Community Corner

After The Storm: How to Claim Damage To Home, Vehicle

Tips from an insurance agent on claiming losses.

For thousands of Montgomery County residents, the process of making insurance claims now begins.

According to State Farm Spokeswoman Anna Bryant, the agency has received more than 2,180 property claims and approximately 260 automobile claims in Maryland.

Barbara Slacum, an insurance agent with the State Farm Agency owned by Joyce Gladstone on Main Street in Upper Marlboro, said she received numerous calls from residents Monday, most of which were inquiries about deductibles and what damage was covered under their policies.

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“One resident called because trees fell down in his backyard and he wanted State Farm to replace the trees,” Slacum said, “but it wasn’t something that was covered.”

A number of people called in to claim wind damage to their roofs, destruction of decks, trees falling onto their home or their neighbor’s home and damage to their car, she said.

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The intensity of the storm and the state of emergency declared by Gov. Martin O’Malley means that residents can file for a catastrophic claim (CAT claim) through their insurance company or agent.

Although some neighborhoods hosted block parties over the weekend to cook food before it spoiled, Slacum said insurance can cover food loss if the amount of food is worth more than the client’s deductible.

But, she added that residents should read their insurance policies to see what damage is covered or contact their local agency.

For those with storm damage to their property, here are a few tips from the Allstate Insurance’s website:

  • Take account of the loss and separate the damaged from the undamaged personal property.
  • If available, provide your adjuster with photos or video recordings of the loss site prior to the event. This will assist your adjuster with the damage evaluation process.
  • If necessary, have a qualified repair service or contractor make temporary repairs to prevent additional loss. Be sure to obtain a bill or invoice for this service so you can present it to your adjuster for consideration of reimbursement.
  • If bills were lost or destroyed due to the damage, contact your creditors to establish a workable solution. Discuss payment issues with them directly; creditors usually appreciate forthrightness.
  • If your home is uninhabitable, check with your agent or check your policy to determine if you have coverage for additional living expenses.
  • Save all receipts to document your increase in living expenses while your home is uninhabitable.
  • Contact the utility companies to discontinue service if your home is uninhabitable or destroyed.

For more information on how to claim your loss or to get help, read State Farm or Allstate's websites.


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