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Jacksonville woman says homeowners insurance won't cover full cost of repairs after car crashes into house

Qwendolyn Lang and her mother were having breakfast when they felt their house shake. Lang went outside to find a car had crashed into their home.

A Jacksonville family with a homeowners insurance problem contacted the Ask Anthony team for help.   

In March, a car crashed into Queen Alexander's home off of Lem Turner Road. A claim was filed with her homeowners insurance and she received a check in the mail. But, Alexander said the amount she received won't cover all the damage and repairs. 

"We heard an extremely loud noise," Qwendolyn Lang explained. 

Qwendolyn Lang and her mother, Alexander, were having breakfast one morning when they felt their house shake. Lang went outside to find a car had crashed into the side of their home. She believes the driver had a medical emergency.  

Lang's mother filed a claim with her insurance company, Universal Property and Casualty. They sent her a check in the mail.

"Her homeowners insurance sent her this check for $5,000. We're looking like no there's no way with the damages that occurred this could be sufficient," Lang said.

According to Lang, the estimates they received to repair the home and replace personal items that were damaged was between $12,000 and $18,000. Lang said her mother is on a fixed income and can't afford the extra costs. 

Anthony Austin reached out to the insurance company. A representative called him back to explain the situation. In a statement, Universal Property and Casualty Insurance said in part:

"We have previously spoken with Ms. Alexander to explain the process for seeking a supplemental payment if the amount of covered damage exceeds the estimated amount. We have not received any information supporting a different estimate of loss than initially determined by our adjuster. However, we remain willing to consider any additional information Ms. Alexander would like to provide."

When it comes to the driver of the car who hit the home:

 "The damage to Ms. Alexander’s home is attributable to a third party. In these situations, we pursue recovery from the responsible party not only for the amounts we pay as an insurer but also for the amount of the insured’s deductible. If we are successful in a recovery, we will reimburse Ms. Alexander accordingly."

Here's three things to know when you sign your homeowners insurance policy:

  • Read it carefully. Check every single detail in the policy about what it includes and what it doesn't include. 
  • Be persistent. If you think your insurance claim money is not enough...call, email, call again. If you are persistent with your insurance company, they may settle with you to get the matter resolved. 
  • Hire a lawyer. It's not a bad idea to hire an attorney who can help you with your insurance claims and any other legal orders related to the matter. 

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