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Handling an insurance claim can feel like sailing through uncharted waters, especially when faced with uncertainties about how long the process will take. Whether it's a claim for water damage, property damage, or personal injury, understanding the factors influencing the duration of the claims process can provide peace of mind. Let's delve into the difficulties of insurance claims and explore the journey from claim initiation to settlement as we answer one of the most common questions asked 'how long does an insurance claim take?'

Factors Influencing Claim Duration:

The timeline for processing insurance claims can vary based on several factors, including the type of claim and its complexity. For instance, home insurance claims may have different processing times compared to commercial insurance claims. Claims involving water damage or property damage may require extensive assessment and documentation, potentially prolonging the process.

Insurance Details and Policy Clarity:

The clarity and entirety of insurance details play an important role in expediting the claims process. It's essential to thoroughly understand your insurance policy, including its terms and conditions, coverage limits, and any exclusions. When filing a claim, providing accurate information and documentation can help support your claim and avoid delays. Comprehensive home insurance coverage can be a good idea to ensure adequate protection against various risks, including water damage, fire, theft, and more.

Claims Management Companies:

Enlisting the services of an insurance claims management company can streamline the process and provide expert guidance. These professionals specialise in navigating the complexities of insurance claims, ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to maximise your claim's potential. From assessing damages to negotiating with insurance companies, they handle every aspect of the claims process, saving you time and effort.

Real-Life Example:

Consider a homeowner who experiences water damage to their property. Upon filing a claim with their insurance company, they face delays and challenges in getting their claim processed. However, by seeking assistance from an insurance claims management company, such as Oakleafe, the homeowner's claim is efficiently managed. The company identifies all damages, handles documentation, and negotiates with the insurance company on behalf of the homeowner. As a result, the claim is settled promptly, covering the cost of repairs and providing peace of mind to the homeowner.

Navigating the Claims Process:

Understanding the steps involved in the claims process is crucial for a smooth experience. Upon discovering damage, promptly notify your insurance company and gather evidence to support your claim. Be mindful of any time limits specified in your policy, as failing to file within the stipulated period could result in claim denial. Seek legal advice if necessary, especially for complex claims or disputes with insurance companies.

Maximising Your Claim:

To maximise your claim's potential, document all damages thoroughly and provide detailed estimates for repairing or replacing damaged items. Keep track of all expenses incurred during the claims process, including repair costs, temporary accommodations, and any other related expenses. By staying organised and proactive, you can support your claim effectively and ensure a favourable outcome.

In Conclusion:

While the duration of insurance claims can vary, being prepared and informed can expedite the process and relieve stress. By understanding the factors influencing claim duration, seeking assistance from professionals when needed, and following the necessary steps, you can navigate the claims process with confidence. Remember, timely action, clear communication, and thorough documentation are vital to resolving claims efficiently and securing the compensation you deserve.

Related Claims and Topics

Having a disaster in your home or business, is to say the least, a very traumatic experience and now you have the responsibility with dealing and submitting a complex and difficult Insurance Claim.

Fortunately, you have prepared well. The good news is that you have a strong insurance policy covering you against such circumstance, you have paid your premiums on time, year after year.

Unfortunately, the bad news is that the impending insurance claim you’re about to make will often seem more frightening with great difficulties and stress in comparison to the actual disaster.

Why are Insurance Claims Difficult?

Insurance Claims are Difficult because it the responsibility of the policyholder to prepare and present their claim to the Insurance Company. This could often mean you would have to quantify and justify every single aspect of the loss while trying to keep things afloat.

Insurance companies would send out their own Loss Adjuster whose sole responsibility is to represent the Insurance’s interest and investigate the cause of the incident. Additionally, they can try to interrogate you and find any possible faults which might be used to deny the claim.

Difficult Insurance Claims Lead to Repudiation

Did you know that 1 in 5 Home Insurance Claims are Repudiated (Not Paid Out). When facing difficult Insurance claims, it is common when policyholders do not not read the fine print in their insurance policies and may often find they have not met some of conditions in a policy.

