How to Assist Your Claims Adjuster
Reporting an insurance claim right after a loss has occurred is the most effective way to protect your rights as a policyholder. The claim can be handled much faster if aninsurance adjuster is allowed toinvestigate the circumstances and inspect the damage as soon as possible. In most cases, a claim should be reported within twenty-four hours to allow the adjuster to obtain statements and inspectdamagebefore the opportunity to do so is no longer available.
In reporting a claim, you shouldrelayas much information as possible aboutdamaged property, physical injuries and deaths.If the incident was investigated by law enforcement, make sure that you have the names, addresses and phone numbers of all individuals, including known and potential witnesses. In many cases, the official incident report may not be available for several days. Photos taken with a cell phone at the time of the loss can also be of value to support your claim.
Both before and after the claim has been reported, take necessary steps to protectyourdamaged property using insurance-friendly service providers found in print and online directories such as Claims Pages. Obtain multiple estimates for repair and/or replacementand keep a copy of any receipts for temporary repairs. This action will suggest to the claims adjuster that you are doing everything possible to mitigate your loss.
Be ready to give a recorded statement over the phone to your insurance adjuster. This is usually within a few hours after reporting the claim. The questions vary according to the type of loss. If you are uncomfortable with the process, take a look at the statement examples on the Claims Pages website.
An insurance claim can be areal pain in the neck (pun intended) that interferes with your work and personal life. By assisting your claims adjuster, you can make the entire process flow more smoothly and reach a timely conclusion.