Property Insurance Claims in Los Angeles
Suffering damage to your property due to an unforeseen event is an unpleasant experience. And trying to manage a large or complex insurance claim on your own can be cumbersome, time-consuming, and frustrating.
Some of the challenges you might encounter include not understanding the fine print in your policy, dealing with an insurance adjuster, and working with contractors. If you don’t have a lot of experience in handling property insurance claims, it can be an uphill battle.
Depending on the extent of the damage to your property and the size of your deductible, it might not be worth filing an insurance claim. You should also be able to manage small, straightforward claims on your own.
However, as you’ll see in this article, large or complicated claims should preferably be handled by a public adjuster acting on your behalf.
Note: Avner Gat, Inc. is a licensed public adjuster in Los Angeles, California.
What Happens When You File an Insurance Claim?
By filing an insurance claim, you’re requesting your insurance company to compensate you for damages covered under the terms of your policy.
The information you’ll be required to provide during the claims process includes the following:
- What happened, and when did it happen?
- The nature and extent of the damages.
- Estimates on how much it would cost to repair the damages or replace destroyed items.
You must notify your insurance company of a covered event as soon as possible. Not informing them timeously might compromise your claim, especially if the delay causes further damage.
Once your claim is registered, your insurance company will appoint an insurance adjuster to handle your claim. Based on the event, the damages you suffered, what you’re covered for, and any other relevant information, your insurer will provide you with a settlement offer.
What to Expect From Your Home Insurance Adjuster?
The insurance adjuster appointed by your insurance company acts in their best interests, not your best interests. It’s the job of the insurance adjuster to minimize the liability of your insurer so they don’t pay anything more than they absolutely have to.
Don’t expect an insurance adjuster to do you any favors or help you receive a better settlement offer. Anything you say to the insurance adjuster can be held against you. Insurance adjusters are known to often ask misleading questions that might be used to limit the liability of your insurer.
If you have a large or complex insurance claim, we recommend you hire an experienced, reputable public adjuster to act in your best interests.
Water Damage
Fire Damage
Theft Loss
Earthquake Damage
Insurance Appraiser
Professional Services
Attorneys that have a first party property damage claim will often retain us as expert witnesses during or before litigation. We review claims and evaluate handling in order to provide our professional opinion on the practices and procedures.
What Are the Top Homeowners Insurance Claims?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, about one in 20 insured homes has a claim each year. The statistics are:
- About one in 40 insured homes has a property damage claim related to wind or hail each year.
- About one in 50 insured homes has a property damage claim caused by water damage or freezing each year.
- About one in 365 insured homes has a property damage claim related to fire and lightning.
Based on the above statistics, the top homeowners insurance claim is wind and hail. This is followed by water damage or freezing, and fire and lightning.
When ranked by severity, fire and lightning damage is the most expensive. The average fire and lightning claim exceeds $78,000.
Should You Use the Services of a Public Adjuster?
Owning a home is the biggest asset for millions of people. You take out insurance because you want to protect your property from unforeseen events that might damage or destroy it. And you expect to be fairly compensated when you file an insurance claim.
But once you realize that your insurance company is a business and not a charity, and will prioritize their own best interests above yours, hiring a public adjuster makes a lot of sense.
Here are some of the main advantages of hiring a public adjuster:
- Looks after YOUR Best Interests
- Makes the Claim Process Less Stressful
- Helps You Fight a Bad Settlement Offer
- Saves You Time
- Cheaper Than Hiring an Attorney
- Negotiates on Your Behalf
- Likelihood of a Higher Settlement Offer
A licensed, experienced public adjuster can assist you to overcome the challenges of managing your homeowners insurance claim.
Avner Gat, Inc. has 17+ years of experience as a public adjuster in Southern California. We protect homeowners from the games and fine print that insurance companies are known for.
Call Avner now at (818) 917-5256 to find out how we can assist you.
