If you have an insurance claim, your insurance company may request that you submit a proof of loss form. A proof of loss form is a document that you’re providing to the insurance company, which you’re saying represents what your claim is for. This form provides a roadmap to the insurance company of what is involved with your claim. Therefore, before you sign a Proof of Loss, here are three things that you should consider:
1. Make Sure It Is Accurate
Therefore, before you sign a Proof of Loss, you want to make sure that all of the information that you’re providing in that form is accurate. The Proof of Loss usually asks for the following information on your claim: 1) what caused the damage, 2) what date the damage occurred on, 3) what time the damage occurred, 4) who has an interest in your property (Do you have a mortgage? Is there a co-owner?), 5) any changes in the ownership or the occupancy of the property, and 6) the cost of repairing the damages associated with the claim. When you are filling out the form, double check that all of the information that you’re provided is correct, especially the date that the loss occurred and the cause of the damage. These things are hard to correct later once they have already been sworn to on a Proof of Loss form.
2. Make Sure You Understand Any Estimates
If you have an estimate from a contractor or from a public adjuster that you are using to support what the costs of your damages are, you want to make sure that you understand what is in that estimate before you include it on your Proof of Loss form. Once you sign that form, you are saying that this estimate represents your claim. Before you sign, make sure that there’s nothing in the estimate that is to repair damages that pre-dated your claim, and that there’s nothing in the estimate that you disagree with.
3. Make Sure the Proof of Loss Encompasses Your Full Claim
You also want to ensure that the Proof of Loss encompasses all aspects of your claim. Your policy usually provides different types of coverages: Coverage A – Dwelling, Coverage B – Other Structures, Coverage C – Personal Propery, Coverage D – Loss of Use. Frequently, when people complete a Proof of Loss, they focus only on Coverage A repairs to the dwelling. However, if you have other damages, you should include those on your Proof of Loss as well, such as personal property damage to your furniture. Likewise, if you have kitchen damage, and you are having to eat out, include those costs on the Proof of Loss and provide all of your receipts with the form. You can include all aspects of the claim on one Proof of Loss, or you can submit multiple Proof of Loss forms for each of the different types of coverage that are at issue.
Those are three (3) things you want to be careful about when you’re submitting a Proof of Loss form. If you have any questions about filling out a Proof of Loss, or about your insurance claim in general, please contact the Stockham Law Group, where we’re always happy to give practical advice and experienced representation.
For further questions, please feel free to contact Kelly Fantetti at 813-867-4455 or [email protected]