When people say that they have to fight with the insurance company over a home insurance claim, they generally mean that the insurance company is not honoring it when they believe they should. Maybe the insurance company is telling them that they will pay far less than is actually necessary. Maybe the claim has been denied entirely, and the person has been told that they will not cover it. Either way, it’s going to take some time to sort through it.
This is obviously very frustrating because you just want to get your home fixed. But it can also be problematic because the issues with your home can get worse if the insurance company drags their feet and takes a long time getting you the money that you deserve.
Issues with a leaky roof
For example, it is well-known that leaks in the roof can cause extensive damage through the rest of your house. Even a small amount of water getting in could cause rot and mildew, could lead to the spread of black mold, could cause discoloration and cracks in the ceiling and can even make plaster and drywall ceilings collapse. You may also see water damage as it moves down the walls and throughout the home. Rest assured, any evidence of damage that you see on the outside is far worse where you can’t see.
So, if a storm sweeps in and shingles are torn from your roof, but then the insurance company refuses to fix them, you could run into all sorts of compounding issues in the days and weeks to come. Maybe the storm isn’t over, maybe it begins to rain a few days later and all of a sudden your damage is compounded exponentially. It could take a relatively small home insurance claim, and make it exceptionally large, which is a problem if your insurance company was already trying to deny you.
Moving quickly
You can see how important it is to move quickly through this process and to ensure that the company actually pays you the money that you are owed with your policy. When this gets complicated, you need to know about the legal options you have.