes with higher values, unique and customized homes, or older homes. If the materials needed to build your home are not readily available, or if your home had unique value, then you may want to add a cash-out clause to your home insurance policy.
Dwelling coverage customization options can impact whether to rebuild or repair your home.
A Thorough Scope of Loss is Crucial for Your Claim
Above all, the most important thing to remember with fire damage insurance claims is the importance of a thorough scope of loss.
A good scope of loss could be the difference between repairing or replacing your home.
A thorough scope of loss requires extensive documentation of the items damaged during your loss and the value of those items.
Insurance companies will often challenge these claims at every step of the way. If you claim it costs $1,000 to replace your couch, for example, then your insurer could find a similar couch from Walmart priced at $200. Through these methods, the insurer can significantly reduce the compensation they pay for your insurance claim.
Hire a Public Adjuster to Receive Fair Compensation
For larger insurance claims (with the disputed amount over $10,000), it may be in your best interest to hire a public adjuster.
A good public adjuster fights for higher compensation on your behalf, pushing for you to receive the highest possible amount of compensation as listed on your insurance policy contract.
Your insurer signed a contract with you to cover the value of your home and its possessions. Insurers have a legal obligation to meet. When insurers fail to meet that legal obligation, they can face penalties. That’s where public adjusters can help.
If you are concerned about repairing or replacing your home, or if you’re worried about receiving fair compensation for your home after a major loss, then talk to an experience Public Insurance Adjuster.
Read More Here: Should You Rebuild or Repair Your Home After a House Fire?
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Scottsdale
Your insurance company has its own adjusters. These insurance adjusters work on behalf of your insurance company. Seemingly their goal is often to minimize payouts to policyholders, fight every aspect of a policyholder’s claim, and pay policyholders as little as legally possible.
Today, Public Insurance Adjusters help Scottsdale property owners fight back. When you hire a qualified public adjuster in Scottsdale, you’re hiring a verified insurance industry expert with a proven track record of securing higher payouts for clients. Contact ClaimsMate today for a free consultation. See how a public adjuster can help with your claim.
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How Public Adjusters Work in Scottsdale, AZ
Clients agree: after hiring a public adjuster in Scottsdale, they feel enormous relief. Hiring a public adjuster can be a life-changing decision. It can increase your insurance payout. It can simplify and speed up your claim. It can minimize a stressful property damage insurance claim experience.
Public adjusters lend their expertise to your insurance claim. They use their decades of industry experience to analyze your claim, pore over your contract, and determine the best path forward for your claim. Many public adjusters used to work for insurance companies. Now, they work for ‘the good guys’ by representing policyholders like you.
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Insurance companies aren’t always dedicated to serving policyholders: they’re dedicated to protecting their bottom line. Many insurance companies are publicly-traded firms with a responsibility to shareholders. They often want to pay policyholders as little as legally possible for a claim. Your insurance company’s adjusters may challenge your claim, weaken your case, and pay you less than you deserve for your property damage insurance claim.
When you hire a public adjuster in Scottsdale, you can fight back against greedy insurance companies. You can receive the compensation you deserve at a time when you need it most. A good public adjuster can increase insurance payouts 2 to 4 times higher than the initial amount offered by your insurance company.
Public Adjusters in Scottsdale
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How to Hire a Public Adjuster in Scottsdale
ClaimsMate makes it easy to hire a public adjuster in Scottsdale. It starts with a free consultation with a qualified Public Insurance Adjuster. During a consultation, a public adjuster can explain the best options for your specific claim. The public adjuster discloses all fees upfront. Most public adjusters charge zero fees until you accept your insurance company’s final settlement, at which point they charge a 10% fee of the total payout. Fees vary based on public adjuster experience.
Our public adjusters have decades of experience solving tricky insurance problems for property owners in Scottsdale. They know the ‘tricks’ insurance companies use to justify lower payments. A good public adjuster can increase compensation by 2 to 4 times, giving you more money for your claim at a time when you need it most.
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Remember: your insurance company signed a contract agreeing to protect your property. When an insurance company fails to abide by the terms of this contract, policyholders need to fight back. Many policyholders fight back by hiring a public adjuster.
In most cases, our public adjusters have firsthand experience dealing with similar property damage insurance claims in Scottsdale. If you’re dealing with a storm damage insurance dispute in Scottsdale, then you can hire a public adjuster with a proven track record of solving these types of disputes.
Public adjusters are available throughout the city of Scottsdale and Maricopa County, including the greater Scottsdale and Phoenix metro areas.
To setup a free consultation with a licensed public adjuster in Scottsdale, Arizona, contact ClaimsMate today.
