Policyholder Question – Recovery and Reconstruction from Hurricane Matthew Demolition

Policyholder Question – Recovery and Reconstruction from Hurricane Matthew Demolition

The following is an insurance claim question we answered for a policyholder through the United Policyholders Ask an Expert Forum.

Q. I live in coastal SC. January 8, 2017 is the three-month anniversary of Hurricane Matthew which caused extensive wind and flood damage. On October 10, 2016, the community association hired restoration company was on site demolishing and removing drywall, appliances, insulation, furniture from 32 townhomes and condos. Approximately ten 8x12 foot piles of damaged property were hauled to a landfill. WMC, LLC changed managers three times in these three months. We have received 4 or 5 letters requesting patience. We have not received a construction start date, information on what buildings will be repaired, order of repair, the construction companies, cost, or timeframe. I was advised to find an aggressive SC flood insurance and homeowners association attorney. We are running out of "loss of use" paying for a rental home. Please advise.


Read More

Is Boat Dock Damage a Covered Insurance Claim from Hurricane Matthew?

Is Boat Dock Damage a Covered Insurance Claim from Hurricane Matthew?
We are getting a number of inquiries from policyholders following the passing of Hurricanes Hermine and Hurricane Matthew about damages to docks, piers, and other manmade structures built over or close to the water.  As both of this year’s hurricanes remained offshore for most of their passing, the tropical storm forced winds nonetheless caused quite a bit of damage to coastal area structures, which included damage from wind, water and in some cases, collapse land subsidence which were holding up seawalls and bulkheads.
Read More

Policyholder Question – Is Executor Entitled to Insurance Settlement from Hurricane Matthew?

Policyholder Question – Is Executor Entitled to Insurance Settlement from Hurricane Matthew?

The following is an insurance claim question we answered for a policyholder through the United Policyholders Ask an Expert Forum.

Q. I have been the legal guardian for my mother-in-law. She has recently passed away and I am the PR for her estate, approved and documented by the local courts. I also don't live here full time, but I've had to be here regularly for several years in order to maintain the property which is an asset of the estate. Now I am undertaking the remediation and reconstruction after damage from Hurricane Matthew. Am I entitled to all that the owner would be, such as ALE, etc?


Read More

Ever Wonder What Happened to Your Hurricane Matthew Insurance Claim When the Adjuster Left?

Ever Wonder What Happened to Your Hurricane Matthew Insurance Claim When the Adjuster Left?

Many people might be surprised that having an adjuster look at your claim is only the beginning of the insurance claim process. Remember, the field adjuster that inspected your property may not be an employee of the insurance company. They are typically independent adjusters on contract and typically are paid a set fee or percentage for each claim they handle. This is especially true during disaster situations when there are so many claims to adjust. 


Read More

Hurricane Matthew Policyholder Question – Out of town policyholder filing a claim for a vacation home

Hurricane Matthew Policyholder Question – Out of town policyholder filing a claim for a vacation home
Q. I have a vacation home near Daytona Beach that was damaged by Hurricane Matthew. Because I am in Kentucky, do I need to physically see the damage myself before calling my insurance company or can I go from pictures of my home from my neighbors?

A. If you have photos that show damages from Hurricane Matthew to your insured property, by all means report the loss to your insurance carrier as soon as possible. I would suggest you email the photos to the claim office.....click to read the rest of the answer.  


Read More

Hurricane Matthew Roof Damage - Repair or Replace?

Hurricane Matthew Roof Damage - Repair or Replace?
As property owners with insurance claims resulting from Hurricane Matthew start to receive settlement offers from their insurance company, our public insurance adjusters continue to field calls and questions from people still struggling through the insurance claims process resulting from Hurricane Matthew. One question that frequently comes up involves how much roof damage there must be for the entire roof to be replaced. 
Read More

Is Your Hurricane Matthew Mold Insurance Claim Covered?

Is Your Hurricane Matthew Mold Insurance Claim Covered?
Those who experienced any type of water intrusion from Hurricane Matthew rain and flooding may experience mold infiltration. When claims are delayed and repairs put on hold, it can become a real problem as mold can grow unseen for months and create a serious health hazard. In the past, mold damage claims were covered under most property insurance policies when it resulted from a covered peril, such as a sudden plumbing leak, fire control, storm or other cause covered under your policy. However, some insurance carriers have been removing or scaling back mold coverage from their policy forms regardless if it results from a covered peril. In some instances, the insurance companies offer limited coverage for mold and fungus for an additional premium payment. 
Read More

Hurricane Matthew Flood Victims Need to Understand the Nuances of Flood Insurance Claims

Hurricane Matthew Flood Victims Need to Understand the Nuances of Flood Insurance Claims
Hurricane Matthew caused widespread flooding in St. Augustine, Jacksonville and other parts of the coast. For those who have flood insurance, we encourage you to review and pay close attention to your flood policy’s terms and conditions. The policies issued by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are unique because they fall under a Federal Government program with its own rules and regulations. Keep in mind that many private insurance companies resell and administer the NFIP policies so make sure you confirm if your flood policy falls under this program.
Read More

Will Your Hurricane Matthew Insurance Claim Offer be Sufficient to Cover Repair Estimates?

Will Your Hurricane Matthew Insurance Claim Offer be Sufficient to Cover Repair Estimates?
As policyholders begin to hear back from their insurance company, many will learn that the amount offered by their respective insurer is not sufficient to pay for their complete loss and damages. Some may even learn part of their claim is denied. This is common when there is widespread damage to a geographic area and especially true with more complicated commercial claims to businesses, condominiums and hotels where methods to fix or replace damage can become complicated. There can be many reasons for this including overworked adjusters either documenting specific damages or inside claim adjusters denying certain parts of a claim. 
Read More

Five Reasons to Hire a Public Adjuster for Your Hurricane Matthew Property Insurance Claim

Five Reasons to Hire a Public Adjuster for Your Hurricane Matthew Property Insurance Claim
With the widespread property damage caused by Hurricane Matthew, many property owners will be seeking out assistance and advice for their insurance claim. One of the most common questions we receive as these calls come into the office revolves around the benefits of hiring a public insurance adjuster. It still amazes us that so many policyholders have not heard of our profession or understand what public adjusters do. So while we try to educate and not blow our own horn, I’ll try to answer that question in hopes of giving readers a basic understanding of the benefits of hiring public adjusters and the role they play in the insurance claims process.
Read More


"On Property" Insurance Claim Tips Blog

Tips and advice about how to properly file and protect your property damage insurance claim and get a fair settlement. We invite all readers to ask questions about their claim so our public adjusters can post answers for others to benefit. Insurance claim expert guest bloggers welcome to submit posts via our contact form.

Tags

Local Office

Tutwiler & Associates Public Adjusters, Inc.
Licensed Public Insurance Adjusters & Loss Consultants
Offices: Tampa, Orlando, Palm City, Ft. Myers, Florida; Dallas, TX; Pittsburgh, PA

Executive Office
4300 W. Cypress St.
Suite 780
Tampa, FL 33607
Phone: 813.287.8090
Toll Free: 800.321.4488

Licensed in Florida # W840088 &
Texas #1399706 plus 16 other states
and the Virgin Islands