Insurance Claims Help & ServicesFor Insurance Claim Disputes, Independent Appraiser, Insurance Appraisal Process, and Appraisal Umpire Services!

It probably will not surprise you to learn that some insurance companies will give customers a hard time when it comes to submitting fire insurance claims. Such actions will usually create a dispute between the parties that can sometimes get ugly. If you want to avoid further frustration you should consider hiring a fire damage appraiser. This professional makes it much harder for the insurance company to refuse to pay up for legitimate damages.

Many may believe that engineers, construction experts, and legal expert witnesses who testify about fire forensics can all serve as damage appraisers for fire claims. However, you should truly consider someone who understands insurance disputes and the insurance appraisal process before jumping the gun and choosing an unqualified person. Your policy has a clause called Appraisal that allows each party to hire an independent appraiser to assess the damages on their behalf. The appraisers then will choose a third party called an umpire. If you fail to hire someone that is an expert in this process you can suffer greatly. Being that the outcome of appraisal is “binding,” on both parties, you may be stuck with a bad ruling if you do not have an experienced appraiser.

Once you have found an expert you need to know what type of appraisal report they provide. A good report will thoroughly delineate all types of damage from the fire including heat damage, smoke damage, and problems with air quality, mold, etc. A good report from an independent appraiser will contain lots of photos that prove your claim and prove the documents, estimates, and costs related to the fire. In a situation where a large amount of contents were lost, it should also include a loss inventory that will jar your memory about forgotten or missing items. In addition, there is a difference in cost between repairing and replacing items and structures, and the independent appraiser will be able to testify to this.

If your fire claim is missing information or contains information that is untrue, it is much more likely to be rejected. It is well worthwhile to pay a one time fee to hire an expert in order to avoid greater loss from rejected claims. It will automatically be assumed that a claim that contains an expert report is more accurate than one which does not. Is it not better to have your claim accepted the first time around?

Using a professional fire damage appraiser makes it much more likely that your fire insurance claims will be accepted from the get go. The insurance company will find it difficult to state that your claim is incomplete or false when a professional has helped you. Hiring a fire damage appraiser can really make things go much easier when it comes to fire insurance claims.

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To the highest degree all people purchase an insurance policy  – whether it is homeowners insurance or another – without reflecting much about what they are actually purchasing. The most common thing is the premium or the cost one pays. Premium is the biggest cause of the insurance coverage purchase that seems to concern most people. When it comes to other basics of the insurance product people buy, the concerns are usually absent. Many purchasers seem to think that the policy we shop for is the same, no matter which company you buy it from. This attitude is based from a fundamental misunderstanding of what an insurance product is – and how the insurance underground is functioning. It can also cause insurance disputes.

Of course it is of the utmost importance not to pay more for any insurance products than is necessary. However, on occasion we are unaware of the coverage we have with our property until we file a claim. That is when you discover that there was not an efficient amount of coverage available for the loss. Unfortunately, many people find this out after it’s too late. Such large loss claims like fire or flooding can lead to very costly repairs in the tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Owners of motorcycles, boats or motor-homes can be surprised to learn that neither their homeowners policy nor their auto insurance policy covers them for any damage affiliated with such property.

Non-traditional (or inland marine as some are called) policies is a custom sector of insurance. Such type of insurance deals with property and items that would not traditionally fall under the typical property or automobile insurance policies. Such items include boats, snowmobiles, ATV’s and non commercial watercraft. You will find that your current insurance company does not issue coverage for these types of goods, in this case you should inquire about a specialty insurance company.

Accidents happen, be it in your home, car or even riding our ATV. By making sure you have adequate coverage we can prevent a small accident from causing a financial nightmare. Imagine having a large fire or tornado claim that cost $250,000… and only being covered for $150,000. We encounter such tragic events everyday when we assist families with their insurance disputes. Educating yourself about your policy can protect you from costly situations at a later date.

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Not only are people confused about lightning strike damage claims, many do not even realize that their insurance policy covers lightning strike damages. Lightning can damage the electrical system, cause damages to roofing and framing, can penetrate and damage brick chimneys, and can enter a building and damage finishes like carpet, tile, walls, cabinets, and more. Lightning can also tople trees that fall on homes and buildings, and worse, cause serious fires. It’s bad enought to have had  damage caused by lightning, without having to fight with your insurance company about the damages.

