How to Adjust an Insurance Claim Before Payoff
One problem with dealing with your insurance company is that you are rarely operating at your mental best. The very fact that you've suffered an insurance-worthy loss usually means you're under stress, sleeping poorly and possibly injured. Mistakes in your initial insurance claim are to be expected, and most insurance companies have a policy in place to help you make adjustments to a claim that's in process. The trick to doing this successfully is similar to filing your initial claim; be sure you can prove everything you tell your insurance company.
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Instructions
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Contact your claims adjuster as soon as you realize there was an error in your claim. You can usually do this up until you've signed or verbally agreed to accept an offered payment for your loss. In some cases -- check with your local laws and individual policy -- you can do this until you've cashed a check or received payment.
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Tell your adjuster in broad terms that you spotted an error, and that you will contact him shortly with details and documentation. Ask him to forward any specific forms or procedural descriptions your insurance company requires for this.
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Document your adjustment to the claim. You will need to describe how the situation is different from what you had initially reported, and the approximate cost of those differences. For example, you might report additional damage you discovered to your car in detail along with the estimate from your mechanic for repair.
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Provide evidence of all the new factors you're bringing to your insurance company's attention. Evidence can include things like photos, descriptions of loss, receipts for lost articles and invoices for repairs. The more proof you provide of the loss, the easier the adjustment to your claim will go.
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Be prepared to discuss why this information wasn't part of the original claim. Being hurt and frightened is a reasonable and common answer to this question. The key is to avoid sounding like you're using the new loss as a negotiating ploy. Insurance adjusters who suspect that are likely to "circle the wagons" and try to reject the new loss.
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Consider filing a new claim if your adjustment is denied. In some cases, you can treat the claim as a second loss, although it will likely be subject to a new deductible and affect your rates as multiple actions.
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Tips & Warnings
Often, your personal insurance agent is a valuable asset for navigating this problem. He earns money based on your continued business and may be more motivated to keep you happy than the claims adjuster in a call center.
Insurance contracts and law are complex. If you have any doubts about your claim, you should check with an insurance lawyer or trusted insurance agent.
Never falsify or exaggerate losses on your insurance claim. This is fraud, and can result in you serving federal time.
References
- "Property and Casualty Insurance License Exam Cram"; Bisys Educational Services; 2006
