Here are a few questions that you might like answered...
I’VE SUFFERED PROPERTY LOSSES DUE TO A NATURAL DISASTER, WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
- Contact your insurance company to report a claim at your earliest convenience.
- Take photographs or video of damages and keep all disaster-related receipts (e.g., repairs, living expenses, etc.).
- Take inventory of your personal possessions and do not dispose of damaged items. Avoid making temporary repairs until the property has been assessed. If you must perform repairs, make certain to keep documented evidence (e.g., photographs, video, etc.) of the damages prior to repairs.
- Keep documentation of all correspondence with your insurance company or adjusters and take notes of relevant dates, reference numbers, names, and other details when communicating with the insurance company.
THE ADJUSTER FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY SEEMS FRIENDLY, SHOULD I TRUST HIM AND RELY
ON HIS JUDGMENT?
ON HIS JUDGMENT?
No. The insurance company either employs or hires an adjuster to assess your property damages.
They are not a disinterested party. While some insurance company adjusters do a good job assessing your property, that is not always the case. Consulting an attorney and a public adjuster or contractor will help ensure the insurance company pays you the full amount of money they owe.
They are not a disinterested party. While some insurance company adjusters do a good job assessing your property, that is not always the case. Consulting an attorney and a public adjuster or contractor will help ensure the insurance company pays you the full amount of money they owe.
IF I ACCEPT PAYMENT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR MY CLAIM, CAN I STILL GET ADDITIONAL
MONEY FROM THEM IN THE FUTURE?
MONEY FROM THEM IN THE FUTURE?
Possibly. You need to read everything you receive from the insurance company carefully before signing anything. If you have any questions or concerns, you should immediately consult an attorney before accepting payment from the insurance company or FEMA.
HOW DO I FIND A GOOD PUBLIC ADJUSTER OR CONTRACTOR?
- Natural disasters often lead public adjusters and contractors to advertise their services in affected areas. Finding a qualified public adjuster or contractor is crucial.
- You should carefully review their experience, reputation, credentials and references before hiring.
- Ask for evidence to determine whether they have insurance or a bond. Check for reviews online.
- Do not let a public adjuster or contractor pressure you into signing a contract until you are confident they are qualified.
- Ask for a written estimate for their services and a detailed scope of work. Seek out estimates from multiple public adjusters or contractors if possible.
- Hiring the right public adjuster or contractor is critical to determining whether your insurance company is offering you sufficient payment for your claim.
- WMC can assist you in selecting the best public adjuster or contractor for your claim.
HOW CAN WMC HELP ME?
- WMC will fight to make FEMA and your insurer pay you the money you deserve.
- We will work with an adjuster to estimate the value of the damage to your home or business.
- WMC is the only law firm to prove to a jury that one of FEMA’s flood insurers committed fraud after Hurricane Katrina. When the insurers appealed the case, WMC went all the way to the United States Supreme Court – and won!
- After Hurricane Sandy, FEMA and its insurers underpaid thousands of homeowners by hundreds of millions of dollars. WMC helped over 1,100 homeowners and business owners finally get the money that the deserved under their flood policies.
WILL I OWE WMC ATTORNEY FEES IF I DON’T RECOVER ADDITIONAL MONEY?
WMC will perform legal services on a pure contingency fee basis in many cases. In those cases our clients pay nothing for legal fees unless they recover money exceeding applicable deductibles and prior insurer payments. In addition, WMC may advance costs and expenses, to be repaid only if there is a recovery.