Understanding Property Damage Claims 101

The first and most important step in filing property damage insurance claims is understanding your rights and options. At Averill & Reaney, we have accumulated years of experience with handling property damage claims and are here to provide the guidance and support you need to protect your rights. In this blog, we'll explore common tricks insurance companies use, your rights as a policyholder, and how we can help you through the claims process.

Tricks Insurance Companies Use:

Insurance companies are notorious for employing tactics to minimize payouts and protect their bottom line, including:

1. Lowballing Settlement Offers: Offering settlement amounts far below the actual cost of repairs or replacement in the hopes that you'll accept less than you deserve.
2. Delaying Tactics: Prolonging the claims process by requesting unnecessary documentation or conducting lengthy investigations, hoping that you'll give up or settle for less out of frustration.
3. Denying Valid Claims: Alleging that the damage isn't covered under your policy to justify their decision, leaving you feeling helpless and unsure of where to turn.

Your Rights and Recourse:

As a policyholder, you have rights when it comes to filing property damage claims. These rights include:

1. The Right to a Fair Claim Settlement: You're entitled to fair compensation for the damage to your property as outlined in your insurance policy, including the cost of repairs or replacement.
2. The Right to Timely Adjusting: Insurance companies are required to adjust, or process, your claim in a timely manner and cannot delay or deny your claim without valid justification.
3. The Right to Disagree: If your claim is denied or you're offered an inadequate settlement, you have the right to disagree with the decision and to fight it, either by yourself or with the guidance of an attorney.

How Averill & Reaney Can Help:

At Averill & Reaney, we understand the challenges policyholders face when dealing with insurance companies for property damage claims. Our expert approach allows us to provide the assistance you need to complete the claims process effectively. We can:

1. Review Your Policy: We'll go over your insurance policy to determine the extent of your coverage and ensure that you receive the maximum compensation you're entitled to.
2. Negotiate with Insurers: We'll deal with insurance companies on your behalf to ensure that you receive a fair settlement that fully compensates you for your property damage.
3. Fight Erroneous Claims Decisions: If your claim is wrongly denied, we'll help you fight the insurance company and advocate for your rights through every stage of the claims process.
4. Provide Legal Representation: If necessary, we'll advocate for and protect your rights in court so that you can receive the compensation you deserve.

At Averill and Reaney, we're here to provide guidance and support you can count on to make sure a property claim is resolved in your favor. Contact us today for a consultation, and let us help you with your property damage claim.