HOW TO FILE A HURRICANE IRENE CLAIM
(Added on 8/27/2011)
If Hurricane Irene caused damage to your home or business, it is essential that you properly report and document your claim. Your policy has very specific requirements (referred to as post loss obligations) and if you do not comply with these obligations, your carrier can delay or deny your claim in its entirety.
Below is some guidance on managing your Hurricane Irene Claim.
1) Promptly file a claim with your carrier
Many people rely on their insurance agent and notify their agent of the loss. We highly recommend that you contact your insurance carrier directly (not your agent). A list of insurance company phone numbers is below. You may contact your agent as well, but do not rely upon your agent to report you claim.
After Hurricane Wilma in Florida, State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide and other insurance companies denied claims for failure to give proper notice of the loss. In many cases a policyholder called their agent, not the insurance company, and the agent advised the policyholder not to file a claim because their damages were below their deductible. The policyholder later discovered that their damages greatly exceed their deductible but carriers would deny the claim for late notice because the agent never notified the carrier of the claim.
2) Always file a claim even if you think your damages are below your deductible
If you are unsure of the cost to repair your damages, file a claim even if you believe that they may be below your deductible. Damages that may appear minor after the storm may become more significant over time. For example, it may appear that your roof has only minor damages, but over time your roof may leak because of hidden damages incurred during the hurricane (this is especially true with tile roofs). If you file a claim, you are protected if your damages re-appear in the future.
3) Write down the date you report the claim and the claim number
If you report your claim over the phone, make sure that you receive a claim number. This number should be included all communications with the carrier. If you do not receive a written notice of your claim from your insurance company within seven days, call back to ensure that your claim was properly opened.
4) Take pictures before your repair anything
It is critical that you photograph your damages before you make any emergency repairs. Your policy requires that the insurance company must have an opportunity to inspect the loss. If you repair your damages, you may be violating the policy. However, your policy does allow you to make emergency repairs and to mitigate future damages.
5) Take photographs of all damaged electronics and appliances
Before your dispose of any damaged electronics or appliance, photograph the damaged item, including the serial number and model number. Insurance companies require you to prove the age and cost of your damaged contents and this information is critical in substantiating your loss.
6) Get help
A Hurricane Claim is likely the largest single claim you will file in your lifetime. If you feel overwhelm or need professional assistance, contact a public adjuster or an attorney to represent you in your claim.
Insurance Company Telephone Numbers
|
Company |
Main claims number |
Disaster claims number |
|
AIG Insurance Co. |
