What Should I Do if My Insurance Company Sends an Adjuster to My Property?

After you file a claim with your property insurance company, it is likely that they will send an insurance adjuster to your property on their behalf to investigate the cause of the damages. However, there are a few steps homeowners should take when their insurance company's adjuster comes to inspect their property to reduce the chances of having your claim denied.

In order to ensure the insurance company's adjuster sees all damages, it is a good idea that you are home and able to direct the adjuster to all damages. It may also be a good idea to monitor the inspection to ensure they are adequately inspecting your home.

In a recent Fourth District Court of Appeals decision, Gesten v. American Strategic Insurance Corp., the court held that homeowners can record their interactions with their property insurance adjuster. Recording the inspection and interactions, including emails, may assist you in the event they improperly inspect your home's damages.

Whether it be furniture or your roof that was damaged, keeping an itemized list of all damaged property to give your insurance company's adjuster may help guarantee they properly inspect your property and obtain coverage for your loss.

It is important to be honest with your insurance company about the loss, what you believe caused it, and what property was damaged. However, it is also important to avoid making unnecessary statements to the insurance company's adjuster. Most property insurance policies exclude coverage for damages caused by wear and tear or failure to maintain the property, and any statements which may indicate the damage was caused by a policy exclusions will likely be used against you and your claim.

If your insurance claim is being denied, partially denied, or underpaid, it may be time to contact an attorney. Call our office today for a consultation.

This article is not intended to be legal advice nor create an attorney-client relationship.