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Filing a Homeowner’s Claim: Natural Disaster or Not
Filing a Homeowner’s Claim: Natural Disaster or Not
Author: Dawn Snyder, Esq.
Buy Book: Amazon
As the U.S. has been hard hit with an increasing number of natural disasters, American homeowners have heard a wake-up call. Do you know if your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover you if disaster strikes? What can you do if your insurance company denies your claim?
This Real Life Legal™ book is written by a practicing attorney with an insider’s take on how homeowner’s policies and claims work. She makes it easy to understand insurance policy coverages, exclusions, endorsements and riders. You can learn how insurance claims work and some easy steps to follow to make sure your rights and interests are protected.
If your claim is denied or not paid in full, this book has invaluable practical information on what to do next. You’ll learn whether it makes sense to hire an attorney or public adjustor to go to bat for you. Since not all homeowner’s policies are the same, make sure you’ve got the coverage you need in case the next hurricane, tornado, earthquake, flood, wildfire or superstorm comes along!
We cover all that here. And make it easy to understand.
Real Life Legal™ wants you to be prepared.
Dawn Snyder is an attorney with a background in civil litigation, including appeals and alternative dispute resolution in the areas of insurance, construction, design and personal injury. She is licensed to practice law in Ohio and Arizona.
Table of Contents
What This Book’s About
Basic Coverages Under a Homeowner’s Policy
Protecting Your Home
Special Limitations on Flood Insurance
The Homeowner’s Policy
The Declarations Page
Definitions
Insuring Agreement
Making Sense of Exclusions
Riders and Endorsements
Force-Placed (Lender-Placed) Insurance
Avoid Force-Placed Policies
How to Stay Clear of Lender-Placed Insurance
A Walk Through the Claims Process
Document the Damage
Protect Against Further Damage
Keep Track of Your Expenses
Reporting a Claim
Inspection by an Insurance Adjuster
Calculating Your Insurance Recovery
Proof of Loss
Anatomy of a Scope
How a Claim Payment Is Calculated
Calculating a Loss
What Is Depreciation?
Recoverable Depreciation
Repairing the Damage
Using the Insurance Company’s Preferred Contractor
The Pros and Cons of Using an Insurer’s “Preferred Contractor
Don’t Forget Your Deductible
Supplementing the Claim Payment
My Claim Is Denied―Now What?
No Damage?
Why Is Damage Excluded?
What Happens When Things Go South?
Settling a Denied Claim: The Appraisal Clause
Mediation and Arbitration
Mediation
State Mediation for Major Disaster Claims
Arbitration
Insurance Bad Faith
What Is Insurance Bad Faith?
What to Do About Carrier Bad Faith
Ask for a Different Adjuster
Speak with Your State Department of Insurance
Consider Filing a Lawsuit
Should I Hire a Professional to Submit My Claim to an Insurer?
Disadvantages of Hiring a Professional
Types of Professionals to Hire
Hire a Lawyer
Hire a Public Adjuster
Public Adjuster Fees
The Role of Contractors
A Contractor’s Second Look Affects the Scope
Concluding Thoughts
Additional Resources
Glossary
About the Author
Real Life Legal™