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Storm Questions to Ask Your Adjuster

posted by TrueNorth Companies on Thursday, August 27, 2020

Now that you have filed a claim, you will be working with an insurance adjuster to assess the damage, determine applicable coverage, and the adjuster will provide estimates on costs to repair. The following is a partial list of areas you may want to discuss with the adjuster:

TIME SPENT BY YOU OR YOUR FRIENDS AND/OR FAMILY

Keep track of any time and expense incurred by you to mitigate or repair damage, and ask your adjuster if this would be reimbursed under your policy.

LOSS MITIGATION

Given the availability of contractors and materials, keep track of your efforts to mitigate losses. Beyond time and materials to do your own repairs - temporary or permanent - keep track of who you called and when, documenting the efforts expended to help limit losses from property damage.

EXPENSES BEYOND POLICY LIMITS

Certain coverages are capped under your insurance policy, but amounts over the cap may be applied to your deductible. Be sure to include all of the losses your incur, and ask your adjuster if the amount beyond the coverage limit will be applied to your deductible.

FOOD SPOILAGE 

If power was lost due to an insurable event - such as the recent wind storm - many policies include coverage for food spoilage. If you lost power more than once, but it was all related to a single insurable event, most carriers will treat it as a single continuous event - and a single claim - for insurance purposes.

HIDDEN DAMAGES

Not all damage is immediately apparent - such as insulation or vent damage resulting from wind or roof damage. Ask your adjuster how they will handle supplemental claims, should additional damage be found during the repair process?

Point out or ask about damages you have identified - the adjuster is looking for damage but you may spot something they may miss. These are just a few areas for consideration. Insurance adjusters are professionals, trained to identify damage and estimate the cost to repair, in accordance with the terms of your insurance policy. The more you engage in an open dialog with the adjuster, the better - and if you have nay questions, please contact us at TrueNorth.

This publication has been prepared by TrueNorth Companies, L.C. and is intended for informational purposes only. Transmission of this publication is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, a client relationship with TrueNorth Companies, L.C. This publication does not constitute any type of representation or warranty, and does not constitute, and should not be relied upon as, legal advice. This publication is not a contract and does not amend, modify or change any insurance policy you may have with an insurance carrier.© 2020 TrueNorth Companies, L.C. All rights reserved.