If you’ve filed a water damage claim denied and are having your claim denied, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common reasons why people don’t file water damage claims in the first place—after all, it’s pretty difficult to know how to handle these kinds of situations if you haven’t had them happen before! Thankfully, these tips will help you deal with getting your claim denied, including what to do and what not to do next.
Talk to your insurance company
If your water damage claim is denied, you’ll want to talk with your insurance company as soon as possible. Insurance companies have a team that handles claims and they are typically able to help you get started with the process. They should also be able to tell you if the denial was on specific circumstances or general policy exclusions. Typically, a denial is based on property exclusions so it would be worth finding out if there is any information they need in order for them re-evaluate your claim so that you can provide it quickly and efficiently. For example, does your company require photos of the damages before they will pay for repairs? Some companies will require this in order to approve a water damage claim and some don’t. Be sure to find out what your insurance company requires before filing a water damage claim. You may be surprised to learn that many homeowners’ policies do not cover water damage; flood coverage has to be purchased separately. Floods usually happen when water accumulates in a low-lying area like a basement, which means all of the water damaged areas are covered. Your homeowner’s policy only covers flooding caused by broken pipes or an overflowing toilet – water from outside sources such as rainstorms is usually excluded.
The number one thing to remember when dealing with your water damage claim denied is: Get Started Quickly! The quicker you start working on cleaning up the affected areas and getting estimates for repairs, the better off you’ll be!
Keep good records
We all know it’s not easy when your water damage claim is denied. It can be emotionally draining, and of course nobody wants to go through the process of filing another claim and having it denied again. The best thing you can do in this situation is take a deep breath and refocus on what you’re going to do next.
If the claims adjuster rejects your water damage claim, don’t let this come as a surprise – that rejection letter could have been sent weeks ago! All you need to do is return back with a second opinion from an independent expert to help them examine the extent of damages. If that doesn’t work, there are other resources out there that might be more successful at getting you what you deserve.
Try contacting everyone involved
- If the water damage claim denied, then your first course of action should be getting in touch with the company that denied your claim and asking them why they rejected it. Explain the details of what happened; including how much water damaged each room, who was home at the time, and anything else that might have influenced their decision.
- Once you get a response back from them (which may take some time), either agreeing or denying your claim again, try calling another water damage restoration company to see if they’ll repair your damages for a lower price than what you were originally quoted. This way you can weigh all of your options before signing any contracts.
- You could also file an insurance claim on behalf of the individual whose name is on the policy, instead of filing one yourself. Or, you could hire a professional cleaning service to help clean up your property so that when you do contact an insurance company or other water damage company they won’t deny your coverage based on lack of visible water damage.
Talk to an attorney
Water damage is a real risk in most homes and businesses, so insurance companies should always have experts who can provide technical assistance for building repair or replacement. If you don’t feel like you’re getting the support you need from your insurance company, reach out to an attorney with expertise in this area of law. Let them know the details of your case and ask if they can help represent you in negotiations with your insurer. An experienced lawyer will be able to answer any questions you might have about what happens next, including how best to document the damages. They’ll also be able to make sure that any settlement reflects not only your current needs but future needs as well. The best thing you can do is remain proactive by talking to an attorney early on in the process.
Determine how long it will take
If your water damage claim denied and you’re looking for a new way to save money, this is the right place. We’ve gathered tips and tricks on how you can get reimbursed for damages caused by water in your house. The team at Water Restoration North Arlington Heights has also listed five questions that insurance companies ask during claims so that you can be better prepared next time. Get ready because we’ll cover everything from when you should open a new claim, what items may not be covered, how to present a thorough argument and more!
To give yourself the best chance of getting reimbursed, don’t hesitate.
