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If you live in the Midwest, winters can be harsh and last many months. The extreme weather can do a number on your home even if you do your due diligence to prevent the damage. Even worse, not all insurance policies cover all types of home damage. Below are three common homeowners claims made in the winter. If your home has any of these types of damage and you aren’t sure if you are covered, contact Guardian Public Adjusters today for a professional claim review.

 

1. Roof Damage Claims

Sure, the snow can be a pretty landscape for your yard, but when it piles up over the winter, just think about how much weight it is adding to your roof. Even the newest of roofs can only bear so much weight and layers and layers of compacted snow can get to be too much. Roof damage claims are numerous during the winter due to snow damage, but it’s important to know what types of roof damage are covered in your policy and also how much time you have to report it.

2. Ice Dam Claims

When water freezes at the bottom of your roof, it can’t drain properly through your gutters, creating an ice dam. This often happens when the top of your roof is warmer than the bottom, causing snow from the top of your roof to melt, but then refreezing once it gets to the gutter. While most policies don’t cover ice dam removal, ice dam claims are very common because of the extensive damage they cause to homes. It’s important to submit your claim right away, though, since your insurance company can potentially deny your claim if you don’t properly maintain your roof by not having it fixed.

3. Burst Pipes Claims

Another consequence of bitterly cold temperatures is freezing pipes. Increased pressure can lead to burst pipes, which can lead to water damage and even mold damage over time. Burst pipe claims are often covered by insurance policies, but you will have to check to see what specific types of water damage are covered in your policy.

 

Hopefully, you never have to submit a winter weather insurance claim, but if you do, make sure you know what coverage you have and the stipulations for how quickly you have to submit. Many people may not fully understand their coverage and would benefit from an advocate. If you need help with your insurance claim, contact Guardian Public Adjusters. Our team will take care of everything from filing paperwork to negotiating with your insurance company. Contact us online for your free insurance claim review today.

 

 

Equipping yourself with homeowners insurance is a smart move. It covers many of the major issues you may face while living in your home and will prevent you from an even bigger headache of paying for restoration costs out of pocket if your home does incur damages. However, just because you have homeowners insurance doesn’t mean it covers all types of damage.

 

Exclusions, also known as risks, are named by insurance companies as types of disasters that aren’t covered by your policy. They are essentially a way for your insurance company to either deny your insurance claim or purchase extra coverage for special circumstances. Understanding insurance exclusions is vital to making sure you are protected. Learn more about exclusions basics and always feel free to reach out to Guardian Public Adjusters with any questions.

 

What Are Common Types of Exclusions?

Each insurance policy is different, especially in a time when policies are highly customizable. However, it may not be clear when you sign up for your insurance what types of disasters are covered when you get down to the fine print. Here are common types of exclusions:

• Maintenance: Let’s say your home’s roof is past it’s recommended lifespan, but has damage from a severe storm. In most cases, it will no longer be covered under your insurance since you failed to maintain it.
• Ordinances: If your city mandates you to update a part of your home, this usually isn’t covered in your general insurance plan.
• Flooding: This is a major one. Most standard homeowners policies don’t cover flooding or any flood damages. It is an add-on that must be purchased separately.
• Injuries: Say someone slips and falls off of your deck. Generally, third-party injuries are not covered under homeowner policies.
• Expensive Items: Check your policy to see what the limit is on any damaged items. You may find that there is an exclusion for damaged or stolen personal items over a certain value.

 

Most homeowners don’t take the time to memorize their policies or just don’t understand insurance jargon. It’s important, though, to make sure you are covered before a disaster strikes. Once you do need to file your insurance claim, though, hire Guardian Public Adjusters. We help residential and commercial customers throughout Central Illinois understand their coverage and also get a maximum insurance settlement.

Filing an insurance claim can leave you with a headache, and nothing is worse than going through the motions only to find out that your claim has been denied. While insurance providers are doing everything they can to save themselves money, there are also ways on your end you can prevent a denied insurance claim.

 

1. Understand Your Policy

Nobody likes to sit around and read insurance policies, but it’s imperative to understand what coverage you have. Failing to understand your coverage can lead to a denied insurance claim. Even within your policy, you should take special notice of exclusions, as this is where many homeowners and business owners get denied. Most people don’t know how to read and interpret insurance policies, which is why public adjusters are available to you. At Guardian Public Adjusters, we can review your policy with you, put it into words you understand, and recommend how you should proceed with your claim.

 

2. File Your Claim Immediately

After any sort of damage has occurred, contact your insurance company immediately. Filing your claim in a timely manner is vital for a variety of reasons. Your claim largely hinges on documentation and evidence, so the more you have from the start, the better. Also, your policy will have a stipulation for how long you can wait to submit your claim. If you file your claim outside of this window, you can expect denial.

 

3. Document & Retain All Damages

When you have damaged property, you may be tempted to throw away things you can no longer use or try to clear the scene to make the space usable. This is extremely detrimental, though, as your insurance provider will want all documentation of damages. This includes physical evidence, along with record keeping. They will use this to evaluate how much compensation you deserve, so any missing pieces could lead to a smaller or even denied claim.

 

Even though disasters don’t occur frequently and many homeowners and business owners may never have to file a claim, your insurance carrier will still expect you to be claim experts. They will use any reason to deny your insurance claim, so it’s up to you to know how to avoid this. Luckily, you have the right to hire a public adjuster to work on your behalf. Guardian Public Adjusters is licensed throughout the entire state of Illinois to support residents and commercial clients with all types of insurance claims. Contact us to ensure a smooth claims process and maximum payout.

