Insure.com has put out an interesting list of "Five Things Never to Tell Your Insurer," saying that using certain red-flag phrases could hurt your chances of having a claim approved.
Among them: don't say your basement's "flooded" if the water's coming from, say, a leaking pipe. True floods -- e.g. water from a nearby river inundating your house -- are typically NOT covered by regular homeowner's coverage. A plumbing problem that fills your basement, however, typically is.
Interestingly, the article says that "whiplash" is another word to avoid, since "insurance companies often associate the term with exaggerated or fraudulent claims." Better to describe an injury in medical terms, Insure.com advises, or to wait until your doctor makes a diagnosis.
