If your home has been damaged by a storm, you’re going to be facing several challenges, the top among them being restoring your home to a liveable state. However, another key hurdle will be getting the financial compensation you need to make those repairs — and the sooner, the better. 

Keep reading to learn about the timeline you can expect to follow when filing a storm damage homeowner’s insurance claim. Remember that your insurance company has to act in a timely manner when responding to your claim. Failure to do so could be a bad faith tactic.

How Long Do You Have to File After a Storm?

Luckily, you will have some time after a storm before you need to have things in order to file an insurance claim. In most cases, you will have up to one year from the date the damage occurred to file a claim, but you should check your policy to be sure.

In any case, your insurance claim should be one of the first things on your mind after a storm has passed. You’ll need to document any damage before making any kind of repair, but you can make immediate repairs as needed to prevent further damage. See our prior guide for more information about what to do after a storm to make a successful claim.

How Long Will It Take To Know if Your Homeowner’s Insurance Claim Was Approved?

After you file your claim and all the associated proof and documentation, your insurance company has just 15 business days to either accept or deny it. This deadline may be extended in case of major disasters, so it’s a good idea to ask your insurance company about their expected timeline for acceptance. 

If you believe your insurance company is delaying accepting your claim, you should reach out to a bad faith insurance attorney for help.

How Long Does It Take To Get a Storm Damage Claim Settlement Payout?

If your claim is accepted by your insurance company, you can expect to get a payout within a few days or a few weeks. The best way to ensure a speedy acceptance and payout process is by carefully reviewing your application to ensure all required documentation is included. 

Again, if you feel your insurance company is wrongfully delaying in paying out your claim, you should talk to a bad faith insurance attorney.

What Happens if My Storm Damage Insurance Claim Is Denied?

If you feel your storm damage claim was wrongfully denied, you should contact a bad faith insurance attorney to discuss the right path forward. You’ll need to be careful with your next steps to protect your rights. If your claim is denied, the first step is to file an internal appeal with your insurance company. You have 180 days from the time the claim is denied to file an appeal. After your appeal has been filed, your insurance company has 30 days to respond.

If your insurance company denies your internal appeal, you may need to file a storm damage lawsuit. You should reach out to an experienced storm damage insurance attorney for help making a strong case.

Has your storm damage claim been denied in bad faith? Reach out to a homeowner’s insurance attorney today to learn about your options.

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