Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About The Insurance Claim Process

Related Links Vineyards Face Many Potential Crop and Business Risks Four Things to Know About Crop-Hail Insurance Being Prepared for Unexpected Crop and Livestock Loss

Timelines for resolving agricultural claims can vary, but what happens when you suspect a delay has gone on too long? Delays can occur in crop insurance claims for a number of reasons, especially for temperamental, unpredictable, or delicate crops like tree fruits. Depending on the type of coverage you carry and the nature and extent of your losses, your claim may be delayed for legitimate reasons, including:

• Waiting for harvest time in order to complete the assessment of fruit losses.
• Requiring additional documentation and evidence of losses.
• Estimating the full extent of losses after loss mitigation strategies—like juice or forage options—have been completed.

Unfortunately, there are also times when agricultural claims are unfairly delayed by insurance companies that are hoping to pressure fruit producers into accepting less for their claims or outwait those who hope to be compensated fairly under the coverage they hold. If you are having trouble finding out why a claim has been delayed or what you can do about it, don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced policyholder attorney today. Our experienced legal professionals would be happy to investigate the cause of the delay and take action to make sure your insurance protection is working for you.

Even if you carry insurance for crop losses, you aren’t guaranteed fair compensation or an uncomplicated claim. To get the most out of the coverage you pay for, get armed with the clear information you need about the agricultural insurance industry. Reach out to our legal team today to request your free copy of our book, Understanding Agricultural Insurance Claims.

Related Links California Farmers Struggle With Drought Losses and Costs of New Wells The Rippling Effects of Severe Drought Losses Being Prepared for Unexpected Crop and Livestock Loss

Farm insurance policies are complicated, and it’s not always easy to say what is covered without a detailed review of the coverage you hold and the type of farm you operate. Your farm insurance likely consists of a number of policies and types of coverage, and the reality is that you may be submitting several different claims under several policies for your drought-related losses.

Ultimately, the drought-related losses that are covered depend heavily on the details of your farm insurance policies and even the state in which you operate. However, some commonly covered drought losses might include:

• Crop losses
• Livestock losses
• Loss of farm products, like feed, seeds, or fertilizers
• Damage to buildings, including homes, barns, outbuildings, and more
• Damage to farm equipment and vehicles
• Some business losses

Since droughts often affect a large area and numerous agricultural businesses, there may also be additional government programs available to help you get back on your feet.

Because farm insurance policies can be so complex, many farm owners miss out on avenues that might maximize their recovery under existing programs and policies. Don’t make the same mistake. If you need help making sense of agricultural insurance claims for drought-related damage, don’t wait any longer to reach out to our experienced policyholder attorneys. Request your free copy of our book, Drought: Agricultural Effects, Insurance Claims, and Beyond, or give our team a call to talk about your concerns in person and in depth. 

Related Links A Legal Guide to Filing and Processing a Crop Insurance Claim Four Important Deadlines Related to Crop Insurance Coverage Common Crop Insurance Mistakes Farmers Make When Buying Policies

Crop damage coverage under a farm insurance policy can be very complex, and extensive estimates and documentation are sometimes needed for the farm owner to recover financially from these losses. However, what needs to be documented—and how you go about doing it—really depends on the specific details of your claim and the cause of your crop-related losses.

It’s very common for farms to call in damage estimators and other contractors to assess crop and property losses after a storm, fire, or other disaster, and it may be necessary in your case. However, a lot will depend on:

• What caused the damage to your crops
• If government or community relief is available
• The details of your farm insurance coverage
• How severe losses were or are predicted to be
• If losses may effect more than just the current growing season

With so many different factors that can influence your claim, it may be difficult to handle on your own. If you’re unsure if you need to call in contractors, or if you’re running into delays and denials with your insurance company, reach out to our experienced policyholder attorneys today for a thorough review and answer session.

Our professional legal team has experience fighting denied and delayed claims for farmers, and we are available to answer your questions without risk or obligation. For more information, simply give us a call or send us an email to get the conversation started—or take a moment to request your free copy of our book, Understanding Agricultural Insurance Claims.

Related Links Farms Large and Small Suffer Damage as Climate Change Increases Extreme Weather Events Being Prepared for Unexpected Crop and Livestock Loss Four Important Deadlines Related to Crop Insurance Coverage

Whether it’s a late frost, not enough rain, or too much rain, the weather has a huge effect on commercial crops every year. When farms are unable to plant on time or lose plants to an adverse weather event, it may be possible to recover compensation for that lost yield—but it isn’t always as easy as it should be.

In order to successfully file a claim for crop losses, you may need to start documenting damage before you’re even sure how bad the loss will be. You will need to adhere to strict time limits, assess and report potential damages appropriately, and provide extensive details, such as:

• How much of the yield was lost or may be lost
• What happened to cause the loss and how you reacted to the event
• The coverage provided by your specific insurance policies
• The stage of growth when the crop was affected
• If it will be possible to replant this season
• If damage will affect yields for several seasons

Unfortunately, it’s easy to make mistakes  or lose track of important details that will complicate your insurance claim for crop loss. Before you make decisions about how to react to a significant crop loss, speak with an experienced policyholder attorney who has worked with other agricultural business owners to recover after storm and weather damages. We can help you review your coverage and plan for potential losses, as well as guide you through the process of recovering compensation for crop loss.

For more information, simply call or email our team today.

Related Links: Crop-Hail Insurance Claims: What You Need to Know Record Crop Insurance Losses Four Things to Know About Crop-Hail Insurance

Whether or not you should purchase a crop-hail insurance policy for your fields depends on a number of factors. Let's take a closer look.

• Where is your farm located? Large, destructive hail is more common in some regions of the country than in others. Research how often hail has struck your area and how large and severe the hailstorms have been.
• What do you grow? Certain crops are much more susceptible to hail damage than others (for example, this summer vineyards across Europe were devastated by hail). Learn about how fragile your crops are in the face of significantly large-sized hail.
• Do you need other aspects of crop hail coverage? Crop hail insurance policies often cover more than just hail damage. Many policies also cover wind, lighting, fire, vandalism, and some transportation damage. Even if hail is not a common danger, you may wish to protect against these other loss events.
• Would crop hail insurance save you in the long run? Investing in an insurance policy may be well worth the money if your crops are damaged by any of the events listed above. In many cases, your investments now will pay off if you need to file a claim in the future.

It is important to note that hail damage is not covered under the Federal Crop Insurance Program. If you do not have a specific hail-crop insurance plan, you likely do not have protection against hail damage. Be sure to carefully read all insurance contracts related to your business and property so that you have a clear understanding of your coverage in the event of severe weather or other damage.

Do you have questions about your hail damage crop insurance claim? Contact the Voss Law Firm today to speak with an agricultural claims attorney and get answers: 888-614-7730.