'If you are offered an on-the-spot settlement, you can accept the check right away,' Worters says. The second is the remaining cost of the repairs. The first half is to be used to begin making repairs. Your insurance company will pay the settlement in two installments. If you choose to file a claim, the adjuster will offer you a settlement for repairs. If the cost to repair your home exceeds the deductible of your policy, you will need to decide whether to file a claim. Lightning protection systems work to intercept a lightning strike and offer a safe and efficient path that dissipates dangerous electricity to the ground, detouring it from traveling through the structure's electrical or plumbing system.Ī complete lightning protection system includes:Īfter you file the claim, an adjuster will inspect the damage to your home. Consequently, many experts recommend having a complete lightning protection system installed. 'However, I suggest that you annually review your policy to make certain that the coverage is consistent with current replacement cost estimates.' Extra protection can be worth the investmentĮquipping your home with an electrical ground, grounded weathervane, lightning rod and surge suppressors may not provide adequate protection from lightning. 'I would not necessarily recommend increasing your coverage for the sole purpose of safeguarding against lightning strikes,' says Hank Wilson, owner of Wilson Insurance & Financial Planning. If your home is adequately covered by homeowners insurance, lightning is a peril that falls under the coverage, and it does not have a specific claim limit. Choose the right amount of coverageĮven in areas prone to lightning strikes, homeowners do not need to purchase additional coverage for lightning. The presence of a ground surge from a nearby lightning strike can be difficult to prove, so fewer claims are paid out for this type of damage. This is the most common lightning-related claim. Ground surge: A lightning strike causes a spike in electricity throughout an area. Artificially generated current, such as sparks from a power company's electrical lines or transformers, can create damage similar to a near miss but is typically excluded from homeowners policies. It can be more difficult for the insurance company to determine the cause of damage in such cases. In this case, the damage is usually less. Near miss: Lightning strikes near the home but does not hit the structure directly. 'This is generally the easiest claim to collect, since the damage is clearly evident,' says Needelman. This type of lightning typically causes the most damage including fire and charring. Lightning strike: A bolt of lightning enters and passes through your home or other property on its way from the atmosphere to the ground. If you hear loud thunder, remain indoors and avoid contact with standing water in sinks or bathtubsīe aware of the season - lightning usually strikes more frequently on late summer afternoons and evenings Plug your key appliances and electronics into compatible surge protectors Have working smoke detectors, flashlights and fire extinguishers on each floor of your home

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