Do you want to file for claims against your renter’s insurance? This article will help you on how you can claim for damages and liability in the event of a covered peril happening.
When we talk about filing claims against your renter’s insurance, it depends on the type of policy you have availed. Under the renter’s insurance, you can claim for damages on your personal property, liability claim, and property loss due to theft. Even before you file the claim, it is essential to have a complete list of all the inventory you own. It is especially important to take stock of the loss to your personal belongings in the event of a fire or any other covered peril happening. Let’s take a detailed look at the various steps to be followed while filing for a claim in all three scenarios. We will also briefly explain what remedies are available to the renter if the claim gets denied.
Filing for claims under the renter’s Insurance.
Before filing the claim, there are specific steps you will need to follow irrespective of the type of claim you are applying for. Be prepared with the key points mentioned below to facilitate the easy and quick processing of your claim.
- In the event of theft, fire, flooding, or vandalism of the property, inform the local authorities like the fire or police department, and get a copy of the police report.
- Start taking note of the damages to the property. Do this once you feel it is safe to enter the damaged premises. Make sure you take pictures, so you have proof of the extent of the damage.
- Call your insurance agent to let him know of the situation. Some of the insurance companies might come for a site inspection to assess the injuries themselves.
- Alternatively, you could also initiate the claim through the online portal of the insurance company. Today you also have the facility of starting the claims via mobile apps.
- You might be required to fill out the documentation requested by the insurer.
Now we take a detailed look at the claim processing in each of the different scenarios.
Claim for Property Damages
In case your belongings are damaged due to fire, theft, or any other covered peril, you can claim for property damage. The most common risks that are covered by a typical renter’s insurance include fire and lightning, hail, wind, explosions, theft, vandalism, water damages due to water leakage from pipes inside your home, damages due to mold infestation, volcanoes, falling objects, snow or ice collapse, etc. Refer to the terms of your policy deed before you apply for the claim.
Do a careful and detailed assessment of what items were damaged in the mishap. Claim processing tends to be a lot easier if you can come up with the relative value of the goods that are damaged. Keep this information handy when the insurer comes for the inspection. If the adjuster finds the case is clean and your claim is justified. The reimbursement can happen within a few days. The refund may be delayed if the adjuster feels the claims made are not in line with his inspection report. You might be required to deliberate further, in that case, to make your argument clear.
Loss of personal property
When you lose your belongings in theft, you can follow the same steps as above only that you will not have the headache of assessing the damage. However, you will have to file a complaint with the police department and get a copy of the report. You will need to submit a copy of the report with the insurer. An official police report on the theft will give all the legitimacy to your claim, and the adjuster can smoothly proceed with your claim processing. Also, remember to file your complaint as soon as the crime has taken place. A delay in filing the claim will raise unnecessary doubts in the minds of your insurer.
Claim for third party damages or liability claims
This claim is quite different from all the other types of claims. It requires more evidence on the injury that happened to another person while he/she was at your premises. If the person was injured at your home, it is essential to take note the extent of the injury, the date on which the incident happened, details on how the accident occurred, and if there are any witnesses to the accident. Here the injured will apply for the claim with your insurer, and if all goes well, they settle. If not, the case will be filed with the court. However, the legal expenses will be paid for by your insurer. In the worst scenario, if you lose the case, the settlement will be paid out of your insurance.
The points we discussed above pretty much covers all the details concerning your renter’s insurance claim process. Should you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments section below.