Can I claim on homeowners insurance and a the appliance manufactures insurance that caused the damage?

There is no law in the insurance statues of Virginia that specifically prohibits claiming damages through two separate insurance policies, but there are fraud statutes that prohibit making double claims for one incident and collecting the entire amount of damages in each claim. If two insurance policies are claimed against, each insurance company must be notified that a claim has been filed with another company to avoid fraud. An appliance manufacturer's warranty may not specifically be labeled as an insurance policy, but it warranties by manufacturers are one type of insurance and should be treated as such.

Insurance companies often limit the amount of damage they will cover, or a policy may have a deductible to be paid by the insured. There is no statute limiting a homeowner from having more than one policy, and the limits on any policy may be covered by a second policy such as a manufacturer's warranty or other type of insurance.

When filing a claim, it is best to contact the homeowner's insurance company first. They are often the primary source of insurance, and the policy holder may have an obligation to report any covered damage to them. While speaking with the insurance agent, it is a good idea to include a copy of the appliance warranty paperwork as well. This will give the insurance company a chance to contact the manufacturer to find out what damage they will cover, and it gives the companies an opportunity to work out a settlement directly.

Insurance companies and their agents are often willing to help file additional legal claims that will satisfy the needs of their policy holders. They may also be willing to file any and all paperwork with other insurers to help their policy holder repair any damage, and they will negotiate to satisfy the claim.