Insurance
Customers
Tips From Insurance Adjusters Before a Disaster
An original © article by Public Adjuster
Charles R. "Dick" Tutwiler, C.P.C.L.A.
Review
your policy with your insurance agent/adviser now to make sure you
have adequate coverage.
Secure
a copy of your insurance policy away from your premises or business
to insure the survival of one copy of the policy. A safety deposit
box is a good place to put this copy.
Register
now for county or city emergency special assistance.
Photograph
or videotape your property, both personal and business, including
buildings. Again, make two copies and keep one off the property
with your insurance policy. It's a good idea to record serial numbers
or identification numbers on things such as VCRs, television, etc.
Most
homeowners policies do not cover flooding. You can get a separate
policy from your insurance agent or call the Federal Flood Insurance
Program at 1-800-638-6620.
If
you live in a condominium, review your association bylaws so you
understand what you are individually responsible for insuring.
AFTER
THE STORM
Make
temporary repairs to protect your property from further damage.
You should have plywood, plastic, and other materials handy to you
to make temporary repairs. Keep the receipt for these repairs and
turn them in to the company when you file your claim.
Call
your insurance agent, broker, or insurance company to report your
loss.
Don't
make extensive permanent repairs until you have seen the adjuster.
Make
a list of damaged items and separate them if possible.
Do
not dispose of items without prior agreement from your insurance
company.
GETTING
ADJUSTED
Be
patient. The size of the disaster may be such that initial contact
by the insurance industry will be slow in coming.
Do
not be quick to settle your claim without a thorough understanding
of the complete loss and damages.
If
in doubt about issues of loss and value, consult an expert in the
particular field in question.
If
questions of coverage versus loss and damage or interpretation of
policy language arise, consult with your local bar association for
referral to an expert in insurance property claims. Also, most insurance
companies have a process whereby you can appeal an adjuster's decision.
Be
fair in your evaluation of the loss and damages. Nothing causes
more problems than overreaching or overvaluing a claim.
After
you have made a recovery from your insurance company, provide that
information to your tax advisers so you can receive expert guidance
concerning deductions for loss or taxes owed for gains.
END/
An
original article by Charles R. "Dick" Tutwiler, C.P.C.L.A.,
published in Pensacola News Journal - September 4, 1995, ©
Charles R. "Dick" Tutwiler; All Rights Reserved —
No Permissions Have Been Granted or Implied. You may contact the
author or his representative for the parameters of lawful usage
at:
tutwiler@publicadjuster.com.
Our clients are the insured policyholders - property owners and business owners telling the story of increased insurance settlements, full policy limits paid and successful recovery from hurricanes, fires, sinkholes, hidden decay, water and smoke damage and other property loss insurance claims and catastrophic (CAT) disasters. Examine our SUCCESS STORIES LIBRARY, PAGE
1, PAGE
2, PAGE
3, PAGE
4 and PAGE
5. You will discover you are not the only person who has had to deal
with the frustrations, the worries, and the inconvenience that follows a loss.
Call our National Toll Free Number: 1.800.321.4488
or email us
at tutwiler@publicadjuster.com. We will discuss your loss and help
ease you through your crisis.
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