HOW TO APPEAL A HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE CLAIM DENIAL
You have the right to demand compensation if your home insurance claim
is rejected. If you only need additional evidence or take more drastic
legal action, follow these measures to create a solid argument for your
denied claim.
1) Know what your agreement covers.
Often denied coverage would result from your insurance company's confusion.
If you know your property insurance obligations, you can bring any anomalies
to the insurance adjuster's attention to appealing the rejected coverage.
2) Understand why your claim was rejected.
You should receive some type of written letter from your insurance provider
explaining precisely why your claim was rejected. Don't be afraid
to contact the insurance agent if you don't understand why the application
was denied or are vague or ambiguous.
3) Document and record your loss thoroughly.
Often an argument can be rejected due to inadequate proof of loss. Photograph
the damage from various angles and explain the time, date, and circumstances
surrounding the damage in a written document. Keep any paperwork that
will help you prove the loss if the insurance provider denies the loss.
4) Demand a second opinon.
If you disagree with your insurance company's estimate of your property's
worth and losses, seek a fair estimate for a second opinion. Most insurance
companies allow you to ask for a second opinion.
5) Prove you're a responsible homeowner.
Sometimes insurance companies reject valid insurance claims due to negligence
of the homeowner. To appeal your dismissed claim, you need ample proof
to support that you didn't cause harm to your house. This could include
documents showing the property up to code and even receipts for buying
fire alarms and security systems.
6) Appeal the decision.
You may appeal directly to the insurance provider and ask them to re-examine
the claim. Be sure to do so within the timeframe of appeals and provide
a documented description of all the facts and documents you collected
to support your argument.
7) Send grievances.
If appealing to the insurance provider is ineffective, you can still file
a complaint with the state insurance board to investigate the rejected
claim. We note that the Texas Department of Insurance is set up to favor
insurance companies and rarely sides with consumers.
8) Contact an experienced property insurance lawyer.
If your property insurance claim is wrongly rejected, an attorney will
help assess your legal redress options and represent you in future attempts
to battle your denied claim. We find that eighty-five percent of home
insurance claims are underpaid by at least ten-thousand dollars.
