Top Five Questions about Insurance Claims

You have questions, we have answers.  

Especially when it comes to insurance claims. 

Just the word “claim” sends shivers down the spine of insureds and agents alike. We’re here to alleviate some of those anxieties as we go through the five most commonly asked questions when it comes to claims, we’ll do our best to guide you through the process and how to best navigate filing a claim.  

No one wants to actually have to deal with a claim. But in the event, you do, here’s our answers to your questions.  

Should I file the claim? 

First thing’s first. Should you even file a claim? 

My advice? You should 99.9% of the time. Some agents may disagree with me because Insurance companies aren’t fond of having multiple small claims in your history, but they aren’t fans of claims large or small in general.  

Filing the claim is to your benefit for one very important reason.  If something arises later on as a result of that loss, the insurance company will dismiss it because they weren’t notified of the original incident.  

As with everything insurance related, better to be safe than sorry.  

I Have To File A Claim, What Do I do?  

It finally happened; you filed a claim. 

What now?  

The first thing is you need to document and we mean document everything. Write down a description of the incident and be very specific. Write down the time of the incident, how it happened, what was damaged, etc.  

And take pictures, lots of pictures. You want to give a comprehensive account of the damage so the adjustor has all the resources needed to make an assessment. As a bonus, if you know there is a storm or other natural event you may have some warning for, take pictures of all your assets beforehand. This way an adjustor can have a clear idea of the before and after of the claim. 

Give the adjustor all the possible data upfront in order to expedite your claim as much as possible.  

Should I File The Claim Through My Own Policy? 

Sometimes someone else is at fault for your claim.  

It might then make sense to want to file the claim via their insurance policy. However, we recommend doing so through your own policy. While that does mean paying a deductible, the reason we think it’s the best option comes down to one thing. 

Control. 

If the claim is covered under your policy, then you’ll have control over when and how the claim is handled and paid. Rather than having to prove your case to someone’s else insurance company, delaying the process and any possible repairs. 

Once the claim is handled on your end, your insurance company do something called subrogation. Basically, they will litigate your case with the other party’s insurance company, attempting to recoup what they paid for the claim. This includes your deductible and if they are successful, then you’ll get a refund.  

That’s right for once, it’s possible, that the insurance company cuts you a check! 

How Long Will My Claim Take?  

This is the most common question we get and quite frankly, the most frustrating too.  

What can we say with confidence? Usually after you file the claim, it’ll take 24 to 72 hours for the adjustor to get in contact with you. Also, from the moment your claim is approved, to payout, should be a relatively short time. It’s everything in-between that muddles the process.  

The reason being that there are so many different factors that go into handling a claim, that’s impossible to nail down a specific timeline, let alone have a standard time for any type of claim.  

We wish we could give more than a non-answer for this question, but we believe in giving you the right answers instead of misleading you with unrealistic expectations.  

Should I Hire A Public Adjustor? 

This is a big one.  

Public adjustors have come into the spotlight lately, especially in Florida. Since there is a lack of education around claims and the role public adjustors play in them, I get this question quite often.  

Let’s start with an absolute fact. Do you need a public adjustor to file a claim?  

The answer is no.  

Now can a public adjustor be useful? 

To the answer is yes, under two circumstances. 

1.  The claims process requires a lot of attention and if you are unable to keep with all the legwork required, then a public adjustor can be a good option.  

2. We all wish things could go smoothly, but sometimes insurance companies aren’t up to par with where the claims process should be. This is another instance where I could see a public adjustor being helpful. 

Now if you are going to retain a public adjustor, please be aware that they are going to a percentage of the final payout. The payout is based on whatever repairs need to be made, so you’ll be left with less money than you may need.  

Another thing to be on the lookout for is the public adjustor’s intentions. They should not be focused on getting you the most money, but rather making sure the process is expediated and as smooth as possible.  

So, if you are retaining a public adjustor make sure the reason is valid, their history and credentials are solid and their intentions are in the right place. 

Thank you for reading our blog! We consistently update with Top 5 Questions Asked Blogs and are here for any questions you may have! If you need further clarification on any of the questions here or there was a question we missed, don’t hesitate to contact us!