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Policyholder FAQs
My claim is denied. What can I do?Can I afford to hire an attorney? How do I make a commercial claim for business losses? What should I do if my insurance company hasn't made me an offer? How does my residential policy coverage work? How is a Condo loss different from other commercial losses? What is Bad Faith? Ike Relief: How you can help For Adjusters |
 
Views From Hurricane Ike TWIA Insurance Adjusters
A Comment from a recent post at our Property Insurance Coverage Law blog, titled, How Ike Insurance Claim Help is Supposed to Be, provided insight to the understanding of the claims process from two adjusters in the insurance industry. The comment is worthy of repeating here: read more | Comments (0)Hurricane Ike - The Forgotten Disaster
The national media can be fickle. Hurricane Ike devastated Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsula. Those communities and people in them are suffering as much as those in Louisiana and Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. Yet, I have seen little in the national media regarding this story. Chip Merlin speaks at Houston Business Journal Roundtable read more | Comments (0) Chip Merlin Advises Policyholders on Fox Houston
Fox Houston spoke to Chip Merlin for a segment about how to proceed when it comes to accepting insurance company offers for your claim. Please click the play button to view the clip. read more | Comments (0)Chronicle Gains Insight from Chip Merlin for Story on Policyholder Woes
Chip Merlin, an attorney whose firm represents policyholders, said private companies handling claims on behalf of the flood program may be reluctant to make high offers. That's because overpayments could come out of their pockets. "Now, for the first time, we're getting calls about national flood not paying enough," Merlin said. "Adjusters are taking a little bit longer, not paying quite as freely, and we think that's because the independent contractors will be responsible for any overpayment." Please click here to read the full story... read more | Comments (0)Tina Nicholson to Houston Chronicle Readers: Close Claims Cautiously
It can be hard to reopen a closed claim, so it's important to do as much as possible from the start and not sign off on any final proof of losses until consumers are sure they've found all the damage, Houston attorney Tina Nicholson said. "You can sign a partial proof of loss. If the form says 'final,' you can cross it out and write 'preliminary.' Don't be intimidated because it's a typed-up form," she said. "If you don't agree with their estimate or offer, let them know you're not agreeing with them." Please click here to read more... read more | Comments (0)Fox Houston: Tina Nicholson Advises Policyholders in Live Segment after Ike
Tina Nicholson on Waiting for FEMA and Your Insurance Company
“While waiting for adjusters people should make an inventory of everything that’s damaged,” Nicholson said in an interview with The Sun. “Go up in the attic with a flash light, check to see if the siding on your house has damage, if there are shingles loose. Really take responsibility and make a list.” When an adjust inspects your home Nicholson said it’s important to get their name and contact information. Please click here to read the full story... Chronicle Q&A: Attorney Tina Nicholson Answers Policyholder Questions
Q: Will insurance reimburse me for the time I spent cleaning? A: Your time has value, and you should be reimbursed for the time you spent cleaning or removing debris as you would have otherwise paid someone to do it, Nicholson said. So log how much time you spent cleaning up and what you did. "They have special estimating programs that tell them exactly how much someone in the area would charge for that work," she said. "It may be a good idea to call around and find out how much a company would charge you for cleaning or debris removal." Please click here to read the full story... read more | Comments (0)Fox Houston asks Tina Nicholson to Share her Expertise by Phone read more | Comments (0) Houston Chronicle: Tina Nicholson on What to Do After Ike
"The adjuster's opinion is only one opinion,'' she said. ``If you don't agree with the company's adjuster's estimate, you need to dispute it." Please click here to read the full story... read more | Comments (0)Chip Merlin: What are Insurance Companies Doing Now?
I write this a day or so before Gustav is going to strike a terrible blow somewhere from east Texas to the far west of Florida. Hurricane, unlike tornados, have a large area, potentially more than a hundred miles worth of impact. The center of it is not as important as being simply close to it. "Close" is a long way when talking about a Category 4 hurricane. read more | Comments (1)Times-Picayune: Chip Merlin's Comments Sought before Gustav hit Louisiana
But before worrying about the possibility of insurance claims from Gustav, Chip Merlin, a Florida plaintiff attorney with offices across the Gulf Coast, said that if people are still repairing their homes, the first order of business is to make sure they're thoroughly sealed up. "The best loss is the one that never happens," he said. Please click here to read the full story... read more | Comments (0)WLOX Leads with Merlin Law Group Katrina Settlements read more | Comments (0) |
