San Leandro, CA Pleasanton, CA What Happens If I Have an Insurance Claim?

While it seems like a very simple and basic question, having an insurance claim can be a stressful and unsettling experience. The need to file an insurance claim means that you have just had a loss of some sort, whether it be a car accident, a home fire, water damage, or something else, you may be shaken up and disoriented!

Having insurance should bring peace of mind, but then the claim process begins.  This starts with reporting the loss situation to your agent or the insurance company claims center.  We can direct you in either case.  Once you have reported the basics of your situation, the claim will be assigned to a licensed claims adjuster.  Licensed adjusters will go through the details of your claim and make an initial determination of whether or not coverage exists.  This can be confusing as in some cases, the carrier can take time to determine their coverage position on claims that are more complex than a collision or house fire.

The next step in the process is to file a proof of loss.  What this means is that you may need to determine what you actually lost in the occurrence and present that information to the adjuster.  Sometimes this is easy but for larger losses, this can be a bit tricky and time consuming.  Preparation is key in that if you have a video of your home interior, this may help with the proof of loss documentation.

Finally, there is clarification of what will be covered and how much will be reimbursed/paid by the insurance company.  This can be a negotiation process and often you will not want to take the first offer. If you have questions or concerns about the offer and process, please call us!

Lastly, many clients want to know how claims will affect their premiums.  It varies by line of insurance, so we encourage you to discuss each situation with us so that we can advise accordingly.