AIG Personal Lines: |
AIG Personal Lines: |
|
(800) 433-8880 |
(800) 433-8880 |
|
|
AIG Commercial Lines: |
AIG Commercial Lines: |
|
|
(888) 244-2736 |
(888) 244-2736 |
|
|
Allied Mutual Insurance Co. |
(800) 282-9445 |
(800) 282-9445 |
|
Allstate Insurance Co. |
(800) 386-6126 |
(800) 547-8676 |
|
Amco Insurance Co. |
(800) 282-9445 |
(800) 282-9445 |
|
American Casualty Co. |
(800) 437-8854 |
(800) 437-8854 |
|
American Employers Insurance Co. |
In Mass.: |
In Mass.: |
|
(800) 284-6730 |
(800) 284-6730 |
|
|
Outside Mass.: |
Outside Mass.: |
|
|
(508) 549-9147 |
(508) 549-9147 |
|
|
American Family Mutual Insurance Co. |
(800) 374-1111 |
|
|
American Home Assurance Co. |
Personal: |
Personal: |
|
(800) 562-2208 |
(800) 562-2208 |
|
|
Business: |
Business: |
|
|
(877) 366-8423 |
(877) 366-8423 |
|
|
American International Ins Co. |
(800) 562-2208 |
(800) 562-2208 |
|
American States Insurance Co. |
(888) 557-5010 |
(888) 723-3265 |
|
Anthem Casualty Insurance Co. |
(800) 537-5568 |
(800) 299-6303 |
|
Arbella Mutual Insurance Co. |
|
(800) 972-5348 |
|
Arkwright Mutual Insurance Co. |
(781) 890-9300 ext. 2502 |
Set up during disaster |
|
Atlanta Casualty Co. |
(770) 447-8930 |
(770) 447-8930 |
|
Atlantic Mutual Insurance Co. |
(800) 945-7461 |
|
|
Auto Club of Southern California Interinsurance Exchange |
24-hour, toll-free claims hotline |
(800) 67CLAIM |
|
Auto-Owners Insurance Co. |
(517) 323-1365 |
(517) 323-1365 |
|
Berkshire Mutual Insurance Co. |
(800) 892-8877 |
(800) 892-8877 |
|
Birmingham Fire Insurance of PA |
(877) 366-8423 |
(877) 366-8423 |
|
Buckeye Union Insurance Co. |
(312) 822-5000 |
(312) 822-5000 |
|
California State Auto Assn. Inter-Ins |
(800) 922-8228 |
(800) 922-8228 |
|
Camden Fire Insurance Assn. |
(888) 421-2111 |
(800) 456-0996 |
|
CIGNA Property & Casualty Ins Co. |
(215) 761-1000 |
Varies by state. Call main number. |
|
Cincinnati Insurance Co. |
Call your agent |
Temporary storm offices set up on an as-needed basis |
|
Citizens Insurance Co. of America |
(800) 628-0250 |
(800) 628-0250 |
|
Colonial Penn Insurance Co. |
(800) 523-4040 |
(800) 523-4040 |
|
Commerce & Industry Insurance Co. |
(877) 366-8423 |
(877) 366-8423 |
|
Commerce Insurance Co. |
(800) 221-1605 |
(800) 221-1605 |
|
Commercial Union Insurance Co. |
In Mass.: |
In Mass.: |
|
(800) 284-6730 |
(800) 284-6730 |
|
|
Outside of Mass.: |
Outside of Mass.: |
|
|
(508) 549-9147 |
(508) 549-9147 |
|
|
Continental Casualty Co. |
(312) 822-5000 |
(312) 822-5000 |
|
Continental Insurance Co. |
(312) 822-5000 |
(312) 822-5000 |
|
Coregis Insurance Co. |
(312) 849-5000 |
(312) 849-5000 |
|
Country Companies Insurance Group |
(800) 846-0100 |
(800) 846-0100 |
|
CUMIS Insurance Society Inc |
(800) 637-2676 |
(800) 637-2676 |
|
Dairyland Insurance Co. |
(715) 346-9200 |
(715) 346-9200 |
|
Deerbrook Insurance Co. |
(800) 253-6611 |
|
|
Explorer Insurance Co. |
In Calif.: |
|
|
(800) 788-8984 |
||
|
Outside Calif.: |
||
|
(858) 350-2400 |
||
|
Farmers Insurance Group of Cos. |
(888) 516-5656 |
(888) 344-4343 |
|
Fidelity & Deposit Co. of MD |
(800) 854-6011 |
(800) 854-6011 |
|
Fire Insurance Exchange |
(888) 516-5656 |
(888) 344-4343 |
|
Firemens Insurance Co. of Newark NJ |
(312) 822-5000 |
(312) 822-5000 |
|
Foremost Insurance Co. |
(800) 527-3907 |
(800) 527-3907 |
|
Fortune Insurance Co. |
(800) 933-8585 |
|
