Using technology to document a claim

Lake Charles, Louisiana, residents know a thing or two about hurricanes. In 2020 alone, this area dealt with both Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta. Homeowners here understand all too well the requirements for filing insurance claims. One thing they may not have considered is that technology offers new and promising ways to document their losses.

Harnessing the power of social

In early 2021, one woman from Louisiana took her frustrations to TikTok. She explained her attempts to communicate with her insurance company to her tens of thousands of followers. She stated how they were failing her. She felt that the company was consistently making low-ball settlement offers and denying some of the obvious damage to her home.

In her case, the story went viral. With others witnessing her claim and affirming the level of damage, her insurance company backed down. They came to accept that she did, actually, suffer more damage than they’d been willing to admit at first. This is one example of using social media after the fact to achieve progress with a claim.

Other people may find that their hurricane claims can be enhanced by photographic and video evidence of the damage. It can be advisable to take photos of everything. Before a storm hits, it’s a good idea to scan copies of pertinent insurance documents with a smartphone. After the storm, doing a video walkthrough and taking many pictures is prudent.

Having evidence and support can help policyholders overcome the objections of an insurance company. Another key can be retaining a lawyer as an advocate. Their loyalty is to their client, and their client’s well-being. Insurance adjusters and insurance company lawyers are beholden to their employers. That can influence the low figure settlements they attempt to press on policyholders.