09/06/2021
Family, friends, and neighbors. A week has gone by since our homes and neighborhoods were damaged by Hurricane Ida. My office is located in St. Charles Parish and has been damaged by the storm. It looks like we will be without power for weeks. Many of us have called our insurance companies and reported claims for those damages. I have been a claims adjuster for 16 years and have closed thousands of claims and would like to offer a little advice on the claims process.
First and foremost, the insurance policy is a contract between you and the insurance company. The homeowner pays a premium and the insurance company offers coverage for damages to your property.
As a homeowner, you have certain obligations per that insurance contract. You have to mitigate the damages to your home. That does not mean that you have to get on your roof and tarp it. I do not want to see any of my family or friends injured trying to tarp their own roof. It is perfectly acceptable if you are able to engage a roofing company and/or call Blue Tarp to get a tarp on your roof.
Secondly, review your insurance policy and coverages to familiarize yourself with the covered items before the adjuster comes out to inspect. Insurance policies are daunting and hard to read, but try to familiarize yourself with your coverages, deductibles, exemptions, etc. contained in your policy. Insurance companies are in business for themselves, not for you, and familiarizing yourself with the coverages will go a long way in analyzing your estimate from your adjuster when you receive it.
Thirdly, remember that the insurance claims process could be a long process. You may experience multiple adjusters, some experienced and some not so experienced. Remember, the insurance company is likely looking out for the insurance company. So document all damages, including all communications with the insurance company, photographs of the damages items, receipts for money spent, etc.
This process is demanding, daunting, and can sometimes be extremely frustrating. If you would like to speak with me for help in navigating this process please feel free to call me at 504-648-7777. It will likely be easier to text me with you name and contact info and I will call you back as soon as possible.
Please feel free to share this information as we work throughout the state and can assist with all claims, whether residential, commercial, industrial, etc.
George
Lawyer & Law Firm