Lightning usually strikes the highest elevation above the ground, but can “run” or jump to adjacent objects, such as houses, power lines, or even people or animals. Most lightning strikes enter homes and buildings through the electrical system. Such strikes can cause a multitude of issues to your home or building… that are sight unseen. Insurance compaies are infamouse for leaving unseen damages out of their estimates. If they can’t see it, they’re covinced it must not be damaged. Lightning can damage underground water lines, underground electical systems, sprinkler systems, and even foundations. Sometimes convincing the insurance company that there was no problems with these items prior to the lightning storm is a daunting task.

When it comes to lightning strike claims many people find themselves disagreeing with the estimate and analysis from their insurance company adjuster. Most of the time the insurance company’s estimate is much lower than estimates provided by local contractors. What can a policyholder do when this happens? How do you fight back? How do you find help in such a situation?

Almost all policyholders are unaware of a very powerful clause in their policy that allows then to invoke The Insurance Appraisal Process. For many insurance claim disputes the only available option to resolve such disagreements is a clause buried in the “Conditions” and/or “What to do after a loss,” sections of the insurace policy. It’s called The Appraisal Clause – also know as The Appraisal Provision.

More information is available about lightning strike claims by contacting Insurance Claims Group, Inc.  They will provide a FREE Consultation and Free Claim File Review. They can analyze your claim, your policy, the insurance company estimates, and your contractors bids to let you know where you stand. Is their more money available in your policy? Has the adjuster or contractor left out items that are covered? Be in the “Know,” and don’t be pushed around.  You didin’t let the lightning stop you… why let the insurance company?

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Independent insurance appraisers provide an unbiased evaluation of claim damage based upon what the policy provides. Individuals and businesses purchase insurance policies to protect against monetary losses. In the event of a loss, policyholders submit claims, or requests for payment, seeking compensation for their loss. When a disagreement on the amount the repairs will cost arises; each party can hire an independent appraiser via he insurance appraisal clause.

Their main role is to investigate claims, negotiate settlements, and reach an agreement on the amount of loss. Some even investigate claims by interviewing the claimant and witnesses, consulting police and hospital records, and inspecting property damage to determine how much the company should pay for the loss. They may consult with other professionals, such as accountants, architects, construction workers, engineers, lawyers, and physicians, who can offer a more expert evaluation of a claim. The information gathered—including photographs and statements, either written, or recorded audio or video—is set down in a report that is then used to evaluate the claim.

When is the right time to hire an independent appraiser?

An independent appraiser is not needed until you actually have a dispute. Most of the time an independent appraiser is needed hen serious damages occur from fire, floods, earthquake,tornados, lightning strikes and hail.  If you want an independent opinion or are having problems collecting money on your loss, you can consult with an Independent Insurance Appraiser to determine if you should consider the appraisal process.

If you find your self in this unfortunate situation, Insurance Claims Group, Inc. provides a Free Insurance Claim Review.

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Many homeowners really don’t understand how important flood insurance is until it is too late. The most important thing to realize is that even if you are not required per your homeowners insurance policy to carry flood insurance, that dosen’t mean you are immune to flooding and flood damage claims.  The FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) states that 25-30% of flood damage actually takes place in areas that only have low to moderate risk of flooding.  Flood damage repair can cost more than a house is worth.  In order to avoid this tragic loss, consider purchasing flood insurance.

What is your risk
Virtually no home is immune from flood damage claims, but each has it’s own risk.  Some homes on the coast are at high risk with routine hurricanes and floods.  Other homes may be further inland, but dams, lakes, and rivers still provide a big risk.  There is a map available through FEMA that you can check your own risk on.  Still, although these maps are fairly correct and well researched, there is no such thing as a 10)% guarantee that your home will not be damaged by a flood.  There is always that ‘fluke of nature’ that not one person at FEMA can predict, and you will need adequate coverage beforehand.

Get Quotes
Before purchasing flood insurance from your home, you may want to consider getting multiple estimates to get the best coverage and price.  Get a variety of quotes from different providers, because they differ vastly.  Sometimes, one quote may be double the price of another for the same exact location and property.  Find out what the competition is before adding flood coverage onto your homeowners insurance policy.

Purchase the Policy
Once you have found the quote you want to go with, you have two options.  First, is talking to your insurance agent to make the final arrangements.  If you are going with the same company that has your home insurance, that would be the easiest.  You may be able to get  bulk discount, if you have several services there like homeowners and auto insurance.  You could also go with an online vendor.  Online insurance sites are growing in popularity and a great option for good coverage.  That requires filling out a form online and submitting it.  You will be notified if you are approved.  This is a great option for those who want to add flood insurance without having to take time out of your day to meet with an agent.

