Filling An Auto Insurance Claim For Interior Water Damage
Auto insurance policies can be used to cover a broad variety of damage that happens to a vehicle. The most common type will be that which has resulted from a collision, and includes typical maladies such as dented or broken hoods and tail lights, failed engines and paint or body damage. An auto insurance claim for this type of damage will almost always be successful, as there will be another vehicle for the insurance company to look at and police statements and documentation which can be used to confirm that an accident did indeed happen. But while this is the most often-reported type of damage claimed, there are a number of other injuries that a car can sustain and that may be claimed through an insurance policy - including interior water damage.
Car owners typically think of their homes or condos being damaged during a flood, rather than their vehicles, but even parked in a secured garage a car can be damaged by a heavy rainstorm or flood. This damage can take the form of wet carpets or a destroyed interior, but it can also be found in the engine and may lead to things like spark plugs that don't work, hoses that corroded or broken pumps that are no longer usable. When this happens, getting an insurance company to pay for the damage can be a challenge as there is not as much evidence to support the claim that water damage is the cause of the problem.
If a major storm has occurred, data should be available to an insurance company confirming that fact. As an owner, the first thing that should be done if a car has suspected water damage is to take it to a body shop and have it looked at. If it can be determined that spark plugs have water in them or that the interior has been damaged or corroded by water, it will go a long way toward a successful claim with an insurance company and getting the interior water damage paid for. It is important to note, however, that no auto insurance claim will be successful if an owner does not have the proper coverage in place to address it. A policy that does not have comprehensive coverage, as an example, will likely not be covered in the event of an interior damage issue, no matter the reason.
When making an auto insurance claim for interior water damage, an owner must be prepared for a challenge and to reliably demonstrate how their vehicle was damaged in order to successfully have their vehicle repairs paid for by their insurance provider.