Click here to Read More

Loss Assessors can handle Difficult Insurance Claims

Loss Assessors work and represent the policyholder in the event of an Insurance Claim. Loss Assessors are independent Insurance Claim experts who can take the stress away from your claim. They work for you the policyholder, and only you. They can use their expertise knowledge and skills to deal with Difficult Insurance Claims. Loss Assessors will aim to get everything you are entitled to.

Click Here to read more about Loss Assessors

How Oakleafe Can Help with Difficult Insurance Claims

Oakleafe is the only party in the claim process which is on your side. Insurers appoint their own specialists to look after their interests to limit the levels of their liability. We are interested exclusively in your interests, to ensure you receive everything you are entitled to under the policy.

Having handled hundreds of complex and difficult Insurance Claims with the experience of over 8 Generations. We are confident to handle all the claim process from the beginning, until the end. where we can negotiate and ensure you are returned to a pre-loss position.

Every single claim will be unique in a certain way. Whether you have experienced a Flood or a Fire & Smoke Damage, we are able to handle all aspects of the claim.

Process in an Insurance Claim

As Insurance Assessors, we take our clients through every step of the Insurance Claim and we keep them up to date with every progress made. Difficult Insurance Claims can potentially be very complex but have made a quick list below that summarises the average process in handling an Insurance Claim.

  • Notification - After an incident your Insurance Company needs to be notified of the incident.
  • Mitigation - All policies place a responsibility on the policy holder to mitigate or prevent the damage from worsening.
  • Appointing an Assessor - Our experienced in-house Assessors would be assigned to your claim who will use their wealth of experience to manage all aspects of the claim.
  • Restoration - Depending on the type of claim, a professional restoration approach would be undertaken to ensure material damage is kept to a minimum.
  • Scope of Specification - Charted Surveyors, Structural Engineers, Contamination Experts and other professionals prepare detailed quantification of the loss. All reports and claim documents would then be submitted to the insurer.
  • Negotiation - We will undertake all meetings, phone calls, communications and negotiations to achieve a satisfactory settlement.
  • Approval - Once Insurers or their representatives approve the claim we prepared and submitted to them, funds are released to enable works or professional services to commence.

If you require any information, feel free to contact us and we would be happy to help you!

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Related Claims and Topics

Insurance Policies are designed to help cover loss during a disaster in a home or business. But they require conditions to be met by the policyholder. Disasters cannot always be avoided buy we have come up with a list of common disasters and ways minimise and identify some of the potential dangers in your home.


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How to How to Prevent Fire Disaster

Fires can be catastrophic with overwhelming consequences in just a matter of minutes. They can be easily prevented with a few simple measures and checks. Please follow the list to ensure that you minimise the chances of a fire in your home:

“Did you know, just over half of home heating fire resulted from fires caused by heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattresses or bedding.”

  • Smoke Alarms are cheap and very easy to install, you are 4 times more likely to survive a fire if you have a functioning smoke alarm. Do not forget to test your smoke alarm regularly and change the battery if required.
  • All Appliances should have an CE marking for safety standards.
  • Old Cooking Appliances Should Be In Good Condition: You should make sure that old cooking appliances are well looked after and are in good working condition. Each year many fires start due to heating equipment that hasn’t been maintained.
  • During winters, electrical heaters can be often useful to quickly warm up, but they must be kept clear of any sheets, window curtains or any other ignitable materials.

For additional fire prevention and knowledge, please visit your local fire services for free advice. If you have had a home fire, click here to see how Oakleafe Claims can help you.


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How to Prevent Weather Damage:

Although we cannot control the weather. There are still many things which we can do so that we can reduce the risks, or even prevent some of the potential problems that might occur during bad weather.

  • Clear Guttering: During a stormy weather a clogged gutter can potentially cause problems on your roof that can lead to leaks.
  • Plumbing should be in good condition to prevent pipes from freezing with the potential of a burst pipe and escape of water.
  • Broken or loose roof tiles should be fixed as this can prevent leaks and potentially prevent other tiles from breaking during a bad storm.

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How to Prevent Theft:

Anyone who has experienced burglary in their home will tell you it makes you feel violated, apprehensive and at a loss of your next move. There are different ways that can potentially detour thieves

All Entrances are secured and avoid leaving a spare key under a door mat or somewhere hidden.