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Home insurance covers a variety of things that can go wrong in a home.  A fire damage claim is one of them, that can cause tragedy by losing personal belongings that are irreplaceable.  When fire damage happens, there is often not just fire damage, but water damage caused by:

1. Fireman’s efforts to put out the fire by using fire hoses
2. Broken water pipes that burst from the high temperatures

Although the loss may be from fire damage, another side effect of the water damage is that a restoration crew may be needed to clean up the mold left afterwards.  Any time there is water damage, mold can and usually does occur as a side effect. Most mold can grow in less than 24 hours.  A restoration team then needs to come in an address any mold issues associated with the loss.

The restoration crew will set up a time to come to the location to assess the fire damage first.  They would include many things in this assessment, like what type of damage has been done by the fire and water and which areas will need to have mold cleaned.  Although this is not as simple as it seems, hiring the right crew should make it a very easy job.  A very complete site inspection should be done.

Once the inspection of site has been completed and repairs that need to be completed is recognized, the next thing to do would be to find the main source of the problem.  For example, the electrical or plumbing may have been of inferior quality, or just located too closely to the fire.  The restoration team would now proceed with repairs.

Once the assessment is completed, the team would need to move on to cleaning up the damage by the water first.  This includes:

1. Removing traces of toxic airborne particles by using air filtering and fogging techniques
2. Clearing trash and debris from un-salvageable items
3. Using a pump to get standing water out of the building

There could be a heavy mold buildup if the damage was extensive or a lot of time has passed before clean up.  There is a specific set of steps that go with the clean up process for mold.  These steps include:

1. Finding heavy moisture areas in the house and determine reason for moisture
2. Finding out if rooms have enough ventilation to control moisture levels
3. Determining levels of mold to find out how intensive of a treatment is required
4. Identifying the type of mold and levels of toxicity.

Some types of mold are very dangerous and can cause illness or death. Restoration and repair for water damage can be a very time consuming and tedious task, but having a proper team with experience will make you feel much more comfortable that the damages are being assessed properly.

If you have experienced a fire and are going through a fire damage claim, we can help you.

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Natural disasters can change the face of the world. Believe it or not, the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the United States was located in Missouri, not California. This earthquake was so powerful that it actually changed the Mississippi River’s course. We do not have the power to stop them from happening, but we can do a much better job preparing ourselves from the consequences and protect ourselves from an insurance claims dispute.

Every state that borders the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, which is twenty states including Hawaii face hurricane threats on a yearly basis. The population of the United States continues to grow exponentially, and so does the threat of facing a catastrophe. Tornado, Hurricanes, Floods, and Earthquakes happen all over the United States.

Home values have decreased in some areas that have a lot of natural disasters. Most homeowners have a large amount of their money tied up in their homes. This puts them at huge risk with their finances. Recent natural disasters, such as Hurricanes Rita and Katrina showed us that we are not prepared for natural disasters.

There are many great ideas to help Americans prepare for these natural disasters, and national coalitions like protectingamerica.org advocate these. These organizations are made up of first responders as well as emergency management officials.

One basic solution to this is the emergency of privately funded, but sponsored by government funds for catastrophe. This money would accumulate before a disaster occurred, and is a combination of insurance premiums and government money. This way, the states can fund their own restoration from natural disasters. If property owners can’t be covered by one state, then the federal government would step in. Money would be designated for this one purpose, and could grow every year it wasn’t used.

Another solution includes training and strengthening first responders, better land use policies, and better building codes. A better solution is not going to happen overnight, so here is what you can do in the meantime to prepare yourself:

1. Familiarize yourself with your town’s disaster plans and come up with a family disaster plan.
2. Create an emergency supply kit that has plenty of nonperishable food, can opener, paper plates and utensils, lots of bottled water, first-aid kids, flashlight and radio, and plenty of batteries
3. Put everything important in water and fire proof containers; wills, insurance policies, passports, birth certificates, financial information, phone numbers, etc.
4. Create a video inventory of your personal property and keep as many receipts as possible.

As stated earlier, “We do not have the power to stop Natural Disaters from happening, but we can do a much better job preparing ourselves from the consequences and protect ourselves from an insurance claims dispute.

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An increasing number of insurance policyholders have found themselves involved deeply in an insurance dispute about claim damage. Insurance disputes can be financially devastating. A common feeling of most policyholders is that insurance companies are there to actually help them in times of need. Sometimes, that is completely true, however with larger claims, it can feel like you are being taken advantage of.

