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Home » Articles » Posts » Questions to Ask Your Insurer After a Disaster

September 8, 2017

Questions to Ask Your Insurer After a Disaster

Questions-to-Ask-Insurer-Post-Disaster

When faced with an insurance claim, many home and business owners just like you have asked the same questions: How do I estimate my loss? Will I recover enough to rebuild? Can I do this myself?

The insurance claims process (especially if this is your first claim) can become time consuming and confusing quickly. To help you obtain a full and expedited recovery, we put together a useful list of questions to ask your insurer after a disaster:

Assigned Team

  • Who is my main point of contact going to be throughout this claims process?
  • Who is the insurance adjuster assigned to my claim/case?
  • How will the adjuster keep me apprised of the progress on my claim?
  • Will forensic accountants, estimators, engineers, and other professionals be hired by the insurer to accurately document my damages?
  • Are any of my claim preparation costs for my own experts covered by my policy?

Your Responsibilities

  • What documents will the insurer require me to complete?
    • Are there time constraints?
    • Where can I access these forms?
  • How do I prepare an inventory of my belongings?
    • What information does the insurance company need per item?
    • Is there a preferred methodology to properly photograph the loss for documentation?
    • What if everything is destroyed and not able to be identified?
    • Who decides what to try to clean? Do I have a say in the matter?
  • Should I begin cleaning up, while waiting for the insurance company to send an adjuster, or can I hire my own cleaning/restoration team?
  • Should I begin repairing or replacing anything?
    • Can I do any repairs myself?

Insurance Coverages and Exclusions

  • Does my insurance policy definitely cover this type of disaster?
  • What damages to my property are not covered under my insurance policy?
  • What coverages are needed in order to be covered for these types of damages in the future?
  • What are my policy limits?
  • What is my deductible?
    • How is the deductible applied?
  • Is my policy an Actual Cash Value policy or a Replacement Cost Value policy?
  • How are the valuation methods applied to my claim?

Settlement and Funds

  • Am I entitled to an advance from the insurance company?
  • What is the process for determining the amount of my settlement?
  • How and when do I receive my settlement funds?
  • What happens if I am not receiving everything I’m entitled to?
  • What happens if my claim is denied?

For Business Owners

  • What are my options when it comes to rebuilding my property or replacing it? Does coverage apply for either option?
  • What do I need to know about collecting code coverage allowances?
  • How do I get compensated for lost sales and loss of business income?
  • Am I covered for emergency costs and additional expenses such as mitigation, relocating, payroll, etc.?
  • Is there coverage for my employees’ personal property?
  • Is there coverage for my customers’ property?
  • What do I do with damaged inventory?

For Homeowners

  • Will I be reimbursed for Additional Living Expenses (ALE) such as rental of a temporary location, food costs, etc.?
    • How will I be reimbursed for these costs?

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For additional information, visit:

  • “Do you need a Public Adjuster?”
  • “3 Important Considerations Before You File a Property Damage Insurance Claim”
  • “The Dangers of Being Careless on a Proof of Loss Form”

For help with preparing, settling, or negotiating your insurance claim, contact our team of expert public adjusters today by calling 800.382.2468 or filling out the form below:

* Indicates a Required Field

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