The Ultimate Guide to Homeowners Insurance Claims in California
It is essential that you understand the homeowners’ insurance claims process before you even begin to deal with the insurance company. The easy time that you are expecting when you file a claim may not materialize, as homeowners’ claims can often become a lengthy negotiation. You may decide that it is in your best interest to hire a homeowners’ insurance claims attorney at some point in the process and certainly if your claim is denied entirely.
Schedule a free initial consultation with attorney Nicholas Quincey at the Quincey Law Firm to learn more about how we can help. The insurance company does not get the final word over your claim, and we can fight for you when necessary.
What to Do Before Filing an Insurance Claim
Before you even file a homeowners’ insurance claim, you would need to take steps to mitigate your own damages. For example, if your home was damaged in a fire, you must ensure that it is properly boarded up to prevent any further damage. Otherwise, the insurance company may refuse to pay for any further damage that happened after the initial event.
You would also need to notify the insurance company of the damage to your home. All insurance policies require that you report the damage within a certain number of days after it occurred. You may be asked to submit proof of your loss.
Before you file a homeowners’ insurance claim, you would need to closely review the terms of your policy. Each insurance company may have its own requirements for filing the claim. If you do not follow them to the letter, you may find that your claim is denied.
What Happens After I File a Homeowners’ Insurance Claim?
The general requirements are the same, no matter what type of homeowners insurance claim you are filing. You would need to file the actual claim, which includes the proof of your loss. You would seek a certain amount of money that you are seeking from the insurance company to pay. The insurance company would send an adjuster to your home to review the extent of your damage and learn more about the claim.
The insurance company would review your claim and the policy itself to determine whether your damages should be covered. First, they would make a determination on the claim itself. The insurance company could either decide to make you a settlement offer, or they could determine that your damages either do not fall under the language of your policy, or they are excluded by the terms of your policy.
The insurance company may decide to offer you a settlement of your claim. In many cases, the amount that they are offering does not adequately compensate you for your damages. The insurance company does not have the power to dictate the amount that they pay you, as you have the right to decide whether to accept their offer. You are always free to negotiate with the insurance company if they do not offer you enough money. You even have the ability to file a lawsuit against them in court if they either deny your claim or will not fully pay it.
You May Need to Fight to Be Fully Paid for Your Claim
You should not expect that the insurance company will pay your claim in full and on the timetable that you want. Whether they are slow to pay out your claim, or whether they will offer you less in a settlement than you deserve, you may be forced to fight. In some cases, you may even be able to file a lawsuit against the insurance company when they have engaged in bad faith practices, such as an unreasonable delay in paying your claim or by misrepresenting the terms of your policy to deny your claim. If you win your bad faith lawsuit, you may be entitled to significant financial damages.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Homeowners’ Insurance Claim?
If you are filing a large homeowners’ insurance claim, you may want to consider hiring an insurance claims attorney before you even seek compensation. They can deal with the insurance company on your behalf and even negotiate for more money if you deserve it. You would certainly need an insurance claims attorney if the insurance company will not pay you because you would have to fight in court.
Contact a California Insurance Claims Law Firm Today
When you need help dealing with an insurance company, contact the Quincey Law Firm. We have experience taking on the largest insurance companies on behalf of our clients. Call us today at 866-945-9175 to schedule a free initial consultation with an insurance claim denial attorney.
Nicholas Quincey is the founder of Quincey Law, and has over a decade of experience of handling insurance claims denials and personal injury matters for people throughout California. We have pursued insurance bad faith claims for people involving life insurance, health insurance, homeowners and disability insurance. We also work with clients and families who need assistance filing and pursuing a personal injury matter. Learn more here.