What do you do when your water damage claim is denied? It may seem like an impossible situation, especially if it’s the first time you’ve ever filed an insurance claim. However, there are steps you can take to ensure that your water damage claim denial gets overturned and your damages are covered. In this article, we’ll go over some of the steps you can take to have your insurance company take another look at your claim and decide that they should pay what you’re owed—and even more than that!
Review insurance policy
A water damage claim denied if your insurance policy doesn’t cover water damage. In order to determine if your policy includes coverage for water, you will need to review your policy or contact the insurance company. If you have a flood insurance, it may cover the damages caused by water. Flood insurance is not required, but it can provide protection against some natural disasters and losses that may not be covered by regular home policies. Flood insurance covers water that enters homes from sources outside of the home such as heavy rainfalls or overflowing rivers. It also covers water in sewers, drains, subways, tunnels and streets that seep into your property. If you live near a body of water, this type of insurance can protect your home in case water levels rise above normal levels and enter your home. The majority of homeowners don’t purchase flood insurance because they mistakenly believe their home isn’t at risk. However, over 50% of U.S. coastal communities could experience chronic flooding by 2035 due to rising sea levels, more intense storms and more frequent downpours brought on by climate change according to Climate Central
Consider filing a complaint
If your water damage claim denied by the insurance company, there are a few steps you can take to make sure you’re not left in the lurch. The first thing you should do is file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce if the company has an unsatisfactory rating or history of complaints. You can also contact your state’s insurance department and file a complaint against the company. If all else fails, you might want to consult with an attorney specializing in this area to find out if there are any legal avenues available to pursue. Finally, remember that just because the company refuses to pay for your damages doesn’t mean you have no recourse. Insurance companies will typically offer other services such as paying for temporary living arrangements, food expenses, etc., but only after they determine how much coverage you have from another source (such as renters’ insurance). For example, when my husband and I had our water damage claim denied, our landlord paid for our hotel room while we waited for repairs to be done on our apartment. Even though it wasn’t through insurance, it was still helpful! Hopefully this post has given you some insights into what to do when your water damage claim denied. As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments below. As mentioned above, the next step to take when dealing with a denied water damage claim is filing a complaint. First things first: start off by checking the Better Business Bureau’s website for any reviews about the company – if there are many complaints about them refusing to pay legitimate claims, then it may be worth your time pursuing further action through their site or filing an official complaint with your state’s insurance department. Filing a formal complaint with the BBB is relatively simple and straightforward. Next, talk to an attorney who specializes in this type of case. Depending on where you live, there may even be attorneys who will work pro-bono so that you can recover costs incurred due to the denial of your claim; either way, it’s important to talk to one before deciding on anything so that you know exactly where you stand legally. Lastly, remember that just because the company refused to cover your damages doesn’t mean they won’t offer assistance with other things like emergency housing or food costs – these types of offers are often contingent upon how much coverage someone has elsewhere (i.e., renters insurance) .
Determine if you can afford to hire a lawyer
When your water damage claim denied, it’s likely that it has something to do with the content of your lease agreement. If you are renting, you can contact your landlord and let them know what happened. Be sure to take any relevant documentation with you when you go so they have all the information they need to process the claim.
If you are a homeowner and this was an accident or a break in, call your insurance company right away. They will be able to handle the claim on behalf of your insurance policy and will work closely with the construction contractor who needs to fix everything up for you after the repairs are done. However, if you suspect that there is fraud involved then talk to your lawyer about filing a lawsuit against the party responsible. You may also want to consult with the American Insurance Association or The National Flood Insurance Program before taking further action.
If it’s more than just wet carpet, call your landlord
1) First, call the landlord. Some landlords may be unaware of the extent of the damage or that they’re legally required to help out in these circumstances. 2) Second, go through their lease agreement and point out where they’ve agreed to pay for damages. 3) If your landlord still won’t do anything or continues to refuse, contact a lawyer who specializes in this area of law. They can write up a letter explaining your situation and what you expect from your landlord. The next step would be filing an unlawful detainer lawsuit, which is a civil lawsuit filed against someone who refuses to move after the expiration date of their rental agreement. An unlawful water damage claim denied can also occur when someone wrongfully enters your home without permission; typically, the landlord will file an unlawful detainer lawsuit if they suspect that tenant isn’t leaving voluntarily. The downside? You’ll have to pay court costs and attorney fees which could cost thousands depending on how long you wait before taking action (these fees could come from the tenant).
