Triple-I Offers 3 Key Claims-Filing Tips to U.S.'s Wildfire Victims

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- If your home, apartment or business has been either damaged or destroyed by the western U.S.'s deadly wildfires, the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) offers the following advice on how to begin and simplify the claims-filing process.

1. Start the process as soon as possible

Be prepared to give your insurance professional—either an agent or insurance company representative—a description of the damage to your property and a copy of your home inventory, if you have one. Your insurance professional will report the loss immediately to your insurer or to a qualified adjuster who will contact you to arrange an inspection of the damage. Make sure you give your insurance professional a telephone number, preferably a cellphone, where you can be reached.

2. Contact your insurance professional immediately

When starting the claims filing and settlement process, find out:

• Whether the damage is covered under the terms of your policy
• The timeframe you have to file a claim
• How long it will take to process the claim
• Whether you'll need estimates for repairs

3. Understand what's covered

• Homeowners and Renters

Damage caused by fire and smoke is covered under standard homeowners and renters insurance policies. Water losses, or damage caused by firefighters while extinguishing a fire, is also covered under these policies. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies also cover a policyholder's Loss of Use (LOU)/Additional Living Expenses (ALE). It covers the expenses of living away from home if there is a mandatory evacuation or if the insured property is uninhabitable because of a covered loss.

• Business Owners

Property damage to businesses by wildfires is typically covered under either a Business Owners Policy (BOP) or through a Commercial Multiple-Peril (CMP) policy.

• Vehicle Owners

Vehicles damaged by fire, smoke, and soot are covered under the optional comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy. Nearly four out of five vehicle owners (78 percent) opt to purchase comprehensive coverage, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

RELATED LINKS

• Articles: How to Create a Home Inventory; How to Plan for Evacuation; Evacuation with Pets; Settling Insurance Claims After a Disaster
• Facts and Statistics: Wildfires: Insurance and Recovery Resources, Wildfires, Issues Update: Wildfires
• Videos: Tips for Wildfire Claims, Additional Living Expenses, Wildfire Preparation for Business Owners, and Build for Wildfire Resilience

The I.I.I. has a full library of educational videos on its YouTube Channel. Information about I.I.I. mobile apps can be found here.

THE I.I.I. IS A NONPROFIT, COMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

Insurance Information Institute, 110 William Street, New York, NY 10038; (212) 346-5500; www.iii.org

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