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OVERVIEW: Homeowner’s insurance provides insurance coverage for residential homes. Homeowner’s insurance coverage is primarily intended to cover damages to the home and its contents due to flood, fire, windstorm or other covered perils. Homeowner’s insurance can also provide liability insurance coverage to protect you from claims for injuries or damages that may occur while someone is on the premises of your property. Insurance coverage can be denied if you fail to comply with the conditions of the insurance policy, do not make your claim in a timely manner, fail to give the insurance company an opportunity to inspect, or fail to mitigate your damages (make temporary repairs to prevent further damage). If you are having problems getting paid on an insurance claim or your insurance claim has been delayed or denied, you should seek the services of a lawyer immediately.
In some instances, insurance coverage disputes arise because there is a claim that a particular damage is excluded under the insurance policy. For example, while some insurance policies provide coverage for water damages they may also at the same time specifically exclude water damage as a result of "bursting pipes". It is therefore very important to review your insurance policy exclusions so that you understand exactly what is covered and what is excluded from coverage.
Finally, another basis for dispute is that neither you nor the insurance company can agree as to the actual value of the damages. It is important to have photos, a current appraisal of your home and/or an inspection report at the time of purchasing the insurance to justify your position that the claimed damages were not preexisting. You may also find that the insurance company’s repair estimate is significantly lower than what your own contractor has quoted to repair the job. To assist in the claims process, you should keep receipts for all your personal property (furniture, electronics, etc.) in a safe place in the event that you need to make a claim. When you have a claim and need to make repairs, you should also keep copies of all receipts, invoices, and estimates so that they can be provided to the insurance company to support your claim for damages.
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