by srnj2011 » Wed Dec 05, 2012 03:24 pm
We had damage from Sandy to our roof...Shingles flew off and we had leak in roof. Tried calling insurance but couldnt get through for long time. We fixed shingles as we had to travel and there was to be a snow storm soon.
We replaced our roof after coming back from travel. A friend told us that we could still file insurance claim. Will our claim be accepted? We have taken pictures of roof damage.
We replaced our roof after coming back from travel. A friend told us that we could still file insurance claim. Will our claim be accepted? We have taken pictures of roof damage.
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 02:49 am Post Subject:
Without knowing whether or not your policy language provides coverage for this event in the first place; the fact that you went ahead and performed those repairs (under these circumstances) might not necessarily disqualify you from coverage. Although the carrier could claim prejudice because evidence of the damages were cleaned up (i.e. spoiled) or because you did not use an approved contractor or materials, I think the events surrounding Sandy were unprecedented and your inability to get through to your carrier’s claims department is definitely a decisive factor. Moreover, you have a duty to mitigate your damages and your repair of the roof out of concern with preventing further damages reflects the fulfillment of that duty
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 07:54 am Post Subject:
Moreover, you have a duty to mitigate your damages and your repair of the roof out of concern with preventing further damages reflects the fulfillment of that duty
This is perhaps the most misunderstood aspect of homeowners insurance. Some irresponsible homeowners would say, "Well, I can't get through to the insurance company, so I'll just let the rain keep coming in, and they'll have to replace more of my stuff."
The OP here did what they are contractually obligated to do -- prevent the claim/damage from getting worse. While the insurance company may have been deprived of the ability to thoroughly assess the damage and determine what it was willing to pay for the loss, with photos of the damage, and documentation of the materials used to repair the roof, the insurer should simply overlook the sequence of events, pay the claim in full without question, and be thankful they are doing business with the right client.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 10:46 am Post Subject:
Yes You Can claim your amount this is not late. you have photo proof for that damage right then you can proceed further...
[Link removed - Admin]
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 02:01 pm Post Subject:
The policy states that repairs can be made to protect from further damage. Usually this means minor or temp repairs. As mentioned, the carrier can always claim there was little to no damage. You can argue the photos all day long but the carrier has every right to inspect the damaged property. If the photos don't clearly show that the roof had to be replaced as well as the age of the roof, then you could have issues.
I'm no buying that you could not reach the carrier. Perhaps you did not want to wait on hold for several minutes. Could tamp repairs, such as a tarp, been used? It's not like you can simply get a contractor out in a day right have a hurricane to replace a roof. You kept trying to reach your carrier in the meantime?
I could simply take a few photos of some damage on my roof, have the entire roof replaced and then submit a claim for this. Carriers tend to think people are pulling a fast one when they are not allowed to understand the extent of the damage before it's completely repaired.
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 06:17 pm Post Subject:
To the poster above who says "I'm no[t] buying that you could not reach the carrier."
You are, quite simply, absolutely wrong.
It has been nearly impossible for many, many, MANY people to reach their insurance companies post-Sandy. There are dozens of newspaper articles, and hundreds of blogs, online chronicling this. And it's not limited to a few carriers, or a few states.
I myself was calling and emailing my carrier daily, and heard nothing for the first week. After that, we got the same story every day: "we'll assign you an adjuster soon". It took over three weeks to get an adjuster to the house. Between the storm and that visit, the insurance would commit to NOTHING. They wouldn't help us one bit in deciding how we should properly proceed.
So, you are absolutely incorrect. And having had the experience I've just had, I find your post very insulting!
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 04:53 pm Post Subject:
There are dozens of newspaper articles, and hundreds of blogs, online chronicling this. And it's not limited to a few carriers, or a few states.
I don't doubt that this statement is true. But the truth may be different than the statement. Very few newspaper or TV reporters do what was once called "Fact checking." In a former professional life as a photojournalist in the 1970s, I learned to do my fact checking before I wrote a story. Today, the rush is to be the first one to break the story, to post it online. Whether it's right or not, doesn't seem to matter anymore.
Anyone can say or post anything they want in anonymity these days. That doesn't make what they have to say the truth and it doesn't mean it's a lie, but it makes it impossible to prove or disprove. I give everyone here my name and license number and you can find me if you choose to look. I am not anonymous.
