Filing An Insurance Claim

 Everything seemed pretty simple when you purchased that insurance policy. If you have a loss, just tell the insurance company about it and you will get paid - Right? Well.... it may not be quite that easy. There are some basic steps you should follow to make sure your insurance claim is paid quickly and fully.

Prepare - in advance. The single most important thing that will make your life easier in the event of a loss is to be well prepared in advance. Do you have offsite copies of your computer files? What about paper files? If this is some kind of property loss, you will need to document the value. If you have to try to reconstruct records that were destroyed, it will delay your insurance payment and make it much harder for you to prove the value of your loss.

Estimate your loss. While it may not be possible to know the full extent of the loss, develop an estimate. If it is close to or below your deductible, you are probably better off not filing the insurance claim. Your rates will be based in part on your claims history so there is no advantage to you in filing a claim you will end up paying for out of your own pocket. Be careful, however, as most insurance policies require you to report a loss within a certain timeframe, usually 2 - 4 weeks.

Call your agent. Many insurance companies ask that you report your claim directly to the claims department. This is more efficient for them but not necessarily better for you. Your insurance agent may represent the company but his income depends on keeping his customers happy. Independent agents, in particular, are small business owners and owe their primary loyalty to their business. If you're a small business owner, your insurance agent understands that his business depends on keeping his customers happy.

Keep in touch with the adjuster. Ultimately the insurance company will assign an adjuster to work with you to estimate and pay the loss. Work closely with the adjuster and respond quickly and completely to his requests for information. The easier you make his job, the quicker you will get paid.

Consider an independent adjuster. If your loss is large and complex, it may pay you to hire an independent adjuster to work on your behalf. If you do decide to take this step, make sure you hire an adjuster who has experience with your type of business loss.

About the Author

Lana Hampton makes it easy to find the insurance right for your needs. Visit http://www.yowsinsurance.com today for the latest insurance news and information.

 Lana Hampton

More Articles 

Health Insurance for Seniors on the Web - William Pritchett
Health Insurance For Seniors On The Net When a good friend of mine inquired where he could obtain information about medical insurance for his out-of-state, elderly mother, I told him to try the Internet. He reported back to me about a week later,...

A Buyer's Guide to Medical Insurance - Johnny Mangiante
Buying travel health insurance can be a complex task. There are so many different plans - each with different benefits and restrictions. It is important to shop wisely for trip insurance. Many people buy coverage that seems inexpensive only...

Need Insurance for Self Employed? - Ratliff J
If you are either self employed to unemployed, you know how important insurance can be. Are you paying top dollar for COBRA? I was too for a while until I found a great and easy website to shop for Insurance. I am sharing this with everyone so...

How To Get The Best Auto Insurance Deals - Dr Drew Henry
Ever wonder what it takes to get the best auto insurance deals? Simple. Shop around and do it yearly. Don't just keep paying the invoice over and over without comparison shopping. Here are a few suggestions to help you get the best deal available...

Title Insurance Protects Your Financial Investment - Neda Dabestani Ryba
Title Insurance Protects Your Financial Investment By Neda Dabestani-Ryba Prudential Carruthers REALTORS You purchase homeowners insurance to protect yourself financially in case something happens to your property or its contents. However...

Senior Health Care Insurance - William Pritchett
Health Insurance For Seniors On The Net When a good friend of mine inquired where he could obtain information about medical insurance for his out-of-state, elderly mother, I told him to try the Internet. He reported back to me about a week...

Types of Homeowner Insurance - Fern Kuhn RN
There are 6 different types of homeowners insurance in general that are consistently utilized. Of these HO-3 is the most usual policy then it is followed by HO-4 and HO-6. Others less used, but still important, are HO-1, HO-2 and HO-5. Everyone is...

Tips To Avoid Car Insurance Premium Increases & Becoming Assigned Risk - Philip Franckel
Below are some tips to reduce your auto insurance bill, prevent substantial premium increases and avoid becoming assigned risk. Claim Reports: You know about credit reports, you should also know about claim reports. C.L.U.E.® (Comprehensive Loss...

Disability insurance 101- What You Absolutely Need to Know - Rita roy
Disability insurance is the mutual agreement between the policy provider and the beneficiary in which the provider agrees to pay a certain amount of money to the beneficiary on certain unexpected event leading to a disability, which incapacitates...

Is Pet Insurance Right for You? - Sherry Kirchenbauer
What is Pet Insurance? Pet insurance is a health plan for your pet to insure against large and small unexpected veterinary bills over the life of your pet. Potential treatments for your pet now rival human treatments both in sophistication and...

Are You Overpaying On Your Home Insurance Policy? - Tim Gorman
For many consumers the cost of daily living is becoming increasingly higher. High gas prices, rising automobile costs and the cost of buying a new home can be very troublesome. The additional cost of homeowners insurance has some consumers wondering...

What goes into my rating info, how are my car insurance rates determined? - A Chris Tijerina
Your auto insurance rates are determined by a number of factors: -driving record -usage, how you are using the vehicle, work, pleasure, business -how many drivers you have and their ages -how many vehicles you have -what kind of coverage...