  • Fences and other Entrances are well maintained, broken or unmaintained entrances can open vulnerabilities.
  • High Value Items like Jewellery are kept in a safe or out of sight.
  • Consider CCTV and/or Smart Home Security Systems – Just the sight of camera or the alarm is enough to detour most thieves.

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How to Prevent Burst Pipes

Pipes freeze because frozen water takes up more space inside your pipes than its liquid form, expanding and causing the metalwork to buckle.

Fact: A large portion of burst pipes occur in the winter due to a drop in temperature.

Here is a list of things you can try to prevent burst pipes.

  • Consider Lagging all internal pipework – in particular, pipes in lofts.
  • Watch out for changes in your home, drops in boiler pressure or discoloration to floors could all be signs of a leak.
  • Insulating your pipes and water tanks to prevent them from freezing.
  • Turn off water if you are going away

Engage a Loss Assessor:

Loss Assessors are independent Insurance Claim experts who can take the stress away from your claim. They work for you the policyholder, and only you. Using their expertise knowledge in Flood DamageImpact DamageFire Insurance Claims and Theft Insurance Claims, they have the skills to handle your Insurance Claim from the beginning to your pre-loss condition. Loss Assessors will aim to get everything you are entitled to.  It is important to engage a Loss Assessor as early as possible as they can ensure the entire process proceeds in the correct manner and your claim is not prejudiced negatively.

Fire Fact Source: http://www.firstalert-online.co.uk/fire-safety-facts/

Related Claims and Topics

Family flood claim rejected by insurance company.

An Insurance Company has been accused of “giving the industry a bad name” for rejecting a Flood Damage Insurance Claim by a family whose home was hit by flooding near Bridgend.

How Insurance Companies Operate

Insurance Companies can often interrogate you and make you feel you are the one to blame. They will investigate and attempt to find any possible evidence to disprove your claim. Often they expect you to use technical terminology to provide your case. Insurers always have the mindset to pay the minimum possible claim sum. And if you do not have a solid case, the chances of a claim succeeding are slim.

Mark Jenkins has been told by Ocaso his claim in November is being refused because he did not declare the house in Maesteg was within 200m of a river.

Ogmore AM Huw-Irranca Davies said the flooding was nothing to do with the river and the firm was “unreasonable”.

Ocaso said it was “in discussions” with Mr Jenkins.

Mr Jenkins estimates it caused about £50,000 of damage to his house and is challenging Ocaso’s decision not to pay out.

How Loss Assessors can help

In a situation like this, a qualified and experienced Claims Assessor can run a full scope of work. This would mean the Assessor would provide complete reports and Quantified sheets. These reports would disprove the allegation of the Insurer that the evidence they provide is irrelevant to this claim.

“It’s a bit of a struggle as you can imagine, four of us in one room,” he said.

“[Our] two-year-old [was] looking forward to one of his first major Christmases in the house, that’s not going to happen.

“It’s just utter devastation at the moment – we’re just making do.

“We’re just lucky we’ve got close family to put us up because otherwise we’re effectively homeless because we can’t live here.”

In this incident where the house can no longer be inhabited, Loss Assessors would  help you find alternative accommodation and oversee the welfare of you and your family while the house is being restored to its pre-loss position. Insurance Loss Assessors will aim to get everything you are entitled to.  It is important to engage a Loss Assessor as early as possible as they can ensure the entire process proceeds in the correct manner and your claim is not prejudiced negatively.

For the full article follow the link to read more.

Source: BBC News

Related Claims and Topics

Home damage can potentially cost a lot to repair. Therefore, whether your claim is straightforward or complex you want to understand the right home Insurance Claim strategies to use. Some claims can be more complicated than others. For instance, in the case of flooding the type of damage can be hard to assess and repair and the claim may take longer than usual.

 According to the Association of British Insurers “water damage is claimed most often and accounted for over 30% of home insurance payouts in 2018.”

Any incident that causes damage to your home can be potentially stressful and having a home insurance policy is only half the battle. Knowing the best Home Insurance Claim Strategies and how to properly proceed with a claim is the other half. One of the general Home Insurance Claim Strategies is that the more documents such as receipts for items claimed and photographs of damage you gather the smoother the entire process will go. Another is always contacting the authorities and obtaining a report if the claim is the result of a crime like a theft. Also, make sure you have a copy of your policy and that you know what is covered and what isn't.

