How to File an Earthquake Insurance Claim

Claim Against Earthquakes Insurance

Residence or business owners that are located in areas that are prone to Earthquakes are the typical buyers of earthquake insurance. If you didn’t already know, your homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover earthquake damage; you have to purchase a second policy that will pay for the damages to your residence in the case of an earthquake. In California, if you have homeowner’s insurance, your company has to offer you earthquake insurance as well. The offer has to come every other year, in writing, and you have 30 days to accept the offer. This is the standard because the California area is prone to earthquakes.

A common misconception is that earthquake insurance covers all damages caused initially by the earthquake itself. There are, however limitations to what your earthquake insurance will cover. If you do experience an earthquake and consequently find damages to your home or business, there are steps you need to walk through in order to settle your claim.

Don’t Waste Time

Regardless of if you do have an earthquake policy or not, depending on your location, your simple homeowner’s policy might cover a small portion of the damages you’ve endured. If the insurance adjuster sent by your insurance company decides that either (a) you’re not covered for the damages or (b) the cost of the damages doesn’t exceed your deductible, you might want to get a second opinion. The quicker this process begins the better.

Read Over Your Policy Very Carefully

You need to attempt to understand your policy through and through to be able to negotiate with the insurance adjuster. You shouldn’t rely solely on the adjuster sent by the insurance company to help you read your policy. Make sure that you have an up to date copy so that there are no miscommunications.

Be Assertive and Confident

Unless you’ve hired a public adjuster, you don’t want to be hands-off in the process of filing a claim. You should document all of the damages that your home or business has endured by taking pictures and keeping track or lost or damaged objects. If you have pictures of what the property looked like before the accident, it could help considerably in the process of deciding how much damage was really caused by the earthquake. You should not give a sworn statement or a final proof of loss for to your insurer until you are completely aware of your rights, the coverage you should be receiving, and the extent of your claim.

Be Cautious with The Repairs

Not to say that insurance companies act unethically, but it’s not uncommon for them to take the cheapest way out. You want to make sure that you’re getting quality work done for the right price. According to uphelp.org, if you have “guaranteed” or “extended” replacement cost coverage, you are entitled to have the same quality and style home rebuilt even if the cost of rebuilding exceeds your policy limits.

Conclusion

One of the great pieces of advice you can get regarding insurance claims is to thoroughly consider the pros and cons of hiring a public adjuster. If you at any time feel that the insurance company is trying to get the best of you, it could be in your best interest to hire a third party to negotiate on your behalf. Having someone with the expertise that public adjusters have in your corner is a great asset during the process. Knowing the basics of your policy and how the claims work is great, but when it gets complicated, you’re going to need help.