Theft or burglary occurs every 14.6 seconds according to FBI statistics. in a case where it happens to an individual, he/she needs to know how to get his/her insurance claim filed quickly. Below is a list of things to expect.
How To Claim Insurance Theft
Prepare for the unexpected
Save receipts and document purchases. This will make things easier if the individual ever has to file an insurance claim for stolen items.
Take an inventory of personal property.
Go through stuff to get organized and make an inventory checklist grouped by category, value, a room at home, etc. where possible, the individual should keep the original sales receipts for these important items (especially if they are covered for Replacement Cost Value). The individual’s checklist should document all items under Coverage insurance such as:
- Oven, range, gas logs, and other major appliances
- Tablets, laptops, computers, televisions, gaming systems, and other electronics
- Jewelry, art, collectibles and other high-priced valuables
- Rarely-used items like holiday decor, seasonal sporting equipment, and tools
- Guns, knives, and other weapons
The individual also needs to take pictures of his/her things, create an inventory checklist, or make a video of his/her items; find a safe spot like a safe, online repository, or fire-proof box to store your records.
Here’s what to do right after being burglarized
- Take inventory of property damage or loss.
- Contact the police and file a police report.
- Call insurance company promptly and report the claim.
- Take photos of any structural or personal content damages.
- Work with the claims adjuster to review the insurance policy and police report.
- Cooperate with the insurance company during the investigation and/or inspection.
Filing claims
After filing a police report, call the insurance company promptly to report claims:
Using pre-made inventory sheet as a checklist will help quickly discern what is out of place or damaged.
The Claims report should include the following information about one’s damaged or stolen property:
- Where the item was purchased
- When your item was purchased
- What the item had cost
- What brand the item was
- What model the item was
And if the individual does have damaged property at home, he/she should n’t get rid of it. His adjuster may need to review it to complete the claim.
Usually, the individual’s adjuster will contact the individual within 24 hours after he/she have filed his/her claim. To expedite the claims process, the individual needs to have a copy of the insurance policy on hand when talking to his/her adjuster.
Investigation and Inspection
The individual’s insurance company may conduct an investigation and inspection of his/her claim before making payment.
An investigation will help the insurance company to verify the individual’s claim and identify any additional documentation that may be helpful (e.g. a copy of the police report).
In an inspection, a field adjuster will come to the individual’s house to assess any physical damage, though an inspection is not always required.
The final step
At the point when one’s claim is settled, he/she will be paid for the lost or damaged property covered by his/her policy, minus his/her deductible and any applicable depreciation. The individual’s deductible is the amount he/she chose to pay out of pocket. The individual’s insurance company will provide him/her the documentation regarding all aspects of the outcome of his/her claim. The individual is expected to Keep a copy of the documentation for records purposes.
Conclusion
In a bid to claim insurance theft, it is important to take consideration the fact that the individual needs to document every information as regards to his/her properties and theft as well.