Storm Claims Reach Historic Highs: Strategies to Avoid Adjuster Delays
Convective storms, hail, and high winds have led to record-breaking insurance payouts this quarter, prompting carriers to tighten claims operations. As insurance companies face a massive influx of filings, policyholders are experiencing severe delays in inspections, communication, and settlement check processing. Understanding how to navigate this bottleneck is critical to getting your property repaired on time.
The Cause of the Bottleneck
A shortage of experienced field adjusters, combined with supply-chain issues for common roofing and construction materials, has created a perfect storm. Many carriers are relying heavily on independent adjusting firms and third-party desk adjusters who have never visited the property. This disconnect often leads to lowball estimates that fail to account for local labor rates and building material costs.
How to Document and Speed Up Your Claim
To ensure your claim doesn’t get lost in the backlog, you must take a proactive approach to documentation and evidence assembly:
- Create an Immediate Photographic Record: Take wide and close-up photos of all damages immediately after the storm. Do not clean up debris or make permanent repairs until the adjuster has inspected the site, unless temporary mitigation is required to prevent further damage.
- Document Your Mitigation Efforts: You have a policy obligation to mitigate further damage. If your roof is leaking, hire a professional to tarp it. Save all receipts, invoices, and photo proof of the tarping process to submit for full reimbursement.
- Get an Independent Contractor Estimate: Do not rely solely on the insurance adjuster’s estimate. Secure a detailed, line-item estimate from a licensed, local contractor using industry-standard estimating software (like Xactimate). This gives you a solid factual basis to dispute any underpayments.
If your insurer is unresponsive, keep a detailed log of all phone calls, emails, and text messages. If delays exceed statutory guidelines (usually 30 to 40 days depending on the state), you may have grounds to file a formal complaint with your state’s Department of Insurance.