• Company Claims Numbers 24/7

• Homeowners or Commercial Property Loss

• Workers' Compensation Claim

• General Liability Claim

• Auto Accident

• 10 Questions Clients Frequently Ask Following A Disaster
• Maryland Chamber of Commerce - Hurricane Isabel Disaster Relief Info

Company Claims Numbers:  Available 24 hours, 7 days a week

1. I've reported my claim, now what should I do?
   Take all necessary steps-securing property, temporarily boarding windows and roof, and drying carpets and personal property, for example-to prevent further damage. If you don't, and additional damage results, it may not be covered.
   
   
2. Is there anything I can do to speed the claims process?
   An adjuster will contact you as soon as possible, but priority will be given to the most severe losses. Larger claims likely will be settled in stages, not all at once. While waiting for the adjuster:
   
   • Take pictures of the damaged property and gather any pictures showing the property before the loss.
   • Get repair estimates (preferably at least two) for the adjuster to review.
   • List all damaged property, including each item's description, age, original cost, place of purchase, and estimated replacement cost. Include any receipts or canceled checks for these items.
   
   
3. What if my home is so damaged that I can't stay in it?
   Most homeowners and dwelling forms provide coverage for additional living expenses. Most policies will reimburse you for "reasonable expenses" over and above your normal living costs (such as lodging, for example, since it's over and above your mortgage or rent payment) if your home is uninhabitable as a result of a covered peril and you must temporarily relocate. But most policies will reimburse you for only those food expenses over and above what you would normally pay for food.
   
   You must keep all receipts in order for the expenses to be considered part of the loss. The expenses must be in line with normal living costs and must be a necessary and direct result of the loss.
   
   Most policies limit recovery under "additional living expenses" to a percentage of the amount of coverage on the home itself.
   
   
4. What coverage is there for trees that are down?
   Standard dwelling and homeowners policies don't provide coverage for damage to trees by "weather perils" (such as wind). But if a tree falls and damages other insured property, such as a house or a fence, the damage is covered.
   
   
5. Power was out for five days and the food in my refrigerator/freezer spoiled. Is it covered?
   Most residential policies contain a "power failure" exclusion and don't cover food spoilage that results from power outages. A few companies provide very limited coverage ($250-$2500) as a coverage enhancement.
   
   
6. When power finally came back on, a power surge damaged some of my electrical equipment. Is the damage covered?
   Most homeowners policies provide coverage under "sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electrical current." But coverage doesn't apply to loss of transistors, computer chips, and similar items. Therefore, damage from a power surge wouldn't be covered for such property as televisions, VCRs, computers, or similar items.
   
   
7. The adjuster was here last week and I still haven't gotten my check. How long is this going to take?
   Following the visit with you, the adjuster must complete detailed paperwork on the loss and submit it to the carrier for review. If the adjuster has a heavy claim load, which can occur after a disaster, there's often a delay in completing the paperwork (since adjusters generally do their paperwork in the evenings, after the interviews). There's also a delay at the insurance company as it reviews the many claims coming in at once.Check with the adjuster or us to find out exactly when the paperwork was submitted to the company. If the paperwork has been received, the carrier may be able to provide a status report as to when it will issue the claims draft to you.
   
   
8. I've just received my claim check and it's not enough.
   If the check is for an amount lower than you expected, it's usually because of policy terms that require settlement on an actual cash basis, to be followed by a separate payment for replacement costs when repairs or replacement are completed. Check with us or the company.
   
   
9. What's the difference between actual cash value and replacement-cost coverage?
   If the policy indicates that settlement will be on a replacement-cost basis, then payment will be made for the actual cost, at today's prices, to repair or replace, limited only by the total amount of coverage that was purchased.If the adjustment basis is actual cash value, settlement will be made by determining the replacement cost at today's prices, less a reasonable amount for depreciation, age, or obsolescence.Some policies provide coverage for the home on a "guaranteed replacement cost" basis, in which case the carrier pays whatever it costs to repair or rebuild the home, regardless of policy limits.
   
   
10. I have a flood policy. What does it cover?
    This policy covers only one peril: damage from flooding (including rising waters, mudslides, and certain damages from erosion). Not all flood policies cover building and contents. And all flood policies carry a separate deductible for building losses and for loss of contents. Types of property that aren't covered under a flood policy:
    • property in the open
    • foundations
    • certain property in basements
    • sidewalks
    • trees, plants, and shrubs
    • piers
    • driveways
    • docks
    For some types of property-jewelry, furs, silver, gold, fine arts, and similar items-only a limited amount of coverage ($250, for example) is provided.Reimbursement for additional living expenses isn't provided under a flood policy.Replacement coverage is provided under a flood policy for dwellings only if the home is your primary residence and if it's insured for at least 80 percent of its replacement cost (or the maximum available under the program).All other losses are adjusted on an actual cash value basis, including losses to contents and to other items such as carpeting, antennas, awnings, appliances, and miscellaneous outdoor equipment.Unfortunately, many people discover only after a flood that they aren't eligible for replacement coverage on their home because they were underinsured. This is frequently the case when home buyers purchase only enough flood coverage at time of close to satisfy the mortgage lender, then they don't update this amount or purchase additional coverage for their contents.

What To Do If You Are Involved In an Auto Accident:
(Print this page and place in your automobile for future reference)

• Stop your vehicle and move it to a position of safety. The law requires you to stop at the accident scene.
• Check all parties for injuries and call for medical assistance if needed.
• Exchange information with the other parties involved in the accident.  Names, addresses, telephone numbers, type and ownership of vehicles, insurance information and description of damages are important information to obtain.
• Try to identify any witnesses. Obtain their names, addresses and telephone numbers.
• Call the police. The police will advise you if their response to the scene is not necessary.
• Do not admit fault to anyone as there could be multiple factors contributing to an accident.Give factual details of your recollection of the accident and cooperate with the police in providing answers to their questions.
• If your vehicle needs to be towed, request that it be removed to a repair shop of your choice.
• As soon as possible, contact the company carrying your insurance to report the loss.  Refer to the list below.

What To Do in the Event of a Homeowners or
Commercial Property Loss:

• As soon as possible, contact the company carrying your insurance to report the loss. Refer to the list below.
• Make reasonable and necessary repairs to protect your property from further damage or loss.
• Keep a record of repair costs and retain receipts for any expenditures.
• If the loss involves theft or vandalism, notify the police immediately.

What To Do in the Event of a
Workers' Compensation Claim:

• Make sure the injured employee receives the proper and necessary medical attention.
• Complete the state-mandated accident reporting form.
• As soon as possible, contact the company carrying your insurance to report any alleged work-related injury.  Refer to the list below.

What To Do in the Event of a General Liability Claim:

• If an injury is involved, provide the necessary assistance to the injured party.
• Obtain the name, address and telephone number of the injured party.
• Try to obtain a brief description of what occurred.
• Obtain names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses.
• Do not admit fault or responsibility, but give factual details based on your knowledge and recollection of the incident.
• Cooperate fully with police or any authorities investigating.
• As soon as possible, contact the company carrying your insurance to report the loss.  Refer to the list below.