Having insurance is very essential today and in some cases it’s a requirement by law to have insurance. If you are thinking of buying an insurance policy or are in a situation where you need to claim on an existing insurance policy then it is advised that you take proper steps to protect yourself and get the best deal out of the situation. As a well informed consumer it will be beneficial for you to have a clear understanding of the policy details before buying it. Further, it is also important to collect appropriate information before making claim on a policy as it will increase the chances of a successful outcome. Getting proper legal advice is usually a good way of ensuring that you make a right decision regarding your policies and claims.
Here are some tips that will help you in dealing with insurance companies.
Buying The Policy: Insurance company agents are not always completely true about their policies. They might tend to hide some points in the policy. As a consumer you should take proper notes including the details about coverage you are buying when the insurance agent explains them to you. These notes should be kept with the policy file along with any promotional material that you are given when you buy the policy. Do not rely on the agent and always insist on reading the completed application form yourself. Further, you should be honest while answering the questions as any misinformation on the application form might result in unwanted results when you claim your policy. You can also ask a lawyer free of cost regarding the policy over the internet as many lawyers offer free legal advice over the internet.
Making a Claim: Making all those notes and saving them with the policy file will come handy while making claim on the policy. Before you speak with the company representative, go through the notes and policy. Go through the coverage, exclusion and limitations on the policy and make sure that you do not say anything that the insurance company could use to deny the claim.
Further, collect proper information and all the evidence you can in support of your claim. One of the best ways to do so is by taking photographs of your loss and by keeping proper records of it. As a policy holder you should never exaggerate the loss or any aspect of the claim. Before accepting the evaluation of loss from the insurance company’s expert you should get an estimate from a reputed independent insurance expert. You should also obtain legal advice before submitting to an “examination under oath” by the insurance company.
Maintaining a log of all the activities and communications with the insurance company along with representative’s name, position and phone number would be a good start for the claim procedure.
In Case of a Dispute: You can expect a little favor from the court when it comes to deciphering the policy. Courts usually aim to honor the reasonable expectations of a policy holder in such situations and any ambiguities in the policy are ruled in policyholders favor as the company framed the policy.
You can always ask a lawyer free questions regarding insurance policy and claims over the internet. There are many websites over which highly experienced and some of the best lawyers offer free legal advice to visitors.