|
GEICO Indemnity Co. |
(800) 841-3000 |
|
|
General Accident Ins. Co. of America (CGU) |
(888) 421-2111 |
(800) 456-0996 |
|
General Casualty of WI |
(888) 737-8256 |
(888) 737-8256 |
|
General Insurance Co. of America |
(206) 545-5841 |
(206) 545-5841 |
|
Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. |
(912) 474-8411 |
(912) 474-8411 |
|
Government Employees Insurance Co. |
(800) 841-3000 |
|
|
Grange Mutual Casualty Co. |
(800) 445-3030 |
(800) 445-3030 |
|
Great American Insurance Co. |
(800) 724-7722 |
Set up during disaster |
|
Great West Casualty Co. |
(800) 228-8040 |
|
|
Hanover Insurance Co. |
(508) 855-8000 |
(508) 855-8000 |
|
Harleysville Insurance Cos. |
(800) 892-8877 |
(800) 892-8877 |
|
Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co. |
Personal: |
Personal: |
|
(800) 243-5860 |
(800) 243-5860 |
|
|
Business: |
Business: |
|
|
1-800-327-3636 |
1-800-327-3636 |
|
|
Hartford Casualty Insurance Co. |
Personal: |
Personal: |
|
(800) 243-5860 |
(800) 243-5860 |
|
|
Business: |
Business: |
|
|
1-800-327-3636 |
1-800-327-3636 |
|
|
Hartford Fire Insurance Co. |
Personal: |
Personal: |
|
(800) 243-5860 |
(800) 243-5860 |
|
|
Business: |
Business: |
|
|
1-800-327-3636 |
1-800-327-3636 |
|
|
Horace Mann Insurance Co. |
(800) 999-1030 |
|
|
Infinity Southern Insurance Co. |
(800) 334-1661 |
(800) 334-1661 |
|
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance |
(888) 392-5246 |
|
|
Insurance Co. of North America |
(215) 761-1000 |
Varies by state. Call main number. |
|
Insurance Co. of the State of PA |
Personal: |
Personal: |
|
(800) 562-2208 |
(800) 562-2208 |
|
|
Business: |
Business: |
|
|
(877) 366-8423 |
(877) 366-8423 |
|
|
Integon National Insurance Co. |
(800) 468-3466 |
(800) 468-3466 |
|
Interinsurance Exchange Auto Club So. |
(714) 850-5111 |
(714) 850-5111 |
|
John Deere Insurance Co. |
(800) 635-3377 |
|
|
Kemper Auto and Home |
1-888-216-6066 |
|
|
Kemper Insurance Co. |
Call your agent |
Personal: |
|
(800) 3-KEMPER |
||
|
(800-353-6737) |
||
|
Commericial: |
||
|
(800) 450-0692 |
||
|
Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Ins. Co. |
Call your agent |
|
|
Lexington Insurance Co. |
(877) 366-8423 |
(877) 366-8423 |
|
Liberty Insurance Corp. |
(800) 526-1547 |
(800) 526-1547 |
|
Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co. |
(800) 526-1547 |
(800) 526-1547 |
|
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. |
(800) 526-1547 |
(800) 526-1547 |
|
Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Co. |
Call your agent |
Personal: |
|
(800) 3-KEMPER |
||
|
(800-353-6737) |
||
|
Commericial: |
||
|
(800) 450-0692 |
||
|
Medical Liability Mutual Ins Co. |
(212) 576-9850 |
|
|
Metropolitan Property & Casualty Co. |
(800) 854-6011 |
(800) 854-6011 |
|
Mid-Century Insurance Co. |
(888) 516-5656 |
(888) 344-4343 |
|
Motors Insurance Corp. |
(313) 556-4632 |
|
|
National Fire Ins. Co. of Hartford |
(312) 822-5000 |
(312) 822-5000 |
|
National Indemnity Co |
(402) 536-3000 |
|
|
National Union Fire Ins. Pittsburgh |
Personal: |
Personal: |
|
(800) 562-2208 |
(800) 562-2208 |
|
|
Business: |
Business: |
|
|
(877) 366-8423 |
(877) 366-8423 |
|
|
Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Co. |
(800) 421-3535 |
(800) 421-3535 |
|
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. |
(800) 421-3535 |
(800) 421-3535 |
|
