Just about a year ago, a hurricane named Hurricane Dorian hit the united states of America, and as a result, lots of properties and lives were lost. For a disaster that lasted for about 15 days, a hurricane is one of those natural disasters that can cause huge destruction even if its duration is just a few days. Aside from the usual relief packages that the federal and state government of the affected area would have provided to residents of the area, a person who has lost his or her property to the hurricane may also get insurance coverage, which means he or she may be paid a certain amount from the insurance company.
WHEN TO FILE
Although there are several kinds of insurance claims that cover the different types of damages caused by a hurricane, however, as long as the individual is registered with an insurance company and files the right claim, he or she will likely get insurance coverage. Depending on the state of residence of the affected fellow, there might be a time frame for filing a claim. For instance, in Florida, after three years since the damage, a person can no longer file a claim. So, knowing the right claim to file and the right time to file a hurricane damage claim is very important. This is why it is always good for the affected individual to seek professional legal help from good Babcock Injury Lawyers. Ideally, filing a claim should be done immediately after the damage is done.
STEPS TO TAKE WHILE FILING A HURRICANE DAMAGE CLAIM
After suffering from a hurricane plague, it is understandable that the affected individuals may be quite shaken up. While trying to recover from their losses, here are some of the steps that should be taken while filing a claim:
Reach Out to Your Insurance Company
Once the hurricane has hit and the damage to the property has been done, an affected individual should immediately contact his or her insurance company to inform them that he or she has been affected by the unfortunate incident. Appropriate information that will be useful should be immediately related to them.
Take Account of the Damage Done to the Property
Making a hurricane damage claim is basically reporting to the insurance company that your property has been destroyed, and you will need funds to rebuild. Hence, it is important to be able to note the extent of the damage. To do this, the individual should take pictures of all the affected areas as well as a complete view of the property. Usually, the insurance company should already have pictures of the property before the damage, so this will help them understand the full effect of the disaster.
Get Ready for a Visit from the Insurance Company
While processing a claim, an agent from the insurance company will be sent to inspect the house even after they may have received information and pictures showing the damage done to the property from the owner. The agent may ask some questions as well as take his or her account of the current state of the property. This will help the insurance company know what will be needed to get the property back in good shape.
Make Possible Repairs
While some damages may be minimal, some might be so massive that there may be a need for a complete rebuild. Regardless of the extent, an individual may start some little repairs or possibly a complete reconstruction depending on the available amount. The individual should be careful when contracting out the repairs so as not to get into the hands of scammers who would take undue advantage of the situation.
Keep Record of Everything
There may be requests for receipts and references for all the visits by the insurance company, so it is very vital to keep records of all that is agreed upon between both parties. The receipts of the repairs done and all the amount spent while residing in hotels during reconstruction should also be documented. All this information will be really useful to the insurance company in processing the claims.
Even while taking these steps, the need to seek the help of a legal team can’t be overemphasized. Not only will they help with correctly filing a claim, but they will also better the chances of the individuals as they are very experienced and very knowledgeable about situations like this. Additionally, this will allow the affected individuals to focus on recuperating while the legal team helps facilitate getting the funds they need to get back on their feet.
