In the wake of the tragic tornadoes that ripped across the Midwest, our team has deployed to Kentucky in an effort to help those in need. Immediately following a catastrophe of this magnitude policyholders are not typically considering their insurance claims right away and it is very difficult to know where to start. We’ve created a Post Tornado Guide to help policyholders after sustaining damage, which you can find here.
While we’ve broken this into 8 steps, there are still many speed bumps you may encounter along the way. If you find yourself wondering whether a claim is being handled correctly, we recommend referencing the Kentucky Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act. In addition, first-party property insurance attorney, Chip Merlin, recently published a blog that references some additional key time constraints insurers must comply with.
Of specific importance, we noted the following:
“An insurer shall affirm or deny any liability on claims within a reasonable time and shall offer any payment due within 30 calendar days of receipt of due proof of loss. 806 KAR 12:095, Section 6(1)(a).
If the insurer needs more time to determine whether a first party claim should be accepted or denied, it shall so notify the first party claimant within 30 calendar days after receipt of the proof of loss, giving the reasons more time is needed. 806 KAR 12:095, Section 6(2)(a). If the investigation remains incomplete, the insurer shall, 45 calendar days from the date of the initial notification and every 45 calendar days thereafter, send to the first party claimant a letter stating the reasons additional time is needed for investigation. 806 KAR 12:095, Section 6(2)(b).”
When preparing a proper claims package, it is paramount to set a time clock by submitting an accurate Proof of Loss. If you are unsure of what this is or how to submit one properly, contact us to find out more information.8
