Most individuals do what they can to avoid filing an insurance claim, whether it is against their homeowner’s insurance, auto insurance, or renter’s insurance. However, accidents do happen and you may find yourself in a situation where you need to file a claim against your policy. When this happens, it is important to know the proper procedure to file the claim.
Call Them First
The first step in the process is to call your insurance agent and let him or her know that you need to make a claim. Your agent will be available to help you go through the entire process. This is especially useful if you are inexperienced and haven’t filed a claim against any of your policies before. Likewise, the process for filing a claim against your homeowner’s insurance, auto insurance, and renter’s insurance are often different.
File Your Report
Once you make the initial call, you can begin filing your report. Some insurance companies will require you to file the report on paper, while others may allow you to file online. In either situation, you need to let them know what happened and what type of damage they can expect to cover. You may also need to meet personally with an insurance representative to ensure you filled out the paperwork properly.
The Adjustment Period
After the insurance company has your claim in hand, it must go through their adjustment process. This could involve appraisals that will let them know how much damage was done or how much money they should pay for the claim. You may be asked for additional information through the inspection process. Unfortunately, many people file false claims and this adjustment period is designed to determine if you have a qualifying claim.
Collect the Benefits
It can be tedious waiting for the adjustment process, especially if you need the money. Whether you are filing a claim against your homeowner’s insurance, auto insurance, or renter’s insurance, you may need to pay for repairs or replace a damaged or stolen item before this process is over. The good news is as long as your claim is approved by your insurance company, they will reimburse the benefit amount, repaying money you may have spent on insured repairs or replacements while you waited. Filing a claim against your insurance policy can be a tedious process, especially if you have never done it before. Understanding how to file your claim and receive the money you deserve from your insurance company can help you go through the process more quickly. These steps must be completed in a timely manner so don’t delay. As soon as you know you need to make a claim, begin the process so you don’t have to wait for your reimbursement. If you’re interested in simplifying the filing of your insurance claims, contact us. With representation of insurance companies that make the claims process easy, we’ll walk you through the process with every claim.