How long do you have to file a homeowners insurance claim

How long is too long to file a home insurance claim? In most cases, it’s almost never too late to file a claim. That isn’t to say you should wait a few years before filing a claim for something that recently happened. It is very much recommended that you file a claim as soon as you can and inform your insurance company with the details.

Most home insurance companies will not have a time limit in place to file a claim. The wording of the majority of home insurance policies regarding claims is for the most part very general. Your home insurance policy may say you should file a claim “promptly” or “as soon as possible”. Both terms can differ for each individual. Say for example something is preventing you from making the claim right away. Maybe outside circumstances make it difficult to file a claim. Every situation is different. Although, if you can file your claim immediately it is recommended you do so. 

There are situations especially when medical issues are involved where you not be able to file a claim right away. It’s pretty common that in situations like these the claim may not be filed for a few weeks to a month. Serious health issues can appear or even more daunting issues. Please keep in mind most personal injury protection claims require you submit a claim in a 2 – 3 year timeframe. Medical payments have been found to have a very similar requirement of about 3 years. 

Home insurance policies can vary from company to company, so you’re always going to want to check with your personal home insurance company for the exact time frame. 

Downside of filing a late home insurance claim

If you’re unable to file your claim right away there are risks that may come up. Below we go over an example that could arise do to not filing your claim as soon as you can. 

For example you may suffer damage to your home and for whatever reason wait a very long time to file your home insurance claim. In a situation like this you will have to do whatever in your power to mitigate the damages so they do not get worse. Your home insurance company has agreed to cover the initial damage, but if more damage happens later on that could’ve been prevented there’s a good chance you will have to pay for the additional damages out of pocket. 

Even though you may be well within your right to delay filing a home insurance claim it is not a recommended practice. You should always file a police report the same day if necessary and report to your home insurance company as soon as you possibly can. 

Do your own due diligence 

As this article has a lot to do with my personal opinion, you will always want to do your own due diligence. Each home insurance company will have different rules in place. From state to state regulations can differ as well. It is always best to do your own research so you know the exact facts for your personal situation. 

While the exact specifics regarding when to claim may differ from home insurance policy to home insurance policy, it’s always best to contact your home insurance company right away. There is always the chance that filing late results in a denial of your home insurance claim. 

It’s important for you to read your home insurance policy so you know what is and isn’t covered. Each home insurance policy will have information on when they would like to receive your claim. It’s always good practice to proceed in a fashion that’s inline with the insurance company insuring your home. 

In some cases a home insurance company may require a written notice within 30 days to a year of the incident. Again this will vary from home insurance company to home insurance company. In some situations failing to do so or waiting too long can be grounds to prove that you’re not in compliance with your homeowners insurance policy. Which in turn will give them the right to deny your claim. 

One of the main reasons for this is you will need to prove the damages from the claim are from the recent catastrophe and not created as a result of neglect or a delay in getting the repairs done in a timely manner. 

For example say a storm broke a window and you delay filing the claim and getting the repairs done as soon as possible. This broken window then becomes a bigger issue and creates more damage than the original issue. If the home inspector finds that this damage could have been prevented there is a very good chance your claim may be denied due to negligence. If it appears this damage could have been prevented you might be responsible for the repairs. 

What if the damage wasn’t obvious and went unnoticed?

If you didn’t notice the damage to your home things can get a little complicated. Say for example a storm caused some damage. You heard the noise from the storm but do not see any noticeable damage. As time goes on this issue becomes a larger issue creating more damage than the original problem. Your home insurance company may deny your claim due to failure to repair the issue. 

Because of situations like these it’s always best to do a thorough investigation if you think damage may have been caused. It’s also a good practice to let your insurance company know of any issues as soon as you possibly can. 

Wrapping up; If you have additional questions regarding home insurance and are located in California please feel free to reach out to one of our wonderful agents at Eugene C Yates Insurance Agency. Not only are they experts when it comes to home insurance, they are also incredibly nice people! Call us today at 916 313 6100