And widespread, catastrophic events are difficult for all of us to comprehend. The fact that Hurricane Sandy had such devastating consequences in so many places, tasks not only insurance companies in ways they cannot adequately staff in advance, but it challenges the US government, state and local governments, the Red Cross, churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples. We are all impacted by it. I haven't been able to reach some (non-insurance) companies that had offices located in the path of Sandy -- I don't know if they're even in business anymore. But we know that's not true of all such companies.
. . . heard nothing for the first week. After that, we got the same story every day: "we'll assign you an adjuster soon". It took over three weeks to get an adjuster to the house.
I don't suppose you were the only person trying to contact the insurance company. I don't suppose the insurance company had any problems of its own. I don't suppose there were other persons insured by your insurance company who also wanted their claim handled immediately.
Calling "every day" does not help. It actually makes things worse. For everyone. Did you think about the other person who could not get through because you were calling "every day"? I am on your side, but now you are acting and sounding like a spoiled child.
Between the storm and that visit, the insurance would commit to NOTHING.
And, without seeing the damage, to what would you want them to commit?
Have you ever applied for a job? You send in an application believing you are the best person for the position. Until they call you for an interview, would you say, "Between the time I sent in my application for the job and the interview, the employer would commit to NOTHING"? Of course not!
Now put yourself in the position of the employer. If you were the employer, what would you think about that statement? It is ridiculous.
Insurance companies have only limited resources when it comes to dealing with catastrophic claims such as those resulting from Hurricane Sandy. And they try to do the best they can with the resources they have. Everyone will be dissatisfied in one way or another. What right to priority do you have? What makes your claim more important than that of your next door neighbor. Your home was not underwater. Don't you think some of those folks in Battery Park might have been a little more important to help sooner?
We now live in a culture of immediacy. Instant gratification is all around us in movies and TV. Something happens and bits and pieces of information can be posted online within minutes, and it distorts our perspective. How many people complained that they had no cell phone service or Internet access for days?
How many of you can remember life without a cell phone or the Internet? Children in the second and third grade today are carrying cell phones or iPads. Why? What is so important about their lives that they need such things?
You have no reasonable expectation of being the first claim your insurance company will handle. Your only expectation is that they will handle the claim as soon as possible. But, in the meantime, you have a responsibility to prevent further losses. You don't have authority to make full repairs which obligate the insurance company.
As tcope wrote, simply covering the roof with waterproof tarps may have been sufficient enough. You went beyond that. And now, because of it, your claim has been made more complicated than it should be. Your fault or the insurance company's? Be honest.
Your post makes it sound like you took an opportunity to replace an entire roof. That may not have been a reasonable thing to do. Your insurance company needed to investigate the claim to determine what portion it should pay.
If your evidence shows that the entire roof needed to be replaced, so be it. But if the damage was limited to just a couple of squares of shingles, the answer is no, they don't have to pay for the excess.
And having had the experience I've just had, I find your post very insulting!
No one here is trying to insult you. We understand the experience you have had -- you are not the first one, or the only one, but this is probably your first experience like this. It will be for thousands of other property owners affected by Sandy.
Some of us, however, have had experience with people attempting to commit insurance fraud, and that tempers our comments. You are looking at the situation from only one side. We try to look at it from both sides.
You have to give tcope the benefit of his experience. He's certainly seen far more of this than you or I have. It's his work.
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 02:47 am Post Subject:
Holy cow, dude, you are a lunatic! Your post would just be hysterically funny. Except that you are a licensed insurance agent! I hope your potential clients read this here and run screaming from you!
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 05:47 am Post Subject:
you are a lunatic!
Why would you say that? The person who started this (Hurricane Sandy) portion of the discussion is upset because he/she did not get the service from the insurance company he/she expected. It wasn't that the insurance company ignored him/her, but it was the fact that he/she wasn't first in line to be served.
Catastrophic events such as this tax everyone's nerves and resources. The expression "Patience is a virtue" is best utilized under such circumstances. FEMA learned a lesson the hard way as the result of Hurricane Katrina when it comes to making a first response. The people of New Orleans deserved better from our government. Unfortunately, most of them were uninsured.
Insurance companies do a pretty good job most of the time, too. But they can become overwhelmed. When people (insureds) put the emphasis on "Me first!" they lose sight of the bigger picture, as this poster did. Although certainly significant, his/her damage was modest compared to that of the folks along the coastal regions whose homes were underwater to the second story roof line or more. He/She offered no condolences to them and their plight. His/her only concern was for him/herself. Understandable, but unjustifiable.
My comments were tempered and measured, and I stand by them, as I'm sure tcope does his. If you or someone else takes offense, well, you have that right, too.
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