5 Things NOT to Do After a Natural Disaster or Residential Catastrophe

When bad things happen, it can often leave people without the ability to think rationally and calmly. For example, when a homeowner sustains property damage in a windstorm, tropical storm, hurricane, tornado, heavy rain, or from hail, there are certain things to do and not to do in order not to hurt their potential residential insurance claim.

Five Things NOT to Do When Filing an Insurance Claim

Do not fail to keep accurate records of communication – write down every date and time you spoke with the insurance company and the names of the people you spoke with. Keeping a log and copies of letters, emails or any correspondence with the insurance company will help you during this often time-consuming and stressful process.
Do not rush to accept a settlement or take the first offer – although you may want to put it all behind you so you can start over and repair or rebuild your home, do not accept any offer the insurance company throws at you without finding out your rights and an approximate value of how much your claim is worth.
Do not fail to request an extension for filing an insurance claim – although you may think your claim will be settled and over in a normal time span, you never know what can go wrong. Survivors of fires and major disasters will be the first to tell disaster victims to file an extension in order to protect their rights to a valid claim.
Do not give up your original documents – the insurance companies will start asking for your receipts and other miscellaneous documents. Do not give them original documents. Make copies of everything and send those copies to them, keeping the originals for yourself. This could help your potential legal case, as courts find great value in original documentation.
Do not fail to understand your insurance policy terms and limits – not many people read their full insurance policy; however, it is essential to understand your insurance policy limits and what your replacement value is under your homeowner’s insurance policy. If you have lost your policy in the disaster, request a copy from your insurer. They are required by law to provide you with one if it has been lost.

In addition, victims of disasters should never go into this alone. This is why experienced insurance claim attorneys are available to consult with. At the Voss Law Firm, our skilled Texas insurance litigation lawyers will provide victims of disasters with a free legal consultation. This will help you find out more about your insurance policy and what your property claim is worth prior to working with the insurance company.

If the insurance company is not treating you fairly regarding your Texas residential insurance claim or claim anywhere in this nation, you can seek help from an experienced Texas insurance claim attorney at the Voss Law Firm at 888-614-7730 today. You will also receive our FREE book, Disputes With Your Insurance Company – What All Consumers Need to Know, to find out more about your right to fair compensation.

Bill Voss [email protected]

Aggressive Texas policyholder attorney that fights hard for his clients and won't stop until he wins

The Voss Law Firm, P.C. represents clients on a local, national and international basis. We proudly serve companies and individuals along the Gulf Coast and around the globe on a contingency fee basis. Our law firm collects nothing unless we recover on our client's behalf.

5 Things NOT to Do After a Natural Disaster or Residential Catastrophe

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