 

When you go to file your insurance claim, you will be assigned an adjuster. But who is that adjuster? And who are they working for? Did you know you are able to hire your own adjuster, too? You will hear various types of adjusters thrown around as possibilities for who will evaluate your damage and help submit your insurance claim. They are not all the same, though. Even as you go to hire your own adjuster, you may think an Independent Adjuster, for example, works completely separate from the insurance company. That is not the case, though. Learn more about the different types of adjusters and who they work for.

Staff Adjuster

As the name implies, the staff adjuster is an employee of the insurance company. They work full time and are paid on a salary or hourly basis for any claim that comes the insurance company’s door. In short:

• Employed By: Insurance company as an employee
• Works For: One insurance company
• Motive: Save insurance company money

 

 

 

Independent Adjuster

Sometimes insurance companies don’t want to hire full-time, in-house adjusters because of how much it costs to pay them. The alternative is to hire an independent adjuster and contract them on a case-by-case basis. In short:

• Employed By: Themselves or their firm
• Works For: Any number of contracted insurance companies
• Motive: Save insurance company money

 

 

 

Public Adjuster

Unlike other types of adjusters that may or may not need to be licensed depending on the state, public adjusters are licensed and trained to assist with the insurance claim process. Since they don’t work on behalf of an insurance company, they don’t have ulterior motives. They are simply there to help the insured. In short:

• Employed By: Themselves or their firm
• Works For: Their client, the insured
• Motive: Help the insured get a quick, fair settlement

 

It’s important to note that of the three types of adjusters, only one is actually working for you, the insured. When you go to submit your insurance claim and are given either a staff or independent adjuster, know that you also have the right to your own public adjuster.

 

So you’ve suffered from a loss, have contacted your insurance company, submitted an inventory list, and then out of nowhere receive a request to appear at an examination under oath (EUO). You may be wondering what that is and why you are receiving such a request. At Guardian Public Adjusters, we help our clients get through the insurance claim process, including EUOs. Learn more below about what is actually happening when you receive an EUO request and how to best handle it. If you have questions, feel free to give us a call.

 

What Is An Examination Under Oath?

An EUO is a legal process through which you (the insured) appear in court for questioning by your insurance company. The goal is for them to get the most information possible about your insurance claim before formally accepting it or denying it. Reasons why insurance companies conduct EUOs stem from preventing fraud to simply intimidating clients before denying their claim. No matter what the reason, though, if you receive a request for an EUO, you must appear.

 

Common Questions About Examinations Under Oath

• What happens if I don’t go to my EUO?

Most insurance policies have language giving insurance companies the right for further examination. While you technically wouldn’t be breaking the law in not going, your insurance claim will likely be denied.

• Do I have to answer all of the questions during my EUO?

Since your insurance company has the right to conduct an examination as part of your policy, you can’t decline answering questions. They may ask questions that seem irrelevant or confusing, but answer them as honestly and as best as possible. If you don’t, you are at serious risk for having your claim denied.

• Can I hire an attorney for my EUO?

You do have the right to an attorney for your EUO, but they cannot answer on your behalf or object to questions being asked. Their purpose would be primarily to help you prepare.

• How can a public adjuster help with my EUO?

If you’ve already hired a public adjuster to help with the rest of the insurance claim process, they can certainly help with this, as well, since they would be the most knowledgeable about the value of your property and present damages. Similarly to an attorney, they can help you prepare documents, rehearse common questions, and make sure you’re familiar with how the EUO will work.

 

No matter what type of disaster has damaged your property, Guardian Public Adjusters can help you get back on your feet. We work with your best interest in mind, providing services such as documenting damages, evaluating losses, and even preparing you for your examination under oath, if you should receive one. Call today!

 

As Midwesterners, we know the drill when it comes to seasonal weather challenges.  We’ve grown up with it.  If you’re too young to remember the Plainfield tornado of 1990, then you might remember the Snowstorm of 1999, a storm total of 21.3 inches fell making it the second biggest snowstorm ever in Chicago.

We’ve inherited an expectation of weather-related property damage (or any kind).  That said, when we do encounter property damage, it is only natural to be taken back. This is a time to consider how to make the best type of informed decision and to consider hiring a public adjuster.

When it comes to insurance claims, there are three types of adjusters a person might meet.  Staff adjusters work for the insurance company.  Working for the insurance company, it’s their job to keep the costs down.

There is also an independent adjuster who fills a similar role by working as a subcontractor for the insurance firm.  A Public Adjuster, on the other hand, works directly for you to ensure you get the maximum value from your claim and policy.

If you’re filing a property insurance claim, think about hiring a public adjuster, especially if the claim is for a high amount.  If you are a policyholder, you have nothing to lose.  Most public adjustment firms offer to visit a property loss free of charge to help a policyholder determine the severity of damage and whether they should file an insurance claim.

Even if you are confident in the dollar value of your property loss, it is still a good practice to get a second opinion.

Public adjusters frequently visit a home or business, finding that their loss estimate is far below what it should be.  Since public adjusters are independent and have third-party relationships to the policyholder and company, they are unlikely to leave out costs in their calculations, costs that a policyholder might forget or not know about. Here’s an example:  If part of your roof is destroyed by fierce winds, a homeowner may calculate the cost of a new roof…however, there is also the cost of removing the damaged roof.  A homeowner may risk miscalculating the complete cost of the project. A public adjuster will see that it is included.

Submitting an accurate, detailed claim is crucial to getting the right amount of money from an insurance company.  A public adjuster has accuracy and comprehensive experience that is not always seen with the insurance company adjuster.

Guardian Public Adjusters serves commercial and residential clients throughout the state of Illinois. If you have questions about working with us, call our team at (309) 267-4490 to learn more.

Sources:

https://www.valuepenguin.com/public-insurance-adjusters

https://www.weather.gov/lot/top20events_1900to1999