Is ceiling water damage covered by insurance? They may try to deny your claim. If they do, don’t hesitate to take these steps.
If there’s anything we homeowners are familiar with here in Florida, it’s water damage from storms. When a leaky roof leads to damages to your home and your belongings, you hope that you can count on your insurance to cover the costs to replace and repair your home and your stuff. Unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as filing a claim and waiting for a check in the mail. Because homeowners’ insurance policies differ from person to person and the fine print of your policy can be difficult to follow, you might not be as protected as you think.
So what should you do if your insurance won’t cover water damage from your leaky ceiling? Here are four actions that you can do now.
Get Ceiling Water Damage Covered by Insurance
Document Everything
It is essential to document everything that you can to illustrate the extent and severity of the water damage from your leaky roof. Do this as soon as you notice the damage and as you notice more damage. Because water damage can go undetected for long periods, it often results in mold damage or structural damage. It could even make your home unsuitable for living.
If you have a home inventory (and you should), compile any information that you have on any damaged property. Include any receipts that you have and make copies. By doing this, you can ensure that you know what the actual cost of your stuff is. This will help make things easier if you have to provide documentation for your claim.
Ask for an Explanation
If your insurance company denies your claim, you have a right to know why. Don’t think that a denied claim is the end of the story. Ask what wording in your policy led the company to deny your claim. Ask whether any coverage was available that might have helped your claim. If nothing else, understanding what coverage is available might help you in the future.
Review Your Insurance Policy’s Water Damage Coverage
Your insurance policy should cover what you need it to cover. If your policy doesn’t fit your needs, you should consider shopping around for new coverage. The first thing you need to do to see if your insurance policy is right for you is to review what it does and does not cover. Since the language of insurance policies is often filled with jargon and difficult to understand legal concepts, it’s critical to sit down with a professional, such as an attorney who specializes in insurance, to make sure you know what everything means.
Hire an Attorney
You should hire an attorney if you think that your insurance company denied your claim unjustly. An insurance litigation attorney can help you determine whether you have a case and represent you in court, if needed. But legal representation isn’t the only way that an insurance litigation attorney can help you. If you have questions about picking a policy or about the wording of your current policy, an attorney can be invaluable to have on your side.
Is the insurance company denying coverage for your water damage claim? Get in touch with RRBH Law today.