1. Contact Your Insurance Company Quickly
From finding the source of water and starting the restoration process to filing a claim with your insurer, there are steps to follow that are critical to mitigate the damage. Identify the source of water damage. Water leaks and intrusions can happen in many places. Some common areas to check are pipes or holes in your roof or walls. You can also work with a local plumber to help identify the source. If necessary, shut off the water main.
If you have a leaking or burst pipe, shut off the water main to prevent more damage. Im
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tely contact your insurance company.
Find your main s top cock and make sure you can turn it on and off repair any dripping taps. This will help prevent water from freezing checking your lagging. All pipes and tanks in loft spaces, and anywhere else which could be liable to freezing, should be fully lagged keep contact details for your insurance company helpline near your phone.
I woke up one morning to be greeted with a substantial amount of water which had come from the hot water tank which was after bursting. It caused a terrible amount of damage. I knew it would be a big job to sort out and would take a lot of back and forth with my insurance company. A friend recommend ed i contact owens mccarthy, so i did. Shortly after making contact, their assessor, brian monaghan, called to my house to inspect the damage. The personable and prompt service provided by owens mccarthy is commendable and after the first inspection with brian, i knew things were on the right track.
If your insurance company is dragging their feet regarding your property damage claim you should speak with an experienced insurance claim lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our florida law office directly at 800. 451. 6786 to schedule your free consultation. We help florida residents just like you fight the big insurance companies who fail to abide by their own policies. Remember, we work on a contingent basis, meaning you don't pay us anything until we win your case.
2. Document Damage With Photos and Videos
Before calling a plumber and your insurer, there are steps you can take to help reduce the damage:
turn off the main water supply to stop the flow of water and prevent further damage
turn off the power and avoid electrical appliances.
Get in touch with an electrician first if you have to stand in water to turn off the mains electricity
place buckets or towels to catch dripping water, preventing further spread
take photos or videos of the leak and any damage, for insurance purposes
call our 24/7 home emergency helpline * if further damage is likely, you can't stay in your home, or your safety is at risk.
When making a home insurance claim of any type, you’ll need to gather a lot of evidence in order to present the strongest case possible. If you have before photos this is highly encouraged, as well as photos or videos of the source of the leak, the area and items damaged, receipts of anything that was damaged etc – all of this will help towards ensuring that you get the most out of your claim.
A burst pipe insurance claim can be a hassle. Insurance companies often drag their feet at covering certain damages. Here are some tips for maximizing your insurance payout with a burst pipe claim: document everything: the more photos you take, the better. Make a list of all damaged inventory and the approximate values. Take photos of all water-damaged furniture, items, possessions, and other materials. If you don’t have proof an item was damaged by the burst pipe, then your insurance company may refuse to cover it. Don’t throw anything away until your insurance company has approved it to be replaced.
6. Know Your Policy Coverage Limits
Your policy will have coverage limits, the maximum amount your insurance company will pay out in case of a claim. Ensuring that these limits are sufficient to cover the cost of any potential water damage is crucial. For instance, if you have a $200,000 policy limit and the cost of repairs is $250,000, your insurance company will only cover up to $200,000. Some other factors you can consider when choosing a policy include: the insurer’s reputation: it is vital to choose an insurance company with a good reputation for handling water damage insurance claims quickly and efficiently. You can check ratings and reviews online to get an idea of the insurer's reliability.
8. Understand the Claims Process and Timeline
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10. Working with Your Insurance Company
You might be able to stay in your home while building and repair work is happening, for example if you have habitable rooms upstairs and working gas and/or electricity. But you should think about whether you want to stay in the property while building work is under way. If you can't stay in the property, your insurance company might organise temporary accommodation or reimburse you for temporary accommodation you've organised yourself. This might be a hotel initially and then rented accommodation in the longer term. Ask your insurance company to provide you with a timetable for the repairs and an estimate of when you'll be able to go back to your home.
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