Here in Florida, we are in the middle of hurricane season. This is the time of year of heavy rains, flood risks, and high winds. Houses are flooded. Roofs are damaged by debris or high winds. If you have sustained damage to your property, you are probably wondering when your property damage claim will be resolved by the insurance company. It is difficult to sit and wait around without knowing if and when you will receive payment on your claim in order to make the necessary repairs to your damaged property. Know that insurance companies cannot make you wait forever. In fact, there are strict time limitations in which your claim must be addressed.
How Long Will It Take to Resolve My Property Damage Claim?
While there is variation in the number of days it will take for your insurance company to respond to your property damage claim, there are consumer protection laws in place that put mandatory time restraints on insurance companies for addressing claims. Every claim is different, and there are times of the year where insurance claims peak (such as during hurricane season) where the insurance company may take longer as they attempt to wade through the many claims being sent their way.
First and foremost, your insurance company must be in contact with you about your property damage claim within 14 days of you notifying them of the claim. Additionally, the insurance company has 14 days after any subsequent communications with them to respond to your inquiries and any updates you may provide. After notifying the insurance company of your claim, it is vital that you send the company your “proof of loss” form. It is one of the most important things you will send to your insurer. It will provide the insurance company with proof of your property damage and calculations showing the company how much damage has been sustained. This means the proof of loss form essentially lets the insurance company know how much your claim is worth. After receiving the proof of loss form, the insurance carrier has 10 days to begin an investigation in order to determine whether the form accurately reflects the amount of damage that was actually sustained.
The company has 90 days to notify you as to whether your claim has been accepted or denied. The size of your claim will be a big determining factor as to how long the insurance company takes to respond to your claim. Larger claims will often require the insurance company to use all 90 days. This is particularly true because larger claims involve higher monetary values. An insurance company will take all available time to try and find ways to dispute the validity of your claim or challenge the claim amount.
Florida Property Damage Claim Attorney
If you have sustained property damage and are looking to seek compensation from your insurance company to cover expenses, the Law Office of William J. Roe is here to not only consult with you about your property damage claim, but to take that claim to the insurer and help see to it that they pay you what you are owed. Contact us today.