Water damage is some of the most troublesome and expensive property damage to repair. If left unchecked, you risk mold and mildew growth that can put your health and safety at risk. Filing a water damage claim with your home insurance provider can help you get the money you need to make the necessary repairs. But these claims aren’t always like other types of property insurance claims. Here’s what your Michigan property insurance claims attorney wants you to know.
Coverage Options Will Vary
Water damage can come from many different sources. And, unfortunately, not all homeowners’ insurance providers cover all types of water damage. Let’s take a closer look at what most policies cover and what they don’t.
What Most Homeowners’ Insurance Policies Cover
Most homeowners’ insurance policies cover accidental water damage from a source originating in your home. This means water damage caused by burst pipes, sudden failure of water-using fixtures like your dishwasher or washing machine, or other similar types of damage will be covered by your policy.
Water damage resulting from leaks in your roof may be covered as long as they happened as a result of a qualifying event. Qualifying events vary from provider to provider, but most include different types of storm damage that lead to leaks in your home. Ask your insurance company for more information about your policy so you can make sure you’re protected.
What’s Not Covered by Insurance
a general rule, if the water damage was caused by water outside your home, you’ll have to pay for the repairs out of pocket. Damage caused by floods or flash floods is typically not covered by homeowners’ insurance. This is true even if the floods are caused by the same storm that caused damage to your roof, resulting in a leak inside.
If you’re worried about flood damage, you’ll need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy. These policies will vary in price depending on where you live and your area’s flood risk.
How to File a Claim
If you believe your home has water damage caused by a qualifying event, you’ll want to file an insurance claim as soon as possible. Here are a few key steps to take:
- Speak with your provider: Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible and let them know what happened. They’ll guide you through the process.
- Document everything: Take notes about the conversations you have with your insurance agent and take detailed pictures of the damage. This can help you better navigate the claims process.
- Speak with the insurance adjuster: Insurance adjusters document the damage for your insurance provider who uses the information to calculate a settlement. Try to attend the appointment and point out any damage that you think the adjuster missed.
- Accept or contest the settlement: After the insurance adjuster visits your property, you’ll receive a settlement offer from the insurance company. If you’re happy with the amount, you can accept the offer. If you feel it’s too low or your claim was denied, you can appeal the settlement.
If you feel that the settlement is too low, you’ll want to appeal the decision with your insurance company. You can do this on your own, but most people find that working with an experienced Michigan property insurance claims attorney speeds up the process and increases the chances of the insurance company offering a better settlement.
Speak With a Michigan Property Insurance Claims Attorney
If your home now has extensive water damage and the insurance company’s settlement was too low, don’t try to appeal on your own. Let the experienced Michigan property insurance claims attorneys at Fabian, Sklar, King & Liss help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.