Q. If a tree that is on my neighbor’s property should fall into my house, which one of us is liable for costs incurred?

• Unfortunately, you would have the responsibility of proving that your neighbor can be held legally negligent for the damage caused by their tree, and negligence is often difficult to prove, so the ultimate accountability is held by the person whose home sustained the damage. In that case, you would have to file a claim under you own policy to collect damages.

Q. Does the fact that I have a dog have any bearing on my Seattle homeowner’s policy?

• This is one area where you will have to check with your provider to inform yourself of the limitations of coverage. They are some companies that will not accept claims of liability based on the breed of your dog. There are also companies that will accept liability claims, but you will have to pay a higher premium. And there are companies that simply will refuse to cover any claims at all that are related to your dog.

Q. What happens when I file a claim?

• When you file a claim, you will be working directly with a claims adjuster. The adjuster will contact you after your claim is filed, usually within two days. The adjuster’s job is to obtain as much information about the claim as possible, and he or she will also let you know if you have coverage for the claim and if there is a need for an inspection. You can depend on the adjuster to collaborate with you in obtaining bids from contractors for repair resulting from damage to your property, and he or she will also help you with the process of paying for the price of repairs and reimbursing you for any expenses that you have had to pay on your own.

Q. Will my premium rise if I file just one claim?

• Filing a single claim is generally not going to have a significant affect on your premium. The determining factor is “loss experience.” In general, insurance companies evaluate you in terms of how often you experience a loss and how severe that loss is. The condition of your property is taken into account as to how likely you are to suffer losses, for example, you would be considered to have conditions that favor a loss if your property contains recreational equipment that is considered to be statistically dangerous, such as a high dive in your swimming pool, or a trampoline that does not have protective netting around it. Your single claim is not likely to be considered a major loss unless it proves that you have risks associated with your home or if you can be identified as seriously negligent.

Q. Is it necessary for me to be a homeowner in order to obtain insurance for property that is within my dwelling?

• You do not need to be a homeowner in order to insure your personal property. You can purchase renters insurance, which will cover your valuable possessions, such as electronic items, sports equipment, costly home décor, etc.

Q. If I do suffer a loss and I do not have adequate insurance at that time, am I forced to pay any penalties?

• Most homeowner’s policies contain a “coinsurance clause,” which means that you will have to pay a penalty if you are underinsured at the time of your loss. Make sure that you communicate with your provider about the limitations on your policy. An annual review is recommended to keep everything up to date.

Q. Will I be covered by my homeowner’s policy if there is a flood in the area and my home sustains damage?

• Flood insurance is separate from home insurance and is highly recommended for anyone who owns a home, regardless of whether or not they live in an area that has had problems with flooding in the past. FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) has stated that one quarter of all claims filed for flooding are filed by those who own homes that are not located in what is considered to be a flood zone.

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