Surprising I know, But the Insurance Carrier isn’t the only party that has obligations pursuant to a Residential Property Insurance Policy. The Homeowner also has duties pursuant to the policy that they must comply with after a claim of loss. Failure to comply with these duties could spell trouble early on in the claims process if not complied with. I’m not going to mince words here, in most instances, the Insurance Carrier is not your friend, as a matter of fact the entire insurance industry business model is simple, bring in premiums and avoid paying claims. That’s how they make a profit! So naturally, if you give the insurance carrier a reason to avoid paying a claim, they’re going to take it.
For that reason, there is an important section of your policy that you want to read entitled “Duties After Loss”. Below I have provided a sample duty after loss section with several common Duties After Loss. Please note that every policy is different and it’s important to reference your policy to determine what your duties after loss are in the event of property insurance claim.
After review, you can see why it’s important to seek counsel during a home owner’s insurance claim to help ensure proper documentation of the loss, prepare any necessary documents, and communicate with the insurance carrier. As noted in the preface, the slightest misstep could result in the denial of coverage. If you have suffered damage to your home and think you may have a claim or would just like to discuss your duties after loss, Contact us to discuss today.
