Property damage might be one of the most frustrating things to deal with.
The whole process of dealing with the loss of valuable or sentimental items, or back and forth with paperwork seeking some sort of compensation is exhausting.
This article is going to detail some tips on how you can deal with property damage.
- Determine the cause of property damage
The first step to deal with property damage is to determine the cause.
Since property covers anything that is owned by someone we cannot collectively say that property is your house or your car. For this case, we shall assume it is whatever in your home.
There are many causes of property damage, including but not limited to;
- Vandalism
Vandalism defined as the destruction or damage of property in a manner aids in diminishing the property’s value. Vandalism cannot be truly established without proper evidence.
For example, you need to have home security footage is to prove that somebody else broke into your home, and as a result, you are dealing with some serious property damage.
Setting up a strong security system in your home makes it essential for this reason.
If you don’t already have a properly set security system I recommend that you visit US-reviews.com and look through maximum security alarm services online to get you started.
- Wilful negligence
Willful negligence is where you choose to disregard something and as a result of your carelessness damages occur to your property.
- Act of God
In Legal terms, an act of God is referred to occurrences that are out of human control. These are acts that you cannot point a finger at someone and claim that they are responsible for the damage.
Examples of property damage that may result from acts of God are, floods earthquakes, storms, and hurricanes.
Why is understanding the cause of your property damage important? The root of property damage will determine whether or not you get compensated.
- Notify your insurance provider
The second step to dealing with property damages is to notify your insurance provider.
You want to do this as soon as possible as some insurance providers would sneak in short limitation clauses to when you can bring forth a claim to reduce their liability in covering the claim.
It also helps get to the bottom line before evidence of property damage tampered with.
Notifying your insurance provider will also ensure that they send in their assessment crew to determine the true value of the damaged goods.
- File for a property damage insurance claim
The next step is to file a properly detailed insurance claim.
Often these steps should have been explained to you by the insurance agent prior incident occurring.
Sometimes it might be left out by the insurance agent and in this case, you should find it in the insurance booklet. However, most people are negligent to even check what is contained in the insurance booklet.
If this is you you might need to hire a professional to help you through the process.
Regardless of how you choose to file your claim, the following should not be left out;
- Your name and other important personal information details.
- The type of insurance claim.
- A detailed description of the damages.
- Any evidence of property damages (if present)
- Your insurance policy number or ID.
Finally, ensure you are up to date with your premium payments, if not, the insurance company will automatically deny your claim.
- Sue or claim for damages
Often, an insurance company will compensate you immediately for the damages that have occurred and then pursue the third party for compensation.
This is what is commonly referred to as the principle of subrogation. Note that the proceeds of a subrogation go to the insurance company and not the insured.
A lot has been said about property damage insurance, what if you don’t have any insurance to cover the damage to property?
In this case, you will have to individually take on a property damage case. Much about taking and Property damage case should be discussed between you and your lawyer.
However, the best line is that you need to establish a strong case, with the facts and the evidence correctly pointing to the third party from which you are seeking compensation from.
- Take steps to prevent future damages
In some cases, your insurance provider may find reasons to denounce their liability to cover your property damage for Reasons such as willful negligence.
In such a case you are left frustrated. The only thing remaining for you is to personally cover the damages and then take steps to prevent future damages.
Some preventative steps to take are?
- Tighten security
- Conduct regular property inspections
- Take an insurance cover