Insurance adjusters start work on flood of storm damage claims

So, you found a big tree branch atop your car when you woke up Friday morning. Now what?

Well, it’s happened before and the advice is pretty basic:

▪ Make emergency fixes such as patching holes in roofs or covering broken windows immediately. Keep any receipts because those costs will be reimbursed.

▪ Contact your insurer soon, if you haven’t already. Most insurance companies have 24-hour claims centers and claim forms on their websites. Or contact your agent.

▪ Document everything, including names and dates of conversations with adjusters and contractors.

By Friday afternoon, American Family Insurance had already received about 200 homeowner claims and 150 auto claims, said spokesman Ken Muth.

“The fact that it hit in the early morning meant that a lot of the cars were in the garage, which kept claims down,” he said. “But we are seeing what’s expected with a lot of wind damage: trees on houses, tree damage on fences, in some instances punctured roofs or branches getting through windows.”

For those who think they might have hail damage but are uncertain of what to look for, one good indicator is pieces of shingles or granules from shingles washed into the gutters, or dents in the aluminum gutters.

The process, Muth said, is that an insurance company adjuster will develop an estimate. The adjuster will contact the homeowner for a visit to inspect the house or car. The contractor hired by the homeowner may develop a separate estimate, Muth said. If so, the insurance company will work to resolve the difference.

Muth said his company has called in six to 10 adjusters from outside to supplement its local adjusters.

“We got an initial spike in claims, but we’ll get a steady stream of new ones as neighbors talk to each other and people inspect their roofs,” he said. “The numbers will rise.”

Jim Camoriano of State Farm Insurance said they are seeing a lot of claims from Sedgwick, Reno and Harvey counties, although it’s too early to provide numbers.

“We’ll be working through Easter weekend,” he said. “People should start looking at their homes, do any temporary repairs, keep your receipts as a record for the claim adjusters. Take photos.”

They are deciding whether to set up a drive-through claims station for cars, he said.

“We are getting some hail claims,” he said. “The bigger hail fell on the eastern side. Mostly it was a wind event.”

In settling a claim, the Kansas Insurance Commissioners’ office advises people to:

▪ Be present when your adjuster inspects your property.

▪ Insurance adjusters carry employee identification. These adjusters will not charge you a fee for service. Be leery of any adjuster who charges a fee, and always ask to see identification.

▪ Beware of questionable or unfamiliar contractors. Get more than one bid, and hire a local, reputable contractor to make the repairs.

▪ Don’t accept an unfair settlement. If you can’t reach an agreement with your insurer, call the Kansas Insurance Department.

▪ Contact the Consumer Assistance Division with any questions or for additional information at 1-800-432-2484.

This story was originally published April 3, 2015 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Insurance adjusters start work on flood of storm damage claims."