Tenn. Commissioner Offers Insurance Advise to Storm Victims

The recent tornadoes have had a devastating impact on many Tennesseans. Rebuilding after a devastating storm can be a difficult and complex process, said Leslie A. Newman, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

In an effort to ease the process of dealing with insurance companies, Newman suggests victims follow these steps:

1. As soon as possible after the event, contact your insurance carrier or your agent. Locate a copy of your policy and read through it.
2. Make a thorough inventory of all the items missing or damaged from your home for your adjuster.
3. Take pictures, if possible, of all the damage, inside and out, from several angles to get a full documentation of the damage before any repairs are made.
4. Secure and protect your property against further rain or other damage as much as possible without making permanent repairs, so that the adjuster can see and document the full extent of the damage.
5. Keep receipts for expenses of protecting your property from further damage.
6. Follow the claims filing procedure set forth in your policy. If there is a dispute, follow the company’s dispute process.
7. Many larger companies have quick-response teams that come into areas of heavy damage to process large numbers of claims as quickly as possible. Others will not send someone out unless you call them.

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance is available to assist consumers as they look to rebuild after this week’s storms. Department staff can be reached at (615) 741-2218 or toll-free in state (800) 342-4029.

Source: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance