There are few incidents in the life of a homeowner or business owner that are more traumatic than theft and vandalism.
Just imagine: You return home after a long and trying day at work–or perhaps you arrive at your business early one morning, ready to start the day–and you notice right away that you’ve been robbed. Maybe your door has been kicked in or broken open. Maybe your plate glass windows have been smashed with bricks.
Whatever the scenario, it’s likely to lead to feelings of fear, anger, and vulnerability. But at the very least, those of you who’ve purchased theft and vandalism coverage from your insurance company will be able to get your damages repaired and your stolen items replaced. Right?
Getting Your Theft & Vandalism Claim Paid Might Not be Easy
Well … not necessarily. Because unfortunately, it’s not always that easy. It’s important to keep in mind that no matter how long you’ve been with your current insurance company, and regardless of how loyal a client you may be, the unfortunate truth of the matter is that your insurance company does not want to pay you. That’s because insurance companies can only make a profit when what they pay out in claims is less than what they bring in through premiums. It’s a simple matter of business.
In fact, believe it or not, nearly all insurance companies employ people whose job involves figuring out how to pay the lowest amount possible in claims. That’s why you need a public adjuster when filing a complicated insurance claim. And make no mistake: Theft and vandalism claims are some of the most complicated claims there are.
Why Do I Need a Public Adjuster?
To put it in the simplest of terms, the job of a public adjuster is to make sure your insurance company pays you, assuming you’ve filed a legitimate claim. Public adjusters don’t work for insurance companies–they work only for you. They’ll help you fill out complicated forms. They’ll make sure you file the proper paperwork. And they’ll make sure you don’t make the sort of mistakes that can lead to you not receiving any money on your claim at all.
Why Are Theft & Vandalism Claims So Complicated?
One reason it can be so complicated to file a theft & vandalism claim is because so many policyholders file claims for thefts that never happened. As a result, you can expect your insurance company to make you jump through numerous hoops after filing a claim before you ever see a penny.
You’ll have to prove that you owned the items that you claim were stolen, for instance. You’ll need to give proof of their value. You’ll also have to provide proof of any property damage–broken windows, doors, or locks, for instance–that may have occurred during the incident.
Proving Your Claim with the Help of an Insurance Adjuster
To prove that you truly owned the items you claim were stolen or vandalized, you’ll need to provide a good amount of documentation. That often means credit card statements and receipts, but it could also be videos or pictures, or even appraisals or insurance policy endorsements.
The bottom line is that the more documentation you can provide, the better.
Insurance companies are generally not in the business of making it easy for you to prove your claim, which is another reason you’ll want to have a public adjuster on your side. Your adjuster will know exactly what the insurance companies will want to see, and they’ll know exactly how the documentation will need to be filed.
With a public adjuster working for you, your chance of having your theft and vandalism claim approved will be increased exponentially. It’s really that simple. We understand the jargon insurance companies use, and we understand the often-confusing legalities that appear in insurance policies just like the one you probably have. Our expertise, in other words, means a larger payment for you.
To Get Your Life or Business Back in Order, Contact Us Today
We understand that theft and vandalism can wreak havoc on your personal life or your business, and that you want nothing more than to get things back in order as soon as possible after such an event occurs.
Our professional insurance adjusters are thoroughly qualified, and ready to complete the work that needs to be done before your claim can be filed and approved. Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Your home life or business will be operating as usual before you know it.
If your home or your business has suffered a loss, please call our experts at (305) 956-3666 or visit www.piccfla.com for a FREE claim analysis with PICC.
Comments