When making a homeowners’ insurance claim, you trust the company you work with will find a satisfactory resolution to your problem. However, this is not always the case. Insurance claims are often denied, or pay out less than you’re expecting. Nerdwallet explains some of the steps you can take to dispute a denied insurance claim.
Insurance policies are often confusing and filled with jargon that a layperson might have a hard time understanding. That’s why your first step should be to review your policy in detail to determine whether your claim is indeed covered. This will give you a better understanding of the denial and whether it was warranted. Don’t immediately assume that the insurance company is correct. Insurance companies often make mistakes, and these mistakes cost policyholders quite a bit of money.
If it seems as though your claim is valid, you can launch an appeal. You can request an appeal via a letter to your adjuster, which should state the details of your claim and the reason given for its denial. You can also request that an adjuster visit your home to assess the damage in person. Pictures and descriptions of damage can be misleading, and it’s possible that the insurance company may have misconstrued your situation based on this evidence. You can also seek out some additional opinions from contractors or repair technicians if you believe the denial was made in error. Our Prudential life insurance denials attorney can help you with a denial.
You can also request an appraisal. This usually entails an attorney’s assistance, who will evaluate your claim and the damage to your home to come up with a fair figure. The insurance company will also send an appraiser to do the same, and the two will come to an agreement with the help of a neutral third party. In case you still can’t come to an agreement, mediation and filing a formal lawsuit are two additional options at your disposal.