The First Phone Call After a Natural Disaster
If you are the victim of a natural disaster, you know just how fast your life has been turned upside down. Not only may you be dealing with various injuries that require medical attention, but you may also find your home damaged or completely destroyed. No matter the situation you find yourself facing, there will be phone calls you will need to make in order to get the process going to put your life back together. While there may be plenty of people you want to call initially, the first phone call to make should be to your insurance company. Not only will this let you get the process going to get the financial assistance you need, but it will also provide you with peace of mind, knowing the wheels have been set in motion to help you regain a normal way of life. But when you make this phone call, there are many important details you need to discuss with your insurance company to make sure you get the assistance you need.
Provide an Accurate Description of Damages
When you get in touch with your insurance company, always be sure you provide them with a very accurate description of the damages to your property. By doing so, there should be no discrepancies once the company’s claims adjuster arrives on the scene. If possible, try to take pictures or videos of the damage, which could prove crucial if for any reason the insurance company has any questions or balks at paying for various damages.
Know When to Expect the Claims Adjuster
Once you’ve gotten in touch with your insurance company and given them the accurate description of your damages, be sure you have the insurance company tell you when you can expect to get a visit from their claims adjuster. Depending upon the amount of damage to your property, how much damage occurred in your area, and other factors, you may have an adjuster at your property in as little as one week. On the other hand, some people have had to wait several months to get an adjuster to their home, so be sure you get a specific time from your insurance company.
Don’t Make Permanent Repairs
While it may be tempting to go ahead and make permanent repairs to your home, it’s generally best not to until you have received a visit from your insurance company’s claims adjuster. However, remember to ask your insurance company about this when you make the initial phone call, since it may turn out to be okay depending on the repairs on which you are inquiring. But even if your company wants you to delay making permanent repairs, you can usually make numerous temporary repairs, including covering broken windows, holes in your roof, and other repairs that would be deemed necessary.
Keep Track of Your Expenses
If you do make any types of repairs, always keep track of your expenses. By doing so, you should be able to be reimbursed by your insurance company once the claims adjuster has paid you a visit and assessed the damages. In addition to this, also be sure to make a list of all damaged items in your house and their approximate value. By having this list completed when the adjuster arrives, you will likely have your claim processed much faster.
Make the Phone Call Quickly
While this sounds obvious, remember that it’s important to make that first phone call as soon as possible, since you may have a limited time to file a claim. In some cases, those who have suffered damage get caught up in trying to make repairs on their own, along with simply trying to get through day to day. In these cases, time may slip away much quicker than you would imagine, and the last thing you want is to suffer damages to your property, only to find out later you waited too long to file a claim. Therefore, even though you will undoubtedly have many things to do each day, make that first phone call as soon as possible.
