Managing Your Theft Loss Insurance Claim
Dealing with theft, vandalism or a burglary? You’re not alone. According to FBI statistics, a theft or burglary occurs every 14.6 seconds.
Theft loss insurance claims can leave you feeling lost, stressed, and unsure of how to proceed with your insurance company. Luckily, a dedicated public adjuster can help simplify the process. A public adjuster is an individual who analyzes the loss of property and/or vandalism damage to your home. Your public adjuster helps you understand the entitlements of your policy. A public adjuster represents you and protects your interests – NOT the interests of the insurance company. Discover the difference by hiring a public adjuster for your theft loss insurance claim!
MANAGING YOUR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE THEFT CLAIM
So, you’ve arrived at your home and suspect that your house has been broken in to. Above all, do not go into your house. If you’ve entered, then please leave immediately. Avoiding the home is especially important because you don’t know if the thieves have left. Call the police from your cell phone or from a neighbor’s home line straightaway. Try not to touch anything until they arrive because the thieves may have left fingerprints. When the police arrive, you’ll want to make a list of all the items that have been taken, with a description of the item and its purchase value. Finally, make a duplicate copy of this list for your insurance company.
In the event of a theft, it’s essential to know what to expect and to have a plan in place. First, it’s important to know and document what you own. Save your receipts and record your purchases. This will make it easier to prove the value and your ownership of your possessions. Take inventory of your personal property, grouping items by category, value, location in the home, etc. Note of all items under your personal property insurance, including jewelry, art, collectibles, computers, televisions, gaming systems, etc. Take pictures of your items for your inventory to document the value and quality of each item. Once you have created an inventory, store the documents in a safe place like a secure online repository or a fire-proof box.
Filing an insurance claim is never easy, but it can get even more difficult if your car is involved in the incident. Your homeowners’ insurance policy will not cover a stolen car, even if that vehicle was stolen from your property. Theft or vandalism of your car would instead fall under the umbrella of your auto insurance policy. If you’re dealing with a loss of property in addition to a stolen vehicle, we recommend contacting a public adjuster. Our team has managed hundreds of claims, and we can help you coordinate between different insurance policies to ensure full compensation.
NOTIFY THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES AND FILE YOUR CLAIM
If you experience a burglary or theft, be sure to immediately document and report the damage or loss. Even if you don’t believe the item can be recovered or that the culprit can be caught, reporting the burglary to the police and filing a police report will help you with your claim. In fact, the initial police report will likely be the first thing your insurance provider looks at when evaluating your claim.
Once you have spoken with the police, call your insurance company to report your claim promptly. Your claims report should include the following information; where the property was purchased, when the property was purchased, what the item cost, the brand, and the model of your item. Be as specific as possible. Send your claims adjuster photos of the stolen or damaged items and be sure to keep any damaged property in case your adjuster needs to review it to complete your claim. It is crucial to cooperate with your insurance company during the investigation and/or inspection.
While your claim is active, review your policy often and be prepared when you need to use it! A thorough understanding of your policy will help you file your claim. Not sure if your policy covers your personal property? Check out our article “What to Know about Theft Claims”.
INVESTIGATE AND INSPECT
Insurance companies do not always require inspections. However, they may want to investigate or inspect your claim before issuing payment. An investigation will help the insurance company verify your claim and identify any additional documentation that may be helpful, for example, a copy of your police report. In an inspection, a field adjuster will come to your home to assess any physical damage.
When your claim is settled, you can expect to be reimbursed for your lost or damaged property as covered in your policy, minus your deductible, and any applicable depreciation. Your insurance company will provide you documentation regarding all aspects of the outcome of your claim, so be sure to keep a copy of this documentation for your records.
BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH A PUBLIC ADJUSTER FOR THEFT LOSS CLAIMS
Life doesn’t stop while the insurance company processes your claim. Unfortunately, most homeowners have ongoing responsibilities and cannot be available at all hours. In these situations, it is particularly useful to contact a public adjuster. Public adjusters are independent adjusters hired by homeowners to represent them in their dealings with their insurance company. We will act as your advocate, furthering your interests even when you cannot be in the room.
Our main objective is to get you paid every dollar you are owed under your policy. We will thoroughly investigate your policy to identify any limits or exclusions which may impact your compensation. We work on a contingency basis only, and our fees are based solely on a percentage of the claim payments we bring you. Therefore, we are motivated to bring you the maximum amount available under your policy in the shortest amount of time.
We save you time – We will manage your claim and minimize the time you spend dealing with your insurance company.
We even the playing field – As a result of years of claim experience, the public adjusters at Avner Gat, Inc. can help you read and interpret policies to determine your maximum entitlement.
Faster resolution – We can quickly organize the documentation to support the amount of your loss. We will present the evidence to your insurance company and can usually help you resolve your claim faster than if you were handling the claim yourself.