Learn More Here: Scottsdale
Tempe
When you hire a public adjuster in Tempe, you get a licensed insurance industry expert. Public adjusters have decades of experience solving tricky insurance problems, winning higher payouts for clients, and overturning denied claims. In many cases, hiring a public adjuster can be a life-changing decision.
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Insurance companies are notorious for denying or reducing claims. This problem has become worse over time – not better. Many insurance companies have a responsibility to shareholders to deliver higher profits. One of the best ways to secure higher profits is to minimize payouts to policyholders like you.
Fight back by hiring a public adjuster for your Tempe insurance claim dispute. A good public adjuster can review all details of your claim, then take the fight to your insurance company to secure the highest possible amount of compensation. Public adjusters negotiate with the insurer on your behalf – and they know the tricks insurers use to minimize payouts. When you hire a public adjuster for your Tempe insurance dispute, you can fight back and maximize your payout.
Public Adjusters in Tempe
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Why Hire a Public Adjuster in Tempe?
Many policyholders agree: hiring a public adjuster can be one of the best decisions you ever make. A good public adjuster lends their expertise to your insurance claim. Most public adjusters have firsthand experience dealing with your specific property damage issue in Tempe. That gives you the highest possible chance of overturning a denied claim, increasing payout, and maximizing the payout from your insurance company.
Our Tempe public adjusters have combined decades of experience solving storm damage insurance claims, fire damage disputes, water damage claim denials, and other tricky insurance problems. In many cases, a public adjuster can increase a claim payout 2 to 4 times over what the insurance company initially offered.
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Some policyholders hire a public adjuster after the insurer has denied their claim. They want to fight back, but they aren’t sure where to start. During a free consultation, a public adjuster can give you the roadmap for fighting your insurance claim. Other policyholders hire a public adjuster from the beginning of their claim because they know it will be complicated.
No matter why you’re hiring a public adjuster in Tempe, you’re getting a licensed insurance industry expert on your side.
Remember: your insurance company has its own adjusters who are frequently committed to minimizing your payout. These adjusters work for your insurance company and routinely found trying to pay as little for claims as legally possible. When you hire a public adjuster in Tempe, you’re getting a public adjuster on your side who can maximize your payout. They represent your best interests – not your insurance company’s.
Most public adjusters work on a contingency fee basis. You only pay after you accept the insurance company’s final payout. Until then, the public adjuster continues to fight on your behalf to secure the highest possible amount of compensation.
Hire a Public Adjuster in Tempe Today
Schedule a free consultation with a public adjuster in Tempe by contacting ClaimsMate. Our locally-based public adjusters are fully licensed by the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. They have a proven ability to solve tricky insurance problems. Many have already solved complex insurance problems for your neighbors.
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Reputable Public Insurance Adjusters are available throughout the city of Tempe and the Tempe metro area, including all addresses in Maricopa County and greater Phoenix.
Contact ClaimsMate today for a free consultation with a proven public adjuster dedicated to solving your insurance problem and maximizing your payout.
See More Here: Tempe
Mesa
Public Adjusters are licensed by the state of Arizona to handle insurance claims. As locally-based insurance claim experts, they have combined decades of experience solving tricky insurance problems. Whether it’s a water damage insurance claim, a fire damage dispute, or any other insurance claim problem in Mesa, you can get the help you need in Mesa from a qualified Public Insurance Adjuster.
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Our public adjusters approach each claim with a simple goal: to help clients like you receive a fair claim settlement payout from your insurance company. Some clients hire a public adjuster after a claim has been denied. Others hire a public adjuster at the start of a tricky claim. Generally, public adjusters work on claims where the disputed amount is over $10,000.
Public Adjusters in Mesa AZ
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How Mesa Public Adjusters Help with Insurance Claims
Mesa public adjusters lend their expertise to your property damage insurance claim. After hiring a public adjuster, many customers agree that they feel a great sense of relief: an insurance expert can analyze their policy and claim and determine the best path forward based on decades of industry experience.
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Man public adjusters specialize in different types of property damage insurance claims. If you’re dealing with a wind damage insurance claim, then you can hire an expert with firsthand experience solving tricky wind damage insurance claim issues in Mesa. Whether it’s a fire damage claim, water damage dispute, storm and wind damage claim denial, or any other insurance issue, your claim can go more smoothly with an expert public adjuster at your back.
All of this hard work leads to one simple benefit: a good public adjuster in Mesa can often increase your insurance claim payout by 2 to 4 times higher than the payout initially offered by your insurance company. Many policyholders also speed up their claim, simplify the process, and enjoy less stress from beginning to end, among other benefits.
