How to Dispute a Homeowners Insurance Claim

Dealing with damage to your home can be stressful, and when your insurance company denies an insurance claim for damage, or underpays an insurance claim, it only makes matters worse. The good news is, if your claim is legitimate, you don’t have to take no for an answer. Follow our helpful guide to get paid what you deserve.

Step 1: Get it in Writing. If the insurance company decides they want to deny your homeowners insurance claim for damage, or partially pay your insurance claim, make sure they send you their decision in writing. Try to keep notes of all communications you have with your insurance company regarding your homeowners insurance claim, including date, time, the person you spoke to, and relevant notes about the call.

Step 2: Review your Policy. Once you know the insurance company’s basis for the underpayment or denial, check your policy to see if it matches up. Often times the insurance company will include references to your policy pages, and that’s a great place to start. Check for anything that doesn’t “smell” right to you.

Step 3: Never Accept a Processing Error. Often times an insurance company may deny your claim because they insist you filed it too late, or didn’t follow the proper protocols to file. Double-check this. In most instances, an insurance company cannot refuse to cover your legitimate claim for damage solely based on a claim filing error.

Step 4: Be Persistent. Follow-up with your insurance company regularly. We recommend every couple of weeks. Stay polite, but persistent. If the adjuster is not taking your claim seriously, ask for a supervisor. It’s always good to stay top of mind to have your claim handled timely.

Step 5: Consider an Attorney. If you are not making progress with the insurance company by yourself, consider reaching out to an attorney who is familiar with handling homeowners insurance claims. At Dapeer Law, the consultation is always free and the attorneys work on a contingency fee. If your attorney is successful, the insurance company separately pays the attorneys fees which means you will never come out of pocket for your attorneys help with a homeowners insurance claim.