In an ideal world, filing an insurance claim would be a easy process where you would get your full replacement value and more. But in reality, it can often get overwhelming for the policy holder having to ensure every detail is provided and reported correctly. However, an improperly filed claim can prove to be a detriment for the claimant which often leads to a decreased settlement offer or rejection of the claim by the insurance carrier. Below is a simplified breakdown of the proper way to file a claim and the common types of loss covered under a standard insurance policy and flood policy.

Steps for properly filing an Insurance Claim

1. Call your insurance agent. Establishing the claim as soon as it occurs will help begin the process of recovering from your property loss. Next, contact FirstCall so we can help ensure your claim is handled correctly and that your property is inventoried and properly valued.

2. Document your loss properly. Gather all your important documents such as your insurance declarations page, any photo/video evidence of your property, insurance settlement documents if applicable, and all correspondence with your insurance carrier. Preparing a property loss claim with compelling proof of damages, will help secure a much higher recovery than typically offered by an insurance company adjuster. Our highly trained staff of consumer claims experts at FirstCall will prepare as well as document a complete estimate of the damages to your property and its contents.

3. Give us a call. No matter where you are in the insurance claims process, we can help! As mentioned above, if you have not done so yet, establish the claim with your carrier first. Even if you have already met with your insurance adjuster, call us to set up an appointment so that we can start the process of reclaiming the full value of your property loss.

It's worth noting that most policy holders assume limitless coverage is included with their insurance policy. Unfortunately, this is not always the case which is why it’s even more important to have someone at your side such as FirstCall to help thoroughly review your policy and answer any questions you may have regarding policy limits and coverages. In a standard insurance policy fire damage, water damage and storm damage are covered as long as they are not excluded on the policy. Flood Damage is excluded and requires a separate policy to be purchased.

Fire Damage:

Under all primary property insurance policies fire damage is covered. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there were 490,500 structure fires in the United States in 2020, up 1.9 percent from 2019. Fire insurance provides coverage for damages to your residential or commercial property resulting from fire. Typical damages resulting from fire that are covered include:

Fires brought about by electricity, such as faulty wiring and gas explosions

Fires caused by lightning and natural disasters

Fires caused from sudden burst and overflow of a water tank or pipes may also be covered by the policy

Water Damage:

In most standard insurance policies, water damage is covered if it is sudden and internal, meaning as long as the water has never touched the outside ground such as with flood damage. Typical damages resulting from water that are covered include:

Mold (as a direct result of the covered damage in the policy)

Rain or snowstorm

Water damage from extinguishing a fire

Plumbing: burst pipes, frozen plumbing, faulty plumbing, accidental overflow

Accidental overflow of an appliance or fixture (overflow from washing machine, toilet, bathtub)

Leaking roof (Although the roof itself is excluded under water damage, coverage would apply to the home interior)

Vandalism

Storm Damage:

Storm damages can be catastrophic for residential and commercial property owners. As one of the leading causes of most policy claims, it's no wonder why insurance companies refuse to pay out the proper value on most storm damage claims. The most common types of damages that occur as a result of a storm and are covered under a policy include:

Lightning Strikes

Power Surges

Water Damage(Rain)

Ice Damage

Wind

Hail

Fallen Trees

Flood Damage:

In all standard insurance policies flood damage is NOT included and requires a separate policy for coverage. Floods are the #1 natural disaster in the United States. According to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), flooding is defined as a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or two or more properties (at least one of which is your property) from: Overflow of inland waters, unusual and rapid accumulation, or runoff of surface waters from any source, and mudflows. Often this will occur as a result of landslides, hurricanes, or other natural disasters that cause flooding. Flood water from land can be devastating and often will lead to more serious issues such as mold and fungus growth. Common types of damages caused by flood that are covered under a flood policy include:

Landscaping

Septic Systems

Wells

Decks

Patios

Seawalls

Fences

Hot Tubs

Swimming Pools

No matter the type of fire, storm, water or flood damage you’ve experienced, FirstCall can help to reclaim the full value of your property loss with a property insurance policy in place. We will work for you to ensure that the claim is handled properly and yields the highest settlement possible.