Here’s what to do if your insurance claim is underpaid.
Whether your home has suffered damage because of a leaky pipe or due to the violent storms of a hurricane, there’s always a level of stress involved. What’s worse is when you expect a certain amount to be settled on the claim and it’s lower than you expected.
Since you need proper funds to repair your property and get on with your life, you may go into panic mode. Remember that there are professionals available to help. Today, we’re going to explain what you should do if your settlement is less than you expected and how public adjuster services can assist you.
Hiring a Public Adjuster vs. an Attorney for an Underpaid Claim
Insurance companies sometimes underpay claims, so if you think that’s happened, you’ll want to seek professional help. Some people may want to automatically call an attorney, but this can be quite expensive, and they don’t typically work on a contingency basis. A public claims adjuster, however, often works on contingency and knows everything there is to know about refiling a damage claim.
What a Public Adjuster Will Do to Fix an Underpaid Claim
Having a public adjuster by your side always makes the claims process a lot easier. While you may panic when you’ve experienced an underpaid claim, remember that it’s not over yet. Here are some of the things that public adjuster services will do to fix an underpaid insurance claim:
Review All the Details of the Claim
One of the first things that a public adjuster will do is read over the details of your claim. They’ll review everything, such as which types of damage were included. Many claims in Florida stem from hurricanes and other severe storms, which means you can have wind, flooding, roof damage, etc. This is their first opportunity to see if you may have missed something.
Examine the settlement’s specifics
Once they’ve read over the details of the original claim, they’ll take a closer look at the settlement amount. The settlement will include details as to how the insurance company arrived at the amount, which could indicate why it was lower than you had expected. This and the original claim itself will serve as the jumping off point for filing a new claim.
Read Over Your Insurance Policy
Homeowners’ policies are typically pretty standard, but there are certain specifics that could indicate why the settlement was lower than you thought it’d be. It’s possible that you had different limits than you believed, or perhaps a certain type of damage wasn’t included in the policy and you never added it on. This usually isn’t part of the problem, but a public adjuster may be able to use it for the new claim if that’s the case.
Reopen the Claim with New Evidence
Home insurance claims aren’t typically very simple, especially if they’re due to damage from a severe storm, which can wreak havoc on your home. A public insurance adjuster will write up the new claim with additional information that’s relevant to your property damage. They’ll then submit it on your behalf and provide you with an expected timeframe for hearing back on it.
Work with the Insurance Agency
Public adjusters work closely with insurance agencies all the time. After the adjuster has looked over everything and figured out a plan of attack, so to speak, he or she will get in contact with the insurance agent or agency that paid on your claim. They may do this prior to filing a new claim if they have any questions about the settlement. If not, they’ll contact the agency after it’s been filed and then work with them as needed during the process.
For Public Adjuster Services, contact Property Protectors
Property Protectors offers public adjuster services that will help you get a fair settlement on your homeowners’ insurance claim. As the most trusted public adjuster in Florida, we’ve helped many local citizens find relief. If you have any questions about our services, reach out to us at (800) 658-1943 today to schedule a free consultation.