I want to thank NBC reporter, Rob Wile for allowing me to contribute to his news piece: Insurance 'nightmare' unfolds for Florida homeowners after back-to-back hurricanes (nbcnews.com)   It brings to light something we’ve been blogging about for some time. Policyholders have been put in a precarious position at the worst time when it comes to putting their lives back together and upholding their insurance coverage.

Read More

Hurricane Ian – Two Years Later: Time is Running Out for Victims to File Claims

As Hurricane Helene approaches, we hope your family stays safe and that your property remains undamaged. Even if Helene doesn’t make landfall in your area, regions outside the forecast cone could still experience strong winds, embedded tornados, heavy rain, and storm surge. It’s important to secure your property and stay tuned to local advisories.However, while Helene grabs attention, Floridians affected by Hurricane Ian face another urgent concern—time is running out to file or reopen claims for damages from this devastating storm.

Final Call: Hurricane Ian Claims Deadline Approaching

Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm on September 28, 2022. As we mark the two-year anniversary, it’s crucial for policyholders to remember that the deadline to file or reopen claims related to Ian is rapidly approaching. The final day to submit a Hurricane Ian claim is September 28, 2024. After this date, no new or reopened claims can be filed, meaning you may lose your right to recover compensation for property damages caused by Ian.

Read More

When disaster strikes, such as the devastating impact of Hurricane Irma, businesses are often left grappling with significant damage including property, inventory, and business interruption. For many, these damages can lead to crippling financial burdens, especially if they are not properly compensated by their insurance providers. In such situations, the role of a licensed professional public insurance adjuster can be pivotal. 
Read More

It's been a year since Hurricane Ian unleashed its fury on Florida, battering both coastlines and wreaking havoc on agricultural and urban areas in between.  An event that should have subsided in its aftermath has instead metamorphosed into a year-long saga of pain, resistance, and a battle for policyholder insurance claim justice as countless victims remain ensnared in an unnatural whirlwind: the struggle for fair compensation and treatment in the claim adjustment process.  
Read More

Last year, we saw one of the most destructive storms in the history of the state with Hurricane Ian. This year, we are witnessing just how severe the lack of oversight is, in regard to regulating property insurance carriers’ financial integrity as well as making them accountable for their claims handling schemes. If the regulators pursued carrier misbehavior with as much vigor as they do policing attorneys, public adjusters and contractors, we might see a better environment for Florida policyholders
Read More

Insurers slashed Hurricane Ian payouts far below damage estimates, documents and insiders reveal - The Washington Post

We all acknowledge there are good and bad actors in every industry. Unfortunately, we see these deplorable activities firsthand when policyholders call us frustrated after trying to settle their claim. I hope the Florida Legislature acts alongside the Department of Insurance and regulators to put oversight in place that will place severe consequences on individuals or companies preventing policyholders from getting a fair claims settlement. This is the type of oversight needed that can only help to stem the litigation crisis. Fortunately, most of those I interact with in the insurance claims industry are trying to do right by the policyholder. Let’s give the policyholders the freedom to pick and choose what resources they require to get a fair settlement.

Read More

With yet another Special Session beginning this week and a new legislative session beginning in March, Florida Legislators will soon be faced with some unexpected consequences, from new changes to the state’s insurance laws, that were passed by the Florida Legislature in May and December along with other pro-insurance reforms. There’s also, more work that needs to be done.

Read More

Every day, clients ask questions about the claims adjusting process. Recently, a client and retired home builder affected by Hurricane Ian asked me, how much insurance company adjusters make? I probed, “Why do you ask?” The response, “My insurance company has sent 5 different people to inspect my roof damage and the amount they're paying these people is probably more than the cost to replace my roof!”
Read More

The complexities of a property insurance claim are many. This is even more true with the variables that exist in claims for country clubs and resorts. Owners and managers are not only tasked with navigating a building damage claim and policy coverage issues, but they also have the monumental task of addressing, assessing, and seeking compensation for damages to business personal property, maintenance equipment, golf carts, golf course and grounds, supplies, saleable goods Inventory, food & beverage stock, debris removal, and costs incurred for engineers, architects, and auditors. Moreover, owners will be tasked with addressing and projecting intangible damages for items like business interruption, extra expense, lost sales revenue, and lost membership dues. For business managers not familiar with the insurance claims process this is a daunting task that takes away large chunks of time from their primary responsibilities to efficiently operate the business. Learn how Public Adjuster Mike Stabile put his expertise to work for this client and acheived a fair claim settlement. 

Read More

We’ve seen anecdotal evidence that some insurance companies as well as adjusters are already talking to policyholders about invoking the Appraisal Clause in their property insurance policy. While appraisal can play an important role in the insurance claim settlement process, it is not for everyone and policyholders need to understand both the costs and limitations. We have several certified appraisers on our staff and one of the first things we do when asked to represent a client is to review the suitability based on the claim facts. Here is a Q&A I did for the media after Hurricane Michael (and now Hurricane Sally) to help policyholders better understand property damage Appraisal.

Read More