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.


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In the Trenches, Covid 19 - An Adjuster’s Perspective on the Business Interruption Debate

In the Trenches, Covid 19 - An Adjuster’s Perspective on the Business Interruption Debate

As government officials report the increasing financial losses due to the shutdown of most commercial businesses across the United States, people are desperate for some type of relief and understandably so. So, what to do? Time to look under the hood to see what’s really happening on the prospect of a loss of income claim from your insurance company. Assuming you had the good financial sense to buy Business Income coverage to cover your financial losses before the country and commerce was shut down. The go to place now for relief seems to focus on the private sector insurance industry in both the admitted and surplus lines market, the latter known as the E&S markets. Every day the media is full of press releases, articles, and op-ed articles positioning themselves on one side of the argument that private insurance carriers need to pay these claims, or to the contrary that they are not covered.


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Hiring a Tennessee Licensed Public Insurance Adjuster to Assist with your Tornado Claim

Hiring a Tennessee Licensed Public Insurance Adjuster to Assist with your Tornado Claim

The tornado in Nashville has caused major destruction and significantly impacted business & residential property owners. Our teams are actively engaged with property & business owners, working to help aid in the recovery claims process and are here to help you realize a fair settlement under your policy to help you recover and get your business and life back on its feet. Whenever major storm events like this occur a common question we get from callers is to explain what a Public Adjuster does and why they should hire one. Many callers have never had to deal with a property claim before and frankly have not heard of Public Adjusters. To avoid having our readers searching the web for these answers and hopefully the hype, I’ve placed the information we try to relay below.


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After the Nashville Tornado - Additional Living Expenses Explained

After the Nashville Tornado - Additional Living Expenses Explained

If your home was destroyed or severely damaged from the recent Nashville area tornadoes to the extent that it is uninhabitable for you or your family to live, your insurance policy may provide a coverage called “Additional Living Expense” or “A.L.E.” Under the Additional Living Expense coverage, you and your family may be entitled to rent another home of the same size, like kind and quality as well as be reimbursed for any extra expenses you may incur such as food and temporary lodging.  Please keep in mind that this coverage is based on what you “incur” meaning you have to spend the money first before your insurance company will reimburse you. This is why you need to keep receipts for all transactions or keep all of your transactions on one credit card so you can easily print your statement out for your adjuster.


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Insurance Claim Tips and Practical Advice to Maximize Your Nashville Tornado Damage Insurance Settlement

Insurance Claim Tips and Practical Advice to Maximize Your Nashville Tornado Damage Insurance Settlement

The Nashville area tornadoes have clearly left many homeowners, businesses, schools, cities and government buildings with significant damage and Tennesseans need to understand some of the basic insurance claim adjusting procedures that will play an important role to achieve a fair, expeditious and maximum claim settlement. Insurance companies and their teams of catastrophe adjusters may be delayed in gaining access to the region due to government emergency restrictions and given the significant damage sustained at the John C. Tune Airport in West Nashville. The Airport Authority estimated loss and damages to the infrastructure and other buildings is $93 million alone. Here are some tips and common mistakes to avoid while preparing yourself for the insurance claim process.

 


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Bahama Relief Efforts Underway – Donations Needed

Bahama Relief Efforts Underway – Donations Needed

As reports and video of the Hurricane Dorian devastation come in, the devastation and human tragedy is mind numbing. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those in the Bahamas and with those who will be part of the relief efforts. We expect the impacted areas to be unsafe for Public Adjusters and other professionals for some time. For those who are so inclined, I wanted to share a very good Hurricane Dorian Donation article from NPR on reputable organizations that will be at the forefront of the relief effort and also a list of supplies needed. In the meantime, we will do what we can to answer policyholder insurance claim questions regarding Hurricane Dorian damage and steps they should be taking. I challenge everyone, especially those in the insurance claims industry to find a way to donate to the Bahama’s relief effort.


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Tutwiler represents major retailers after Westshore fire and smoke damage

Tutwiler represents major retailers after Westshore fire and smoke damage

Proud to be representing retailer insurance claims at Westshore Plaza after fire forces evacuation. Trying to get things settled without further complications.  https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/escalator-fire-forces-evacuations-at-westshore-plaza/1966197558


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Policyholder Asks Public Adjuster to Take a Closer Look at Their Pittsburgh Water Damage Claim

Policyholder Asks Public Adjuster to Take a Closer Look at Their Pittsburgh Water Damage Claim

Our public adjuster offices settle many claims each month. Here is one written up by our Pittsburgh Public Adjuster, Mr. Zach Flora. It’s a good lesson about digging into the details and taking charge of your claim. On August 25th a Pittsburgh family of 3 were away enjoying a fun filled family vacation when they received a call from a neighbor that quickly turned their sunshine to clouds. The neighbor called with the horrible news that their garage door was mysteriously open and water was pouring out onto the driveway. 


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Hurricane Michael Damage and the Building Moratorium

Hurricane Michael Damage and the Building Moratorium

As Hurricane Michael damage recovery moves into the new year, we continue get deluged with property insurance claim questions from frustrated policyholders. Right now, we seem to be at the stage where policyholders have received settlement offers they feel are too low to fix their damage or where property owners feel their insurance company is not being responsive. This is especially true with commercial claims and the business community in the Panhandle as evidence in this article Local Businesses Say Insurance is Taking Too Long on Claims. Now there’s a good way to kill off the small business community!


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Public Adjuster Offers Hurricane Michael Insurance Claim Tips

Public Adjuster Offers Hurricane Michael Insurance Claim Tips

Hurricane Michael has left thousands of residential and commercial property owners with insurance claims – a process they’ve never had to deal with before. Thanks to our senior public adjuster, Kevin Leisure for participating in a recent WFLA TV interview to discuss what people need to know about the property insurance claims process and what mistakes policyholders need to avoid making. Bottom line, property owners need to be patient but persistent with regards to their insurance claim and educate themselves. Our firm has already set-up an office in the Panama City area and we expect this will be a long process of recovery. Our adjusters are dedicated to educating policyholders and getting them the settlement they deserve in order to rebuild. See our Hurricane Michael insurance claims page for additional information. 


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"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.

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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