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Choosing a public adjuster can be scary – we know! The final settlement amount of your claim can be a direct reflection of the person or firm you choose to navigate your claim. Thank you for considering YPA in your decision to select a public adjuster.
YPA: Flood Damage Insurance Adjusting Experts
If you feel like you are sinking along with your belongings, there is hope.
There are countless benefits of hiring YPA PUBLIC ADJUSTERS to manage the entire claim. Handling a flood claim is very stressful, and the financial impact can be crippling if the claim is not managed properly.
Contents inventory alone can be a daunting task for someone who has just lost everything to a flood. Our professionals are experienced in this overwhelming task and all other aspects of your claim.
Our staff is equipped to handle:
- Inspect and estimate the claim loss
- Inventory contents including photos and pricing
- Meet with an insurance adjuster and experts
- Request advanced payment from the insurance company
- Negotiate the entire claim process
- Appeal denials with FEMA
What to expect:
While flood claims can be the worst type of claim to have, our experience and expertise can make the process easier on your mind and your wallet. Here are some basic expectations when you experience a flood: Assuming you get an experienced adjuster, they should inform you that they do not actually have any paying authority, but rather will make recommendations based on findings. The claim should be approved based on those findings. A seasoned adjuster will typically have a certain way to conduct inspections. They will typically lead you room-by-room explaining what they are recommending and why (taking measurements, pictures, and thorough notes). You more than likely will not agree with everything they want to salvage, so be sure to take good notes on the items you are in disagreement.
The peril of flood has traditionally been uninsurable in the private insurance market due in part to the extreme risk and exposure flooding can cause. You should be aware that your standard property insurance plan does not cover floods. You must buy a separate policy either from a private insurer or directly from NFIP. In 1968 the federal government enacted a law that set up the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to provide assistance to residents and commercial property owners who purchased a flood policy.
There are many complex issues involved in the NFIP program in terms of filing a flood claim. One of many unique coverage issues relates to the definition of “flood” under the NFIP. In English, a flood is an excess of rising water (or mud) on land that is normally dry. A flood can stem from overflowing rivers, heavy rains, thawing snow, flash flooding, and hurricane storm surges. In many instances, certain locations within your home have specific exclusions as to the types of damages that will be eligible for payment.
If you have a flood loss to your property, you need to be very mindful of the 60-day provision for filing a flood proof of loss. This places tremendous pressure on the policyholder to get all their damage documentation together in what can be a very limited amount of time. If this provision is not waived by an authorized government official and you do not have your proof-of-loss form submitted within 60 days, it is likely your claim will not be paid. It may take your carrier’s adjuster a considerable amount of time before they will have the opportunity to reach your property. We recommend being proactive by hiring a public adjuster who can dedicate time to your specific claim in detail so you receive everything you are entitled to.
Any damage from a flood event can include all types of complex issues, which will require expert analysis in order to prove the damages and support the claim. Usually, flooding involves what the IICRC identifies as Category 3 type loss. This is also called “Blackwater”. As such, it often contains bacteria and pathogens that can make your property unfit for habitation or use. It is imperative that you get the advice you need to properly understand the issues you are facing and advocate for the carrier regarding proper mitigation and adjustment of the loss.
YPA Public Adjusters assists policyholders by being knowledgeable and experienced in properly evaluating and then estimating the full scope of loss and presenting that claim to the carrier. Contact us for a free consultation. (682) 267-0336
According to FEMA directives, flood results in the most pervasive damage and with the greatest frequency. As public adjusters who deal with flood issues on a regular basis – we recommend you read and understand your flood insurance policy before a loss, as it contains very specific limits in the amounts and scopes of coverage.