What every Insurance Claimant should Remember about Keeping Records!

If you have a Boca Raton bad faith insurance claim, your success or failure could depend upon whether you keep accurate records about your claim. You should keep a record of everything you do, and all conversations you have, involving your claim. Experience has taught us that the best way you can maintain accurate records is by keeping an Activity Log and by sending confirming letters to the people with whom you speak.

Your Activity Log should be a separate record devoted to your claim. It could, but does not have to be, a notebook. The important thing is keeping all your records in date order in one place so that your information is well organized and easy to find when you need it. Whenever you take any action involving your claim, you should summarize what you have done in your Activity Log. You should also write down the date, the beginning time, and the ending time of your activity. If you speak to anyone about your claim, summarize your conversation in your Activity Log. State whether your conversation was over the telephone or in person. If your conversation was over the telephone, it is a good idea to write down the telephone number of the person to whom you spoke. If your conversation was in person, state where your meeting took place. Make sure to write down the date, the beginning time, and the ending time of your conversation. This may sound tedious, but it could make the difference between the success or failure of your Boca Raton bad faith claim.

There is another important thing you should do. When you speak to a representative of the insurance company, it is not enough to make an entry in your Activity Log. You also should send a letter to the person with whom you spoke summarizing your conversation. This is known as a “confirming letter.” Sending a confirming letter avoids misunderstandings. A confirming letter proves both that a conversation took place and what was said. If the person to whom you send your confirming letter disagrees with your understanding of the conversation, he or she may write back to you to express his or her understanding of the conversation. If he or she does not write back, you have proof that your letter is correct. If you do receive a return letter disagreeing with yours, it is far better to clarify the situation immediately rather than finding out later, when it may be too late, that a disagreement or a Fort Lauderdale insurance claim dispute exists.

Keeping an Activity Log and sending confirming letters are simple steps to protect yourself when you make Fort Lauderdale bad faith insurance claims, but so many important things in life are simple. Sometimes we need to be reminded to do things we know as a matter of common sense we should.

Sperry, Shapiro & Kashi, P.A. – Insurance Attorneys Fort Lauderdale

1776 N. Pine Island Road Suite 324 Plantation, FL 33322

Phone: 954-423-6553

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