How to Maximize Water Damage Claim
When a flood ruins your interior, it is more than sad. However, American law has a remedy in that case as almost every homeowner has an insurance policy for this case. Dealing with the insurance company can be a daunting task. It is obvious that, not every insurance company is happy with paying big money for every claim. Due to statistics, water damage is among the most popular cases for claiming compensation. Is that a way out, or you just should be content with minimal compensation offered by your insurance company? We have several answers to that question. Let us get in more detail on how to increase compensation for water damage. There are several ways on how to maximize water damage claims. We have listed them and then we will enclose each one more precisely:
- Documenting of all damage.
- Having an additional insurance policy for water damage and flood.
- Applying for public adjuster's services.
First, let us speak about what can be covered by a standard homeowner's insurance policy when it comes to water damage.
What Can Be Compensated in Case of Water Damage?
There are quite strict rules provided by insurance companies in case of water damage. As usual, only sudden and unexpected water leaks are covered by a homeowners policy.
We have collected for you a table of the most common causes of water damage:
| Cause of Damage | Covered | Not Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Sudden water discharge | + | |
| Storm-related water damage | + | |
| Piping leaks (sudden) | + | |
| Piping leaks (due to bad maintenance) | + | |
| Sewer backup (accidental) | + | |
| Appliance leaks | + (if sudden) | |
| Flood damage | + (only with flood insurance it will be covered) |
Besides, you should thoroughly read the terms of your insurance policy as some insurance companies offer coverage for resulting damages and some do not offer that option. In practice, that means that if you have piping breakout and water has damaged your flooring, in some companies you can claim only compensation for piping repair and in some, compensation for floor damage as the result of piping leaks will be also provided.
Documenting the Damage
Even if you are in despair with the water flooding your house, try to keep your head on straight. First of all, call your water leak detection company and water mitigation company to get their services as soon as possible. Besides removing the source of water leakage and water itself from your house, you can get an expert opinion from specialists working in your house. As usual, they provide you with a document where all the damages and reasons for water damage are listed. Besides this, make documents your armor. Do not miss even a minute and take photos and videos of all the premises with an accent on the damage caused by water. In future, it will be irrefutable proof for your insurance claim.
Having Extra Flood Insurance Policy
Insurance companies also provide special insurance programs that include compensation for floods (NFTP initiative). In a standard homeowners policy that option is not available. However, if you live in states that prone to flooding (i.e. Florida, California, Louisiana), this type of policy is highly recommended for you. With it, you will be covered in case of river overflow, heavy rains flooding your house and other non-evident situations. Due to the latest years sudden heavy rains even in the driest states, this type of an insurance policy will also come in handy for residents of all the states with no exception.
Applying for Public Adjuster Services
Even documenting all the damage and having your flood insurance policy is not a guarantee of maximum compensation. Getting the highest payment can be hard even for those who regularly apply for compensation. To cope with the task, you can apply for a public adjuster's service. Public adjuster's institution was established as an analog of lawyer's services specifically for dealing with insurance companies. Your public adjuster will help you with the following routines:
- Evaluating the cost of water damages caused to your house.
- Drawing up all the documentation for your claim.
- Representing you in the insurance company's office when claiming.
- Providing negotiation with the insurance company to get higher compensation.
- Dispute handling if you do not agree with insurance compensation paid.
To comprehend the value of a public adjuster's service, just take a note that an insurance coverage for water damage is several times higher and almost 97% approved when a public adjuster got his hand on them. All these tips can be useful for you. Besides, you can use all of them at once to increase your chances to the maximal compensation from your insurance company. Nevertheless, it is a public adjuster who is the most effective way on how to get compensated in case of water damage. We wish you not to face with water damages in your life and we hope that this article will be useful for you.