Sometimes working with insurance companies to handle a disaster claim is worse than dealing with the actual disaster. Even though you have purchased homeowners insurance, they may not handle your claim in a timely manner; and in some cases, they may deny it even though it’s covered, forcing you to go to the expense and trouble of suing them for compensation.

The first step to protecting yourself knows your insurance policy well. Be aware of everything that’s specifically covered, and be aware of anything that is specifically included. If you have a question about anything (for instance, what’s an “act of God?”) you should ask your insurance broker about it immediately. And review your policy every year to refresh your memory.

Another preemptive measure you can take to make your home owners insurance work for you is to photograph and record everything that’s covered under the policy. Then keep these records in a safe place outside the house. This gives you evidence for any damage or accident claims you may make later.

If you live in a high-risk area for natural disasters, you may have to purchase an insurance rider for specific instances – flooding, for example, if you live on a river’s flood plain. In the case of catastrophic flooding in your area, you may have to resort to a disaster recovery fund, a special fund set up by the government to cover claims in federal and state disaster areas for victims of the natural disaster.

If you’ve covered all these bases and the insurance company still denies your damage or accident claim (and this happens, believe me), you should not give up. Appeal your case as high as you can, and if you still receive no compensation, you should go to court. Some jurisdictions require insurance companies to pay your court and legal costs if they have unfairly denied your claim.

Above all, be patient. Courts take time; but if you’re in the right, you will get your compensation.

And if you win this court case, it’s time to switch companies. Before signing with a new insurance company, shop around to different brokers and do a lot of cost comparison. Insurance companies share data, and some companies may charge you higher premiums because you’ve filed a successful claim.