New Hampshire Insurance Co. |
(877) 366-8423 |
(877) 366-8423 |
|
New Jersey Manufacturers Ins. Co. |
(609) 883-1300 |
|
|
New York Casualty Insurance Co. |
(800) 892-8877 |
(800) 892-8877 |
|
North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Ins. |
(919) 782-1705 ext. 8693 |
(919) 782-1705 ext. 8693 |
|
North River Insurance Co. |
In Mass.: |
In Mass.: |
|
(800) 284-6730 |
(800) 284-6730 |
|
|
Outside of Mass.: |
Outside of Mass.: |
|
|
(508) 549-9147 |
(508) 549-9147 |
|
|
Northern Assurance Co. of America |
(617) 725-7033 |
(617) 725-7033 |
|
Occidental Fire & Casualty Insurance Co. |
(800) 525-7486 |
(800) 525-7486 |
|
Ohio Casualty Insurance Co. |
(513) 867-3000 |
|
|
Oklahoma Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Co. |
(800) 364-1511 |
|
|
Omni Insurance Co. |
(800) 727-OMNI |
Varies by state. Call main number. |
|
(6664) |
||
|
Pacific Employers Insurance Co. |
(215) 761-1000 |
Varies by state. Call main number. |
|
Phoenix Insurance Co. |
(800) 252-4633 |
(800) 252-4633 |
|
Preferred Risk Mutual Insurance Co. |
(515) 267-5299 |
(515) 267-5299 |
|
Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. |
(800) 274-4499 |
Set up during disaster |
|
Progressive Northern Insurance Co. |
(800) 274-4499 |
Set up during disaster |
|
Progressive Northwestern Ins. Co. |
(800) 274-4499 |
Set up during disaster |
|
Progressive Specialty Insurance Co. |
(800) 274-4499 |
Set up during disaster |
|
Protection Mutual Insurance Co. |
(847) 825-4474 |
(847) 825-4474 |
|
Reliance Insurance Co. |
(215) 761-1000 |
Varies by state. Call main number. |
|
Republic Underwriters Insurance Co. |
(214) 559-1270 |
(214) 559-1270 |
|
Rockingham Mutual Insurance Co. |
(800) 662-5246 |
|
|
Royal Insurance Co. of America |
(800) 847-6925 |
Set up during disaster |
|
Safeco Insurance |
(800) 332 3226 |
|
|
Scottsdale Insurance Co. |
(480) 948-0505 |
(480) 948-0505 |
|
Selective Insurance Co. of America |
(973) 948-2900 |
|
|
Sentry Insurance a Mutual Co. |
(715) 346-9200 |
(715) 346-9200 |
|
Shelter Mutual Insurance Co. |
(800) SHELTER |
(800) 743-5837 |
|
Southern United Fire Insurance Co. |
(800) 851-9476 |
(800) 851-9476 |
|
Standard Fire Insurance Co. |
(800) 252-4633 |
(800) 252-4633 |
|
State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. |
Call your agent |
(800) 732-5246 |
|
State Farm Indemnity Co. |
Call your agent |
(800) 732-5246 |
|
State Farm Lloyds |
Call your agent |
(800) 732-5246 |
|
State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. |
Call your agent |
(800) 732-5246 |
|
Travelers |
(860) 277-0111 |
(800) CLAIM-33 |
|
(800) 252-4633 |
||
|
Trinity Universal Insurance Co. |
(214) 360-8039 |
(800) 777-2249 ext. 8575 |
|
Twentieth Century Insurance Co. |
(800) 211-7283 |
(800) 211-7283 |
|
United Services Automobile Assn. |
(800) 531-8222 |
(800) 531-8222 |
|
United States Fire Insurance Co. |
(800) 690-5520 |
(800) 690-5520 |
|
USAA Casualty Insurance Co. |
(800) 531-8222 |
(800) 531-8222 |
|
Utica Mutual Insurance Co. |
(800) 695-1914 |
|
|
Vesta Fire Insurance Corp. |
(800) 444-3928 |
|
|
Westfield Insurance Co. |
(800) 443-3311 |
(800) 241-2541 |
|
Windsor Group |
(800) 852-8220 |
(888) 951-5599 |
|
Worcester Insurance Co. |
(800) 892-8877 |
(800) 892-8877 |
|
Zenith Insurance Co. |
(800) 440-5020 |
(800) 440-5020 |
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