4 min read
Eight Mistakes That Weaken a Claim
None of these are complicated. Most of them come from handling a claim the way most people handle paperwork: late, verbally, and without a file.
- Reporting the claim late. A new or reopened claim must be reported within one year of the date of loss. Additional damage found later must be reported as a supplemental claim within 18 months of the date of loss. Fla. Stat. § 627.70132.
- Starting permanent repairs before documenting the damage. Photograph and video everything first. Make only the temporary repairs needed to prevent further damage, and keep the receipts.
- Throwing away damaged materials. Photograph them before disposal, and keep samples where practical, such as a section of flooring, drywall, or roofing.
- Relying on verbal statements. An adjuster's explanation or a denial given over the phone isn't the insurer's written position. Ask for it in writing, which Florida law requires the insurer to provide. § 627.70131(7)(a).
- Missing a proof of loss or information request. These requests often get lost in other mail. Missing a policy deadline can jeopardize the claim, and not providing requested information within 10 days pauses the insurer's deadlines. § 627.70131(8)(b).
- Treating the first payment as final. A partial payment must say the insurer may issue more. Compare it with independent estimates before assuming it's complete. § 627.70131(6)(b).
- Signing a release you don't fully understand. A release can end your right to any further payment on the claim. Read it carefully, and get advice before signing if you're unsure.
- Not keeping a record. Log every call, email, inspection, and document you send or receive, with dates.
If You've Already Made One of These
A missed step is not automatically the end of a claim. What matters is whether the record still supports the damage and whether the deadlines that apply to your loss have run. A late report, a discarded material, or a verbal denial can still be addressed if the file is assembled now rather than later.
The practical fix is the same in every case: start a written log today, request the estimate and the claim log, and put open questions to the insurer in writing.
What Helps Instead
The full sequence is in Steps to Take After Property Damage, and the paperwork that carries a dispute is in What to Do If Your Property Insurance Claim Is Denied.
- Report the damage the day you discover it.
- Photograph and video before any permanent repair begins.
- Keep damaged materials until the estimate is settled.
- Ask for every decision in writing.
- Track the deadlines that apply to your loss.