Contact A Public Adjuster in Mesa, AZ Today
Public Adjusters are ready to help with your claim today in Mesa, Arizona and the greater Phoenix metro areas. The sooner they can get started on your claim, the sooner you can solve your insurance dispute.
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Public adjusters work in a straightforward way. Public adjusters offer free initial consultations. During a consultation, you can discover how the public adjuster can help you simplify and optimize your insurance claim issues or dispute. Public adjusters also have a straightforward fee structure, typically charging a 10% fee based on the final insurance settlement. This fee is always disclosed and agreed upon upfront. Generally, you don’t pay anything until you accept the final payout from your insurer.
Your insurance company has its own adjusters. These adjusters are salaried employees of your insurance company. They represent your insurer’s best interests, and the goal is often to minimize the payout you receive as much as legally possible. Some insurance companies use loopholes or hidden terms in your insurance contract to justify a lower payout. Experienced public adjusters in Mesa know the tricks used by insurance companies to minimize payout – and they know how to avoid these tricks. That means more money to recover from a loss at a time when you need it most.
Public Adjusters are available throughout the city of Mesa, Maricopa County, and all surrounding communities in the greater Mesa area and Phoenix metro area. Contact ClaimsMate today to discover how a public adjuster can help solve your complex insurance claim.
Original Post Here: Mesa
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Phoenix
Hire a public adjuster in Phoenix today to defend yourself against greedy insurance companies. Insurance companies use their own adjusters who often challenge and weaken your claim. Many Phoenix homeowners fight back by hiring a public insurance adjuster.
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Public Insurance Adjusters are licensed by the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. They’re qualified insurance industry professionals with a proven reputation for handling claims. A good public adjuster can speed up your claim, maximize your payout, and simplify a complex insurance claim in Phoenix.
Our Phoenix public adjusters specialize in all of the following fields:
- Fire damage claims
- Hail damage insurance claims
- Wind damage claim adjustments
- Roof damage property insurance claims
- Property damage appraisals
- Flood, storm, and water damage insurance disputes
Why Contact A Local Phoenix Public Insurance Adjuster?
Our expert public adjusters are available in Phoenix to provide free initial consultations. During an initial consultation, a public adjuster can explain how their expertise could help with your insurance claim. Our public adjusters are qualified to handle your specific type of insurance claim, and most public adjusters have firsthand experience dealing with your specific type of property damage claim in the Phoenix metro area.
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Advantages of hiring a Phoenix public adjuster with ClaimsMate include:
The Best Local Public Adjusters: ClaimsMate connects you with public adjusters based right here in Phoenix, which means you get local public adjusters with every claim. Our local public adjusters understand the unique challenges faced by property owners. Many also have firsthand experience dealing with local insurance companies and their representatives. That means a smoother claims process and expert assistance.
Save Money: A good public adjuster can help you save a significant amount of money. Avoid being ripped off by an insurance company. Hire a ClaimsMate public adjuster to defend yourself and stand up for your rights.
Work With Your Schedule: Property damage claims can wreak havoc on your schedule. ClaimsMate’s public adjusters work with your schedule.
Expert Claims Help: When you hire a public adjuster, you get a trusted industry professional who can answer your claims questions and provide leading insight on complex claim situations. Property damage insurance claims can be complicated, and public adjusters can help.
Public Adjusters in Phoenix
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How Phoenix Public Adjusters Work
Public adjusters are licensed by the state of Arizona to handle insurance claims on behalf of clients. Public adjusters are claim experts who specialize in insurance disputes. Many public adjusters have a lengthy background in the insurance industry, working for insurance companies before switching to ‘the other side’ to represent clients like you.
Your insurance company has its own adjusters. Your insurance company’s adjusters are dedicated to protecting their employer’s bottom line. They’re salaried employees or independent contractors of your insurance company. Their focus is often to challenge your claim, reduce your payout, and pay you as little as legally possible for your claim.
A public adjuster represents you – not your insurance company. When you hire a public adjuster in Phoenix, you get a trusted insurance professional who can represent your side of the insurance dispute. This professional has a proven history of solving complex insurance disputes. Their goal is to maximize your payout, speed up your insurance claim, and ensure you receive every penny of compensation owed to you.
It may or may not be in your best interest to hire a public adjuster in Phoenix. Most public adjusters work on complex cases or cases where the disputed amount is more than $10,000. ClaimsMate offers free consultations to determine how a public adjuster could help your Phoenix property damage insurance claim.
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What to Expect from your Phoenix Public Adjuster
Many Phoenix policyholders agree: after hiring a public adjuster, they feel a great sense of relief. They know an expert is on their side representing their own best interests. Hiring a public adjuster can be a life-changing decision. It could be the difference between a denied insurance claim and a six-figure payout.
