One of the most common types of property damage we deal with is water damage claims. It can be a thorny issue. Insurance policies generally specify that the policyholder has an obligation to mitigate the damage. In other words, they have an obligation to prevent it from growing worse. However, it is also necessary to preserve the evidence until an adjuster can document and assess the damages. These two goals can be in conflict and can be tricky to balance in water damage claims.
You should keep both of those goals in mind when you first discover the issue. The discovery is likely to be very upsetting, but the actions you take in the first few minutes can make a BIG difference in how well your claim turns out. The first thing you should do is try to shut off the source of the water if at all possible. For example, if the cause is a broken pipe, find the water main and TURN IT OFF. Then, you want to try to dry things out as quickly as possible. This will help prevent mold from growing and adding to your water damage problem.
But after you have put a stop to the spread of damage, the second thing you want to do is preserve all the evidence. It should be left as intact as possible while preventing further damage. Do not discard or repair anything until after a claims adjuster has assessed and documented the situation.These steps will help US help YOU get the most we can from your water damage claim.
