Before you make a claim for your Los Angeles earthquake insurance, there are a few things that you should know. It is important that you realize that in the unfortunate scenario of an earthquake, things will get distressing for you. But, if you don’t act in the right way and do so quickly, things are only going to get worse. Here are some of the important things that you should know about before you make a claim.
The first thing that you should know is whether your insurance will cover earthquake insurance. Well, in most cases, the answer is no. Most standard homeowner’s and renter’s insurance would not cover earthquakes. However, they might cover some of the damages resulting from the quake. For example, if the quake causes the water pipes to burst, thereby resulting in water damage, then that might be covered.
If you are looking for coverage in case of an earthquake, then you would need to get a separate insurance policy or get an endorsement from a private insurer. Citizens of Los Angeles can also get coverage against earthquakes from the California Earthquake Authority or the CEA.
The CEA offers an earthquake policy, which is a good option for homeowners in Los Angeles. Since they are a not-for-profit mission, they claim that they ‘set earthquake house insurance rates based on the latest science, not profit’.
If you have coverage against earthquakes, then you need to act quickly. When your home is damaged by an earthquake, the first thing that you need to do is to ensure the safety of your family. Evacuate the property and don’t move back in until the authorities deem it to be safe.
Once you are back in, you need to call your insurance company immediately. Most insurers require you to inform them as soon as possible, some in as little as 48 hours after the disaster. So, you need to make sure that you inform them and start the claims process as quickly as you can. When making the Los Angeles Earthquake damage insurance claim insurance, you would need to schedule a visit with the insurance adjuster from the insurance company. They will assess the damage.
Once you have informed the insurance company, you will need to give us a call. Our team of Los Angeles public adjusters will take care of the rest. However, before we arrive, make sure that you don’t remove any valuable items from the property. These will need to be documented for the insurance claims process.
If you indeed decide to go for earthquake insurance, it is also important that you understand which kind of damages are most likely not to be covered by your Earthquake insurance.
Earthquake insurance normally does not cover any of the damages that your homeowner’s policy already covers. For example, if your homeowner’s policy covers fire damage, then your earthquake policy will not cover it even if the earthquake has caused the fire.
Usually, earthquake insurance does not cover damage to the land. This includes sinkholes from erosion or other hidden openings under your land.
Earthquake insurance does not cover damage to your vehicles. Check your auto insurance policy to find out if it covers that damage.
Earthquake insurance will not cover any water damage from outside your home, like sewer or drain back-up, flood, or tsunami. For example, if you live near a lake that floods your home after an earthquake, earthquake insurance will not pay to repair the damage. A flood insurance policy will cover you.
As professional adjusters in Los Angeles, we have years of experience in helping homeowners like you to deal with the process of insurance claim settlements.
The success of a professional adjuster depends on the way the damage is assessed and classified as that is the only way to maximize the chance of getting the desired results. Our team will carefully review your insurance policy and then classify the damages to make sure that you get the maximum coverage.
You would be getting all the updates regularly so that you know the exact status of the claims settlement process. This helps you to plan accordingly and minimize the impact of damage on your life.
As said before, when you have to make the claim for earthquake damage, you would need to act fast with a definite strategy in mind. At Done Right Restoration, we follow an efficient process that would enable us to settle claims without wasting any valuable time or compromising on your rightful claim.
The first that is done is to review the policy to understand the coverage that you would be getting as well as other details which are important for the overall claims process.
Next, the damage assessment is conducted by a team of experts. A list of damaged items would be prepared and the damage will be properly categorized, aiming to get the maximum coverage.
Next, we would prepare all the necessary paperwork so that you can get the application made in the right way. Lapses in the paperwork are one of the most common reasons why settlements are delayed.
Next the meeting with the claims adjuster is scheduled. The team with work with the adjuster to ensure that all the damage is properly assessed
Now, the negotiation process with the insurance company will begin. All steps would be taken to make sure that you the maximum payout and that too, without any delay.
Here is an overview of the steps involved and the time taken to file for earthquake damage insurance in Los Angeles:
| Step | Description | Approximate Time Taken |
| Step 1: Assess the Damage | After an earthquake, assess the damage to your property, including structural damage, contents damage, and any additional losses. Document the damage with photos and/or videos. | Varies depending on the extent of the damage |
| Step 2: Contact Insurance Provider | Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to initiate the claims process. Provide them with the details of the earthquake damage, including the date, time, and location of the event, as well as the extent of the damage. | 1-2 days |
| Step 3: File Claim | File a formal claim with your insurance provider. This typically involves completing a claims form and providing documentation, such as the assessment of the damage, receipts for repairs, and any other relevant information requested by the insurance provider. | 1-2 weeks |
| Step 4: Assessment and Investigation | The insurance provider will assess and investigate the earthquake damage claim. This may involve sending an adjuster to inspect the property, reviewing the documentation provided, and verifying the coverage and policy details. | 1-4 weeks, depending on the complexity of the claim |
| Step 5: Claim Evaluation | The insurance provider will evaluate the claim based on the coverage and policy details, and determine the amount of the claim that will be paid out if approved. They may also negotiate with the policyholder on the claim amount. | 1-2 weeks, or longer for complex claims |
| Step 6: Claim Settlement | If the claim is approved, the insurance provider will issue a settlement payment to the policyholder. The payment may be for the full amount of the claim or a partial amount, depending on the coverage and deductible. | 1-2 weeks |
It depends on the kind of insurance that you have. For example, if you have CEA insurance then loss of work will be covered.
This depends on several factors, like the insurance company, the extent of the damage, as well as its nature. However, compared to other damages, earthquake damage insurance is settled faster.
Yes, you can make if you have separate policies for earthquake and fire damage, then you can make claims on both of them. However, if the fire is a result of the earthquake, then certain insurers might prevent you from making separate claims from the same event.
