Understanding EML and PML: The Dilemma Facing Policyholders in Property Insurance

Understanding EML and PML: The Dilemma Facing Policyholders in Property Insurance
Insurance is a cornerstone of risk management, especially when it comes to safeguarding valuable assets like property. However, the concepts of Estimated Maximum Loss (EML) and Probable/Possible Maximum Loss (PML) have been causing ripples of discontent among policyholders. Let's delve into what these terms mean and why they are becoming a concern, especially for commercial clients such as hotels and apartment complexes. 
Read More

Public Adjuster Tips for Handling Your Hurricane Idalia Flood Insurance Claim

Public Adjuster Tips for Handling Your Hurricane Idalia Flood Insurance Claim
We’ve revived a very popular blog for the benefit of Hurricane Idalia property owners on understanding flood where our talented staff of public adjusters share some of the best tips they could think of for handling a flood claim. The following are some tips that hopefully will help folks should they have flood coverage. Remember flood insurance is a separate policy from your standard homeowners insurance and covered under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Private insurers also sell under this program. A standard homeowners policy “will not” cover flood defined as rising water. Standard policies will cover wind driven rain or any moisture coming from above such as roof leaks.
Read More

Hurricane Ian Homeowners No Match for Unethical Claim Practices. Public Adjuster Attains 1,101% New Money Settlement Hours Before Hiring Attorney

Hurricane Ian Homeowners No Match for Unethical Claim Practices. Public Adjuster Attains 1,101% New Money Settlement Hours Before Hiring Attorney

As numerous clients are in various stages of repairs their Hurricane Ian damaged properties, we would like to share one success story that underscores the invaluable role experienced public adjusters can play contributing to the stability of Florida's challenging insurance market. First, let’s look at an example of what has brought policyholders, claim professionals, state officials, and insurance executives to this point of frustration.


Read More

Hurricane Nicole Will Complicate the Insurance Claim Environment

Hurricane Nicole Will Complicate the Insurance Claim Environment
As we continue to closely monitor Nicole, we wanted to provide you with a few updates.  As Florida learns 2022 midterm election results, undecided is how Nicole will impact insurance companies and how they treat policyholders. We are seeing a steady stream of denied and marginalized claim payouts keeping Ian victims from a fair claim recovery. Here’s what Nicole victims should expect looking beyond the center of the track:
Read More

Public Adjusters are Part of the Solution to Hurricane Ian Recovery

Public Adjusters are Part of the Solution to Hurricane Ian Recovery
A recent open letter from the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) stated: "Public insurance adjusters are experts in the claims adjustment process and are, along with attorneys, the only “licensed” profession that can help consumers by preparing, filing, and adjusting insurance claims. It is important to note that policyholders have the right to hire their own adjuster to assist them with the preparation of their claim.” In Florida, there are currently over 2,700 licensed and bonded Public Adjusters listed on the Department of Financial Services license search website. Not only are public adjusters already highly regulated by the state, but the national (NAPIA) and state (FAPIA) industry associations impose a high ethical standard on members. During Hurricane Michael and other storms, public adjusters were there to help policyholders when their insurance companies did not have the resources to respond in a timely manner. 
Read More

Insurance Claim Tips as Hurricane Eta Approaches Tampa Bay

Insurance Claim Tips as Hurricane Eta Approaches Tampa Bay

There is no escaping the property damage that Hurricane Eta will cause to the Tampa Bay region. This type of storm can throw off tornadic activity and pockets of heavy wind gusts. As a result, thousands of homeowners may be contacting their insurance company to file an insurance claim. Resources are likely to be stretched and frustration with claims will grow as our public insurance adjusters have seen with past storms. We want everyone to stay safe and also be in a condition to recover as best they can. If you experience property damage from Hurricane Eta, here are a few claim tips for filing your insurance claim that will make the process easier and possibly protect your claim from denial or other problems, especially if you have to evacuate.


Read More

Have you received your Hurricane Sally LOWBALL claim settlement offer yet?

Have you received your Hurricane Sally LOWBALL claim settlement offer yet?

If you have experienced damage from Hurricane Sally, get prepared for the inevitable. We are hearing from commercial and residential property owners daily about their Hurricane Sally claims and their biggest complaint is, “Why is my settlement so small”?There are many possible reasons for this.  Among the most common are:


Read More

Hurricane Sally Insurance Claims - Make Sure They Get on the Roof

Hurricane Sally Insurance Claims - Make Sure They Get on the Roof

Due to the widespread and extensive wind damage caused by Hurricane Sally, we are seeing that in their rush to get damages assessed, both insurance company adjusters and many inexperienced contractors are eyeballing roof damage and recommending partial repairs based on simple visual inspection. We are also seeing more insurers trying to inspect roofs with drones! 


Read More

Hurricane Sally Wind and Flood Claims – Will You be Covered for Both?

Hurricane Sally Wind and Flood Claims – Will You be Covered for Both?

Insurance payments to policyholders with flood and wind damage from Hurricane Sally will depend on the policies they purchased, the language in each policy and the laws of each state where the damage occurred. The media is reporting widespread inland flooding, and there are reports that many property owners whose property was damaged by flood may not have purchased flood insurance.  So, what should you do if you do not have coverage from either the government run flood program NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) or flood coverage under some other type of special manuscript policy?


Read More

Hurricane Sally Insurance Claims - Mistakes Property Owners Should Avoid

Hurricane Sally Insurance Claims - Mistakes Property Owners Should Avoid

The slow-moving Hurricane Sally has caused a combination of wind, water, roof and flood damage that will surely complicate the insurance claims process. As homeowners are allowed to return and begin the clean-up and recovery process, many residential and commercial policyholders will submit an insurance claim for storm damage to their property. The Public Adjusters at Tutwiler & Associates urge policyholders to take the proper steps to stay safe, protect their property insurance claim and avoid settlement problems with the following tips.
 
1. Notify your insurance carrier of your damage as soon as possible to expedite your claim. Do not go back into your home or mitigate damage until you know it’s safe to do so. If returning to your home after a power outage, do not turn on the power right away, especially if your home has been flooded. Have an electrician check the dwelling first to ensure it is safe.


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