The Importance of Complying with Insurance Company Requests
If you’ve ever made a claim, you were likely sent letters requesting things like documents, recorded statements, inspections and even Sworn Proofs of Loss. Like any other busy person, you may have thought “I’ll get to this later” or “This can’t be that important.” However, it is extremely important to comply with these requests.
Insurance policies contain “duties” that you must comply with in order for coverage to be provided. One of the most important is providing the information they request and complying with their requests. Failure to comply means that they could deny your claim based on that alone and it could damage any ability to challenge their decision in the courts.
What if you don’t have any of the documents they are requesting? If insurance companies don’t receive a response, they assume you have the documents and are not providing them. If you don’t have any of the things they are asking for, make sure to let them know that preferably in writing.
Additionally, it is equally important that you provide them access to the property even more than once if they request it. They may also seek something called a Sworn Proof of Loss. This is a form provided by the insurance company that seeks information about the property and the amount that you are seeking. It must be signed in the presence of a notary to verify that the information is accurate. Typically, there is a deadline to return these of sixty (60) days, but check the letter as it should notify you of your deadline.
And if the thought of all of this overwhelms you? Call our office. We assist clients with their claims even before they are in litigation and can walk you through the process to make sure you preserve your rights.
Mindy McLester, Esq.
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