The iii reports that in 2018, $74. 2 million were paid out as the result of lightning-related claims. With an unrivaled number of lightning strikes per square mile, you are at more risk of lightning-related property losses than residents of any other state. The iii notes that one of the most common ways that a lightning strike can impact a home is by starting fires. From data collected from 2007 to 2011, 19% of lightning-related fires caused damage to the structure of a home. Additionally, power surges caused by lightning can destroy electronic devices that are plugged into the home’s power grid at the time of the strike. Warm summer days and evenings are generally linked with thunderstorms. However, as many people have probably learned at some stage or the other, these storms may occur at any time of the year, even the depth of winter and, more frequently, spring, when the temperatures rise. And like other storms, they have the potential to cause damage, the extent of which varies based on the strength of the lightning strike and the specific area of the property that is affected. Fortunately, there are some signs you can look out for which
read more →Not surprisingly, the vast majority of complaints stem from issues regarding the handling of claims , which is the reason that people take out insurance in the first place. As of june 2021, data from the naic report states that just over 18% of all complaints stemmed from delays that policyholders experienced when waiting to receive a claim. Unsatisfactory claim amounts offered by an insurance firm were the next most frequent complaint and accounted for just over 13% of all complaints. The denial of a claim accounted for just over 12. 5% of all complaints. It's also worth pointing out which types of insurance have the most complaints. Information about the weather When an insurance claim for damage caused during bad weather has been declined, there are three questions we ask: do we agree that storm conditions occurred on or around the date the damage is said to have happened? is the damage claimed for consistent with what we generally see as storm damage? were storm conditions the main cause of the damage or were there other factors that meant the damage might have happened anyway? to answer these questions, we’ll need to take into account: weather reports (official reports from a recognised
read more →First, know your hurricane facts and understand common terms used during hurricane forecasts. Storm conditions can vary on the intensity, size and even the angle which the tropical cyclone approaches your area, so it is vital you understand what the forecasters and news reporters are telling you. Tropical depressions are cyclones with winds of 38 mph. Tropical storms vary in wind speeds from 39-73 mph while hurricanes have winds 74 mph and greater. Typically the upper right quadrant of the storm (the center wrapping around the eye) is the most intense portion of the storm. The greatest threats are damaging winds, storm surge and flooding. Here’s a quick meteorologic recap that’ll put you ahead of the curve the next time a hurricane is headed your way: hurricanes need warm water and an existing weather system, such as a low-pressure tropical wave, to form. As the tropical system moves over the surface of the ocean, water evaporates and rises high in the air, where it cools and condenses, forming large clouds and releasing heat. The resulting pressure differential (high pressure above, low pressure below) draws more air into the center as winds at the top of the storm
read more →Electricity means much more than an ever-growing variety of conveniences. The dangers lightning and electrical surges present are very real. For example, a sudden electrical surge could silently damage many of your appliances. An arc fault could spark an electrical fire — in fact, electricity is the third-highest cause of home fires every year. Or lightning could strike your home, causing extensive damage. Lightning is the most dangerous and frequently-encountered weather hazard that most people experience each year, according to the national severe storm laboratory. So take time to review some steps you can take to help protect yourself and your property. When lightning strikes your property it can be one of the most destructive types of damage. While a direct strike to the home can be easy to prove because it causes fires or charring, other types of lightning damage are more difficult. The most common lightning-related damage is a ground surge. These are spikes in electricity that travel throughout an area, often causing damage to sensitive electronic equipment and house wiring. These claims can be difficult to collect because it can be hard to determine where the spikes originated from. The most important thing to do when
read more →Each time you investigate water damage at a residential property, you need to accomplish several tasks related to documentation. So, you’ll want to make sure your android or ios mobile device is equipped with a high-quality floor plan app. This versatile app will enable you to complete multiple steps in a short amount of time: measure and sketch affected rooms speedily and accurately enhance your sketch with water-damage details in a swift manner summarize your findings rapidly in a digital water-damage report quickly calculate a realistic repair-cost estimate streamline document-submission workflows. That’s Where a Floor Plan App Can Help In principle, depending on your coverage and limits, your insurance company should restore damaged items or structures to their pre-loss condition. However, it is unlikely that your insurer will agree to replace anything if it is cheaper to repair. But this may be easier said than done. For example, if your damaged hardwood floors are beyond repair, your insurer can replace them with identical or similar flooring. But what if only a minor percentage of your flooring is damaged, and you cannot find identical or matching flooring? will your insurer replace the whole floor? the line of sight rule says everything within your line of
