As Florida residents impacted by Hurricane Ian start to evaluate injury, the American Property Casualty Insurance coverage Affiliation (APCIA) is urging owners to contact their house, auto, and/or flood insurer as quickly as doable to file their declare. Insurers could also be contacted by way of their toll-free claims quantity, app, web site, or by textual content.

“Step one towards restoration is submitting your insurance coverage declare and getting the claims course of began. To assist with the claims course of, make a listing of what was misplaced or broken and maintain any receipts for supplies you buy to help with repairs. Insurers stand prepared to assist their policyholders recuperate and rebuild after Hurricane Ian by paying coated claims as rapidly as doable,” stated Logan McFaddin, APCIA’s vice chairman of state authorities relations.

Harm related to wind and different extreme climate is usually coated beneath commonplace owners, renters, or enterprise coverage. Property homeowners with flood injury have to contact their flood insurer to file a flood-related declare. Water injury to a automobile is usually coated beneath an auto coverage if the policyholder has chosen to buy complete bodily injury protection.

– Commercial –

Many commonplace owners and renters insurance policies present reimbursement of further dwelling bills when the property is set to be uninhabitable as a result of injury. This provision helps pay for issues like short-term housing, restaurant meals, in a single day parking, and laundry service. Test together with your insurer or agent for a listing of what your coverage will cowl.

“After the storm, be careful for fraudsters, dishonest contractors, and different third events who come out of the woodwork to prey on owners in determined want of repairs. Earlier than signing any contracts for restore work, discuss to your insurer first to verify the injury is roofed after which discover a licensed, respected contractor to do the work,” added McFaddin.

Florida’s Insurance coverage Shopper Advocate and APCIA has created a Stop Contractor Fraud and Abuse Information that particulars red-flag warning indicators and steps to take earlier than hiring a contractor.

The American Property Casualty Insurance coverage Affiliation is the first nationwide commerce affiliation for house, auto, and enterprise insurers.