When you hire a public adjuster in Phoenix, you’re hiring an expert who can navigate the complex claims process, avoid the traps set by insurance companies, and help you emerge from the other side with more money in your pocket.
A public insurance adjuster will analyze the claim and property damage, pore over your contract, and determine the fair amount of compensation owed to you based on the terms of the contract. The public adjuster negotiates with the insurance company on your behalf to secure the highest possible amount of compensation.
Public adjusters are generally paid on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay until you accept your insurer’s final offer. All public adjuster fees are previously agreed upon upfront, and public adjusters are required to be transparent. It’s common for public adjusters to charge a 10% fee of the final payment from the insurer or 25% of the ‘new money’ added to your claim. Aside from this fee, most public adjusters do not charge anything else for their services. Most customers don’t pay anything upfront.
Contact an Expert Phoenix Public Adjuster Today for a Free Consultation
ClaimsMate connects you with a highly qualified public adjuster to answer questions and arrange a free consultation.
Whether you’re in Phoenix or anywhere in the greater Phoenix metro area, you can get expert insurance help from from ClaimsMate.
Contact ClaimsMate today to schedule a free consultation with a trusted public adjuster who can increase the compensation you receive for your insurance claim, overturn a denied claim, speed up the settlement process, and negotiate with your insurance company on your behalf to get the claim settlement you deserve.
Article Here: Phoenix
Arizona
Public adjusters are independent professionals who work for you. They’re not affiliated with an insurance company: they represent your best interests.
Public adjusters speed up an insurance claim, maximize claim payout, and simplify every aspect of a claim. ClaimsMate’s qualified public adjusters are licensed across the state of Arizona. They can work on small and large claims. They’re proven and experienced, and our public adjusters have a long track record of getting results for clients.
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Public adjusters are the only adjusters that represent you – not your insurance company.
The three types of insurance adjusters in Arizona include:
- Public Insurance Adjusters work on your behalf and are unaffiliated with any insurance company. They’re also known as private adjusters or public adjusters.
- Independent Adjusters are those who contract their services to insurance companies and represent the insurance company’s best interests.
- Company Adjusters are salaried employees of your insurance company. Also known as staff adjusters, their goal is to protect the insurer’s bottom line.
Public Adjusters are the only adjusters that work on behalf of the policyholder. Independent adjusters and company adjusters may often weaken your claim, negotiate to lower your settlement, and challenge your claim at every step. Public adjusters fight back, representing your best interests throughout the claims settlement process.
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How Arizona Public Adjusters Help with Property Damage Insurance Claims
Homeowners hire public adjusters for expert assistance with property damage insurance claims. If your property is damaged in a covered event, then you can choose to work with the insurance company’s adjusters. Or, you can hire your own public adjuster.
In most cases, hiring a public adjuster in Arizona leads to significantly higher insurance settlement payouts.
Arizona requires all public adjusters to be licensed before handling claims for clients. As part of the licensing process, Arizona requires public insurance adjusters to meet certain professional standards. Anyone who serves as an adjuster in any capacity must be licensed by the state of Arizona.
Public adjusters are the most beneficial for large insurance claims or complicated claims. Some homeowners hire public adjusters after the insurance company denies their payout. Others hire a public adjuster after being disappointed by a settlement offer that is too low to make repairs. Some hire a public adjuster at the start of the claim to expertly handle the claim from start to finish, maximizing payout.
If you have questions or think you may need help with an insurance claim, talk to an Arizona Public Adjuster for a free claim review and get valuable insight about your specific claim.
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Cost of Hiring an Arizona Public Adjuster
Public adjusters in Arizona have different pricing systems based on their experience and qualifications. Most public adjusters charge a percentage of the claim payout. Typically, public adjusters charge 10% of the entire claim amount or 25% of the new money amount. ‘New money’ is the amount of money above and beyond the initial payout offered by your insurance company (or already paid by your insurance company).
All public adjuster fees are discussed and agreed upon upfront. Public adjusters are required to be transparent with their fee structure. Most public adjusters in Arizona also work on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay until you accept your insurer’s final payout.
Find Arizona Public Adjusters
ClaimsMate has public adjusters to serve all major cities and metro areas in Arizona. Our public adjusters are proven, locally-based, and experienced. Most public adjusters have firsthand knowledge of your specific type of claim, including water damage claims, storm damage claims, fire damage claims, and other property damage claims.
Contact ClaimsMate today for a free consultation with a qualified public adjuster in Arizona.
Article Source Here: Arizona
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