What are the most common home insurance claims?

The weather has become more unpredictable lately with stronger storms due to climate change and storm damage claims have increased but flooding, including burst pipes, is still the most common home insurance claim.  Others include fires, most often kitchen fires, accidental damage and burglary.

Water damage claims are common especially in colder months as pipes can freeze and burst releasing water. Keeping up good maintenance of the home is important so that the insurance company doesn’t deny your claim based on improper upkeep. Accidental damage, such as party guests ruining your carpet, usually requires the right type of coverage so if you claim for it make sure it is included in your policy. Accidental coverage is not usually a part of standard home policies.

Theft is included in any standard policy, but the correct Home Insurance Claim Strategy would be reporting it to the police promptly. Your insurer will need their report or reference number so make sure you have those details when you file. Fire claims are also common home insurance claims but can get complicated because of smoke damage which is not immediately noticeable and therefore can be difficult to assess. Engaging a Loss Assessor in those cases to help you properly assess all damage before you file is always a good idea.

How long do home insurance claims take?

Home claims can take anywhere between a few days to a over a year to settle and for this reason it is pivotal to adopt the correct Home Insurance Claim Strategies in order to ensure the claim is settled correctly and quickly. For larger claims an adjuster will need to inspect and investigate the damage, which can take more time. It can also be potentially uncomfortable for the claimant as they can be made to feel more like a suspect than a victim. The time a claim takes to settle depends on several factors but mostly it is the type of damage that determines it.

Certain types of damage such as water damage or smoke damage are more difficult to repair and there may be differences of opinion as to the value of such claims. Properly assessing the value of your loss is not always straightforward and it is this assessment before you file that’s the key strategy to a successful home insurance claim.

There is no way to know for certain how long your claim will take. However, engaging a Loss Assessor like Oakleafe Claims can shorten this time considerably since they are familiar with all types of claims and can make this process much smoother. Upset over a loss may prevent you from being accurate in your claim but a professional loss assessor will pay attention to these details and adopt the correct Home Insurance Claim Strategies, making it much less stressful for you.

What do home insurance adjusters look for?

What insurance company adjusters look for is whether the damage is covered by the policy in the first place and if there are any signs of fraud. Being honest in filing your claim and not exaggerating its value is important but you also do not want to under value your claim. A professional loss assessor can be of great help here as well since it is their job to know how to accurately assess your loss.

Filing the claim within the time specified and following procedures are good Home Insurance Claim Strategies for decreasing the risk of the claim being denied. Home insurance claims are still the most likely to be rejected among all types of insurance. This is mostly due to lack of appropriate coverage which is why it’s so important to know what your policy includes.

Another thing to keep in mind is not to organise home repairs before the loss adjuster has a chance to see the damage. The only immediate repairs you need to make are ones that prevent further damage to the home such as temporarily covering any damage to the roof. When the insurance company’s loss adjuster visits your property, they will need to be made aware of any immediate repairs done.

Does making a claim affect home insurance premiums?

Making any home insurance claim will typically raise your insurance premiums by 10-15% the following year. It’s also important to remember that you have to pay your set excess towards any claim at the time you file it. How much excess you pay depends on the terms specified in your policy.

Sometimes if the claim is small, such as a broken window, it may not be worth filing at all since the premiums will increase for any size claim filed and you may pay much more because of the increase than the claim is worth. Home insurance works best for larger claims, where the cost of repairs is much more than you could afford at the time.

Conclusion

Filing any home insurance claim can sometimes be a difficult process but knowing Home Insurance Claim Strategies can simplify it. Following procedures, filing on time and having the right kind of professionals on your side can make any claim hassle free. Having proper documentation is a proven home insurance claim strategy and the more there is of it the better.

Of course, you want your claim handled as quickly as possible and hiring a loss assessor can help to that end. If you follow these simple Home Insurance Claim Strategies your next home insurance claim will not cause any unneeded stress.

Related Claims and Topics
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If you have been declined whilst trying to claim on your domestic or commercial insurance, we can help. We can also help with professional services, for example, Brokers, VAR Valuations and Managing Agents.

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