read more →The number of house fires occurring in the united states each year is staggering. These fires result in thousands of deaths and injuries, along with billions of dollars of property damage. According to the national fire protection association, in the five-year period ending in 2019, an average of close to 350,000 home fires each year resulted in more than 2,600 civilian deaths, 11,070 injuries and $7. 3 billion in property damage. There is a house fire somewhere in the country every 89 seconds. While it’s not possible to completely fireproof your home, there are fire preparedness steps you can take. The good news is that fires in the home are still rare, and there are several things you can do to further reduce your risks. Here are our top tips on how to protect your home from fire…. Wildfires are a natural part of colorado’s forests. If you live in the wildland-urban interface in colorado, where homes and other structures intermingle with wildland vegetation, you are at risk of being affected by wildfire. Planning ahead and taking action can increase the likelihood your home survives when a wildfire occurs. Firefighters always do their best to reduce fire damage,
read more →Different insurance policies provide different levels of cover. Read your insurance documents to check what is covered before you talk to your insurance company. You may be able to get: flood damaged items replaced professional help to clean up temporary alternative accommodation if you need to move out while your home is being repaired your insurance policy will include an excess amount. This is the amount you must pay before the company pays a claim for damage. The chaos and clear-up after a storm can cause nightmares for homeowners, be it from flooding to serious property damage or even just a few tiles falling from the roof. Claims ireland has listed out key tips on what to do before and after a storm, and how to make an insurance claim if your home and its belongings are badly damaged. What should i do before a storm arrives? first things first - make sure you have easy access to up-to-date emergency phone numbers as you may need to act quickly to sort the problem. Also, make sure your mobile phone is fully charged as a communication back up in case a landline is cut. Unexpected flood or water damage to your property can be a very
read more →Travel insurance is not obligatory when going abroad. However, it is strongly advised to take out such insurance, as, in the event of an accident, illness or loss or damage to property you will be able to rely on the insurance policy for financial assistance for any of the previously mentioned events that might arise during the course of your trip. 6 ways to prevent burglary and theft at your business One of the best ways to protect your business from theft, property damage , and burglary is to install an alarm system. The presence of an alarm system is often enough to deter any would-be burglars, and it can help you keep an eye on both external and internal threats. Most small businesses don’t need to invest in the most expensive alarm systems. Many setups can be customized, and security companies offer numerous low-cost options. Just make sure that the system can be controlled and monitored remotely on your smartphone, tablet, or pc, and use a ul-certified central monitoring station to monitor your alarm system 24/7. Not everything about the global pandemic has been gloomy. The bright side has been neighbors coming together for
read more →In 2018, nearly one in four home insurance claims was the result of water damage. From 2014-2016, the number of water damage claims in the u. S. Actually outpaced the number of losses caused by fires and hurricanes. What do these numbers mean? water damage is pretty common. But not every kind of water damage is covered by a typical homeowner’s policy. As a general rule, water damage is covered by home insurance if it is sudden or accidental. In other words, you couldn’t have predicted it was going to happen. Water damage is not covered when it’s the result of a lack of home maintenance/neglect (e. The balance / ashley deleon water damage is one of the most common causes of home insurance claims. According to the insurance services office (iso), water damage claims are the second largest frequent insurance claim, after wind and hail damage. Claims due to water damage affect 1 in 50 homeowners each year. It's no wonder people have a lot of questions about it. For instance, what is covered under your homeowner's insurance , and why are things such as "gradual damage" not covered? things get even more complicated when you consider the exceptions. Here's a review
read more →At devine claim consultants, we have decades of experience and have worked with clients in multiple industries make successful fire insurance claims. We offer assistance with all kinds of claims including: pub fire insurance claims. Fire Insurance Claim Tips How hard is it to handle my business fire insurance claim myself? a fire in your business is very difficult and upsetting. On top having to have the damage assessed and repaired, suppliers to notify, customers to contact, find alternative premises for the stock, etc. , you also have to let your employees know that their employment may be paused for a while and let any other stakeholders know what has happened. The added stress and complication of an insurance claim is not ideal. When you enlist the help of a loss assessor it ensures that your case has dedicated management and we are solely focused on achieving a successful outcome. Remain in control of your personal property until there is a strategy and plan in place for the entire fire insurance claim. For example, a claimant should prevent the insurance or any restoration company from removing items to be discarded or repaired. If you relinquish your personal property without
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