Water Damage Insurance Claim Tips for New York, NY

Water damage is a terrible thing to have, especially when the water damage is extensive and costly. Fortunately, your home insurance may be able to cover these costs, depending on your policy limits and the type of water damage. However, it is important for you to take the right steps.

Here are our water damage insurance claim tips to increase your chances of getting your insurance claim approved:

Document the damage and mitigate the damage

The first thing you should do when you see water damage is to act quickly by documenting the damage and mitigating the damage. With the advent of smart phones, it has become easier to document the damage by taking photos and videos in different angles. However, you also need to act quickly by mitigating the damage. Insurance will not pay for additional damage that could have been avoided, if there was something you could do to mitigate the water damage.

For example, if your pipe burst, you should immediately stop the water supply and remove standing water in order to mitigate the damage. If you stopped the water supply hours after you noticed the burst pipe and this resulted to additional extensive damage, insurance might reject your claim for the additional damage.

Review your policy

Reviewing your policy is essential to knowing whether the water damage is a covered peril. Most home insurance policies cover water damage arising from sudden water leaks, like a burst pipe. They usually do not cover water damage arising from natural disasters such as flooding or from ongoing, unresolved maintenance plumbing leaks such water seepage.

Contact the insurance company

If the water damage is covered by your insurance policy, you need to immediately contact your insurance company. Some policies require you to report the water damage within a particular period of time. Failure to do so could be a reason for the rejection of your claim.

Make an inventory of the damage

Once you have determined that the water damage is covered by your insurance, list all the items that have been damaged, make sure these items have been photographed with the water damage, and attach receipts that show how much you acquired these items. This will help prove your claim for damages.

Obtain estimates

Get different estimates from at least three reputable contractors or professionals for the repair of the water leak and damage and submit it with your claim documentation.

Check whether the repair amount is covered by the insurance policy. In some cases, the insurance company will only pay for the repair when it reaches a particular amount. Consider also the effect of making a claim in your policy. Usually, when you make several small claims in your policy, the insurance company will consider you riskier and will increase your insurance premiums when you renew.

Consider hiring a public adjuster or insurance attorney

If the water damage is extensive and expensive, consider hiring a public adjuster who can assess damage and help you navigate the claims process. Let the adjuster see the damage first before making any repairs. You may also consider hiring an attorney experienced in insurance claims to advocate on your behalf.

Maintain detailed records of your communication

When making an insurance claim, it is important to maintain a detailed account of your communication with the insurance company. As much as possible, ensure that communication is in written form. If you have to call the insurance company, immediately document the conversation in writing and send it to the insurance company through email. Always note the names and contact information of all individuals from the insurance company you have spoken with.

Keep receipts

Keep all receipts related to the water damage, such as temporary lodging, repair costs, and replacement of damaged items.

Review the settlement offer

If the insurance company offers a settlement amount, review it carefully to see whether it is adequate, given the extent of the damage. If necessary, you can also consult with a lawyer who can represent you in the settlement negotiations.

Water damage is a frustrating matter in the house. With these tips, you can increase your chances of successfully making a claim with your insurance company. Should you need assistance, we at the Law Offices of Albert Goodwin are here for you. We have offices in New York, NY, Brooklyn, NY and Queens, NY. You can call us at 212-233-1233 or send us an email at [email protected].