Help For Hurricane Sandy Insurance Claims

November 27, 2012 — Thousands of homeowners and business owners who survived Hurricane Sandy are now dealing with insurance companies regarding payments for property damage, loss of business, and more. When an insurance company unfairly delays, denies, or fails to compensate an insurance claim, it can seem like a daunting task to fight for the compensation you deserve.

If your insurance company offers you less compensation than you feel you deserve, don’t feel pressured to accept the deal. If you contact a lawyer for help, it is possible that your insurance company will reconsider their offer once they learn you have legal representation.

You can also ask your insurance company to explain how they calculated your payment. If you disagree with the amount, insist on getting a document that shows how they calculated your payment. Once you have that document, your insurance company can’t come up with new reasons to justify a low payment.

There are many reasons why an insurance company might unfairly deny an insurance claim. Sometimes insurance companies make mistakes due to the high volume of claims. Other times, claims are handled in “bad faith” and insurance companies are liable for thousands of dollars more than they offer their clients.

After Hurricane Katrina, for example, nearly 19,000 homeowners in Louisiana filed a lawsuit against an insurance company that unfairly delayed adjustment of their claims for more than 30 days. The courts found the insurance company liable for more than $100 million in damages.