Finally won my water damage appeal after 8 months - here is what worked

I wanted to share my experience because I was ready to give up so many times during this process.

What happened: Pipe burst in my ceiling, caused about $35k in damage. Insurance initially offered $12k citing "pre-existing wear" on the pipes.

What I did:

1. Got an independent plumber to document that the pipe failure was sudden and accidental, not gradual
2. Hired a public adjuster (worth the 10% fee for the expertise)
3. Requested the insurance company's internal guidelines they used to deny
4. Filed a complaint with my state insurance commissioner
5. Documented EVERYTHING in writing

Final settlement: $31k. Not perfect but way better than the initial offer.

Keep fighting if you know your claim is legitimate. They count on people giving up.