A house fire, tornado, tree through the roof, or busted pipe can cause large amounts of damage to a home and it’s belongings. People often feel reassured because they have homeowners insurance coverage or business owners insurance. That relief could be premature. Yes, your damages are covered by your insurance policy, but how much will your company pay versus what you have to pay out of pocket?

The policyholder often thinks that if they have been with a company for a number of years and never submitted claim, they will get a fair settlement. It should be that easy. You pay timely premiums, you find a good contractor and submit your claim properly, and it should be paid. However, larger claims dig deeper into the insurance company’s pockets. With more to pay out, any policyholders find out that they are NOT “in good hands,” the insurance company is NOT always “on your side,” and “like a good neighbor… there NOT always there.”

Everyone wants to believe that they will be taken care of in a time of need. That is not always true with more costly claims. These large claims become a huge, costly battle over what should and shouldn’t be replaced or repaired. Many insurance companies do wish to take care of their clients and give them a fair claim settlement for the needed repairs. Unfortunately, there are just as many companies who will do everything in their power to protect themselves financially… instead of protecting and taking care of their clients.

Not many policyholders are aware that there is a clause within their policy that protects them from insurance company greed. It’s called the insurance Appraisal Clause. The clause has a set process to settle insurance disputes that involve the “amount of loss.” If the two parties have two separate estimates and different opinions on how much money it will take to complete repairs or replacement, appraisal is the next step.

Appraisal settles disputes about damage to your home or property. If you suffer a natural disaster that destroys your home, the insurance company will send an adjuster. Disputes begin for many reasons. However, as an example, let’s say the adjuster estimates a fire damage claim at $300,000. Your contractor gives an estimate to repair the damage for $450,000. Obviously there is a dispute on the “amount of loss.” This results in a dispute between the two parties for both repairs and damages. An agreement can not be reached, as neither party is willing to budge. At that time, either party can demand appraisal in writing. Each party must appoint an Independent Appraiser to settle the insurance dispute.

For a more detailed breakdown of the Insurance Appraisal Process policyholders can educate themselves and obtain insurance dispute assistance from Insurance Claims Group.

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More and more policyholders have been finding themselves involved with an insurance dispute over their claim damage. A settlement dispute from an insurance claim can be devestating. Most people believe that their insurance company will be there to help them. In many cases that is 100% acurate. However, with larger, more complex, and more costly claims it can feel like you have your pants down around your ankles.

A large fire, water from a boken pipe, tornado, or tree on the house can cause severe, high dollar damages to a building and its contents. Policyholders immidiatley think, “Thank the lord we’re covered.” Well, not so fast. Sure, you have a policy, and you’re covered for the damages, but, how much will the insurance company pay compared to what the damages will cost to repair. Most policyholder’s often say, “I’ve been with this insurance company for 45-years and never once submitted a claim.” It should be simple, right? You’ve paid your bills all this time, you submit a bid from a reputable contractor, now the insurance company should pay it!

Hmmmm, more and more on larger, more costly claims, that begin to dig deep into the insurance companies bottom line, it doesn’t seem to be that easy. We’d like to believe that our insurance company will be there to take care of us in our time of need. However, many are not, especially with larger claims. Larger claims can become a battle over what should be replaced and what the insurance company believes can be saved and repaired. In my career as a claims professonal I have found that many insurance companies truly wish to take care of their policyholders and provide them with the maximum amount of money their policy will allow.

I’ve also found that there are just as many insurance companies that go out of their way to find ways not to pay policyholders all that they deserve on their claims. The Insurance Appraisal Process can be complicated unless you choose a competent, experienced appraiser that understands all aspects of the insurance appraisal clause, as well as all aspects of Insurance Appraisal Services. First, a brief overview of the insurance appraisal clause. Appraisal is a clause within most insurance policies that allows a process to settle insurance claim disputes. The claim disputes may be about damage to buildings or property.

Let’s say that a policyholder suffers a flood, fire, or tornado to their structure. The insurance company sends an adjuster who determines the damages to be $200,000. However, the policyholder has a contractor that has provided an estimate for $325,000. A dispute between the two parties has begun in both the cost of repairs and the scope of damages. An agreement on the costs cannot be reached. Either the insurance company or the policyholder now has the right to demand appraisal via written request. To resolve such disputes, each party must choose an insurance appraiser. Insurance Appraisal Services is what we do.

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