Hurricane Irma: 10 Tips for Filing an Insurance Claim

The devastating destruction that Hurricane Irma has left on Florida is unimaginable. Cleaning up after the storm will be a long recovery. Thousands of people will be filing insurance claims, but may be unsure on how to move forward with the process of filing an insurance claim after a hurricane.

Colder temperatures lead to frozen pipes, and a frozen pipe often bursts. It’s a good idea to know the steps to take if a pipe bursts in your building, and how to address the issue for insurance purposes. Here are some tips to help you along the way.

Hurricane Matthew has finally dissipated and, assuming your family is safe to re-enter your property, the process of cleaning up the damage has begun. If you're among the one million plus population that moved to Florida within the last 10 years and never experienced a hurricane, you may be lost on how to move forward with the process of filing an insurance claim after Hurricane Matthew.

When you experience business fire damage, it may become a front page headline, a six o’clock news story or an internet blurb. Such public awareness may bring a parade of contractors, fire restoration services, and other companies to your place of business. These professionals know you’ll need them sooner or later, so they may fill your mail slot or entryway with offers for inspections, courtesy estimates, and discounts.

`When you must present a property damage claim to your insurance carrier, you begin the claim process with optimism. The adjuster meets you at the site, hands over a business card and offers consolation. The adjuster inspects your damage, gets your statement, and explains what is needed from you to handle your claim.

As a professional in the industry, Miller Public Adjusters has seen the impact of natural disasters to businesses and consumers alike. While it’s been quite some time since we’ve seen a catastrophic event in our area, we all need to be aware of the consequences damaging spring storms in our area can have. From Property Casualty 360: Nationwide commissioned Harris Poll to conduct their second annual survey in June 2015 among 500 U.S. small-business owners who have fewer than 300 employees and at least a moderate role in employee benefit selection.

When your home is seriously damaged, it's difficult to navigate the claim process alone. Insurance claims adjusters don't tell you everything you need to know. They push you to settle quickly. When they should be making certain you have the funds to properly restore your home, an insurance adjuster often focuses on keeping the claim payout low. These small complications can become big disputes. Hiring a public adjuster is a prudent way keep the claim disputes process flowing smoothly before it spins out of control.

As with most self-sufficient adults, you might not consider hiring a public adjuster to manage your property damage claim. You might not even know what a public adjuster does. But when you are trying to recover from a catastrophic loss, it’s a good time to find out. PAs handle complex claim and coverage details. They work hard to maximize your settlement. Most importantly, a PA works for you to make your life easier.