12
Nov

You might be aware of the most common ways your homeowner’s insurance protects you. Fire damage, burglary, windstorm, hail and liability are just a few common scenarios where your policy helps cover resulting damages. But do you know that vandalism is also covered by your policy? From broken lights to a smashed-in mailbox, let’s take a closer look at how your home insurance helps financially protect you from vandalism.

Simply put, the definition of vandalism is purposefully destroying or defacing someone’s property without their consent. It’s done in many types of ways – anything from smashing light fixtures to egging someone’s home. Basically, if someone intentionally does something to damage your property without your approval, it qualifies as vandalism.

Common acts of vandalism to the home include:

• Spray painting, painting or drawing on the home
• Breaking outdoor lights or windows
• Slashing tires
• Egging your home
• Tampering with plumbing
• Cutting trees or bushes without permission
• Arson
• Gluing locks
• Salting or destroying your lawn

Vandals love vacant homes and often choose them as their target. While most homeowner policies have provisions removing coverage for vandalism after a home has been vacant for 30 days (60 days in some states), many companies will cancel coverage as soon as they become aware that a home is vacant.

If you’re the victim of vandalism to your home, you’ll want to follow the steps below to ensure you get the most out of filling an insurance claim:

• Call the police and file an extensive police report. This report will be vital to your insurance claim, since it’s a detailed and accurate account of the damages that occurred.
• Take pictures of the crime scene for evidence.
• You can try to minimize the damage, like boarding up a broken window, but don’t make any repairs before your assigned claims adjuster comes to look at your house.
• Call your insurance company to file a claim. Make sure you have all the important documentation so you can better make your case — photos, videos and an inventory of anything destroyed will be helpful when filing your insurance claim.

Before you file an insurance claim you will want to consider how significant the damage is. Most policies contain a deductible. The amount of the claim needs to be considerably more than the deductible to make it worth filing the claim. While a claim may be valid, it may not always be wise to file it.

Sometimes a denial or underpayment of a claim takes place. Insurers know that only a small percentage of denied claims will be challenged. Even if they eventually have to pay out on the disputed claims, they still come out ahead financially. If you receive a denial in writing, start asking questions. The denial could have been made for the wrong reason, or because of inaccurate information, so be persistent. You always have the option of hiring a Public Insurance Adjuster to assist you with your claims process.

The examples and perspective in this article are the opinion of Claim Ally. Claim Ally Does Not practice law nor does it provide legal advice.