How to Handle A Denied Homeowners Insurance Claim

The old poem goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” In some cases, April showers can also bring heavy rains, high winds and hail stones. Storms that carry these devastating effects can damage the roof, windows and siding on your house.

Your first move will be to file a claim with your homeowners insurance carrier. But what do you do if the carrier denies your legitimate claim? A denied homeowners insurance claim can cost you thousands of dollars in home repair bills. If you feel that your denied homeowners insurance claim was not fair, here are some steps you can take to recover your repair costs.

Read the Policy

Insurance policies are not easy to read or understand. However, if you can take the time to read through what your policy covers, you can find out more about why your denied homeowners insurance claim was turned down. Even if you have maintained your policy’s scheduled premium payments, you can be left with a denied homeowners insurance claim if the policy fails to cover storm damage, such as from wind, hail or downed trees.

Find the Reason

Most states require insurers to explain their reasons behind a denied homeowners insurance claim. The denial letter should specify the section of the policy that applies to the denied homeowners insurance claim, as well as the reasons the homeowner failed to comply this those terms. Reasons for a denied homeowners insurance claim can range from insufficient evidence for the damage to clerical errors in filing the claim.

File an Appeal

If you feel that the reasons behind your denied homeowners insurance claim were unfair or in error, you can file an appeal with the insurance carrier. The appeal will explain how you complied with the terms of the policy and why the denied homeowners insurance claim should be approved. Your appeal letter should also include a resolution date, typically 90 days from the letter’s date.

Consult an Attorney

If the insurer fails to respond to your appeal of the denied homeowners insurance claim, or if they persist in denying your claim, you can consult with an attorney. Experienced insurance attorneys can examine your denied homeowners insurance claim and determine if you have sufficient grounds to sue the insurer. An attorney will also know if similar cases against the insurer have been filed for similar reasons as part of any class-action lawsuits.

Pursue Legal Action

If the attorney feels that your denied homeowners insurance claim has the makings of a strong case, you can choose to pursue legal action against the insurer. The attorney can argue that you deserve compensation for the repair costs you incurred from your denied homeowners insurance claim, as well as interest, attorney’s fees and punitive damages.

Source: WRTV

Get Answers For Your Denied Homeowners Insurance Claim Questions

To find out how we can answer your questions about denied homeowners insurance claim lawsuits, contact one of our attorneys today. Our intake team will take down the details of your case and quickly connect you to an attorney who understands how to get the most from your denied homeowners insurance claim lawsuit. You can also fill out the “Free Case Evaluation” form at the top of this page.