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If you find damage to your vehicle after a hurricane, contact your insurance company immediately. Most insurance companies have staff in the claims department available 24 hours a day. They can usually schedule a rental car immediately as long as you have rental car coverage on your policy. Though car claims are not as frequent as property claims during a hurricane because most people use them to drive away to safety, rental car companies can run out of available cars quickly. By calling immediately, you can get ahead of the others looking for a rental car.
Take pictures of the damage to your property. In an area hit with a hurricane, it may take the insurance company longer to handle your claim. Meanwhile, you have a responsibility to mitigate further damages. You must cover broken windows on the vehicle or put a tarp over holes in the roof of your home to prevent rain or animals from causing further damage. Do not, however, put yourself in danger trying to protect the car or property. Only do what is reasonable and safe. -
The best hurricane claim tip is applicable before you have a claim. Take a video tour of your house, and record all your belongings. Give that tape to someone who lives away from you. This will ensure you don't forget about items when making your claim. If you haven't made the video, close your eyes and mentally go through each room. Write down all of the items you can remember. Look at friends or family members' pictures taken in your house to see if there are items in the background you might have missed. Don't forget out-of-site items such as bed linens, vacuums, etc.
Most insurance companies include food-spoilage coverage in a homeowner's policy. There usually is a set limit. The standard range is $300 to $500 per appliance. Be sure to include that amount when making your claim. You might think that with all your other damage, the food is a small worry. However, all the little condiments and other items in your freezer or refrigerator add up quickly when you need to replace them. Let your insurance company help you recoup your losses. - Keep all receipts for expenses in one safe place. Save receipts for every purchase. Expenses such as hotels are usually covered in most homeowner's insurance policies. Did you know that food and toiletries should be covered as well? Medicines might be included in that cost. Maybe even entertainment items such as books or movies. Insurance companies will require the receipt to process the claim, so save everything. Keep in mind they will only pay what is reasonable, so don't spend thousands of dollars buying designer shoes and purses and expect to be reimbursed.
