Water damage is one of the most common insurance claims that homeowners have to file. About 37% of all homeowners have experienced a loss from water damage at some point in owning their home, with costs from water damage averaging at around $7,000. However, even though it’s commonplace, it’s still one of the trickiest claims to get right. There are many factors insurance companies will take into account when assessing water damage. They’ll try to claim that something is just a little wet and not damaged, forcing you to go to great lengths to get properly reimbursed.
So what can you do to ensure your claim goes more smoothly? We’ve put together some tips and advice regarding what to do for water damage insurance claims.
Insurance Claim Tips For Water Damage
Should My Water Damage Insurance Claim Be Covered?
In almost all cases, water damage should be covered by your insurance. (However, we recommend checking your policy in the rare case it’s not.) Water damage is included in most insurance packages and covers a wide range of ways that water damage can occur. Here are some of the most common causes of water damage:
Plumbing Issues
Problems with plumbing are a frequent cause of water damage. High rainfall can result in unavoidable sewer or drain backup, while cold weather can cause pipes to leak or burst. Sump pumps can also suffer a system failure from a rising water table or outside pressure, causing the pump to give out and lead to damage.
Faulty Appliances
Washing machines, dishwashers, hoses, and water heaters, when improperly cared for, can leak or fully malfunction, causing water damage. This most often occurs from water leaking out of hoses or other connections.
Structural Issues
Foundational problems in your home, such as leaks in the roof or cracks that form along the foundation of the building, can let water in to cause damage. Basements are particularly prone to structural issues that eventually lead to water damage.
Natural Causes
Homeowners will frequently experience water damage caused by excessive rain or other natural causes. However, water damage caused by flooding will oftentimes not be covered by a standard insurance policy—but it also depends on the cause of the flood and your specific policy.
As you can see, there are many different ways that water damage can occur; not all are covered by standard insurance policies. It is important to be familiar with your policy so that you can get the maximum settlement possible.
Why Could My Water Damage Claim Be Denied or Result in a Reduced Settlement?
As we mentioned before, water damage claims can be extremely tricky, and there are many ways that insurance companies will try to get out of giving you a fair settlement.
The most common way this can happen is if the insurance company feels the water damage came about as a result of you neglecting your property. For example, let’s say that you own a second property that you are not at very often. As a result, you choose to keep your heat there lowered or off. Because of this, in the cold winter months, the pipes in the house freeze and burst, causing expensive damage. An insurance company will try and deny this coverage claim, asserting that it could have been avoided if you had taken better care of the place.
This is also true of common household appliances. If you have an older sump pump that is at the end of its life, and it fails during a rainstorm, causing your basement to flood, an insurance company will try to say that you were being neglectful. In their eyes, your choice to not replace the sump pump sooner and prevent the problem means that you are responsible for the resulting water damage.
It’s also possible for your claim to be denied or settlement reduced due to nuances in your policy. As previously mentioned, water damage caused by flooding may not be accepted by your insurance company, as flooding is often not part of a standard policy. Knowing exactly what is covered and what is not will save you time and stress during the claims process.
What to Do if Your Insurance Claim Is Denied
If your claim is denied, it’s important to look over the explanation provided by your insurance company to understand their decision. Then, review your insurance policy to ensure that your submitted claim matches the terms outlined in your policy. If it does, revisit your documentation and gather more if necessary. You may want to contact your insurance agent or representative for more clarity regarding why your claim was denied. If speaking to someone doesn’t resolve the issue, then it’s time to file an appeal.
In most cases, a second opinion is needed. Insurance companies purposefully make the insurance claim process confusing to prevent you from successfully submitting a claim. At Fortitude Public Adjusters, our team of professionals can offer a new, well-informed perspective, and may uncover details that were initially overlooked that can help win your claims case.
Contact Us Today
Hiring a public adjuster puts an expert in your corner who can talk to the insurance company for you, and show them that you won’t settle for anything less than what you deserve. To learn more, or to sign up for a free consultation regarding your water damage claim, contact us today.
