Property damage Archives

Recovering from the devastation of storm damage is a complex process, and having a reliable public adjuster by your side can make all the difference. The aftermath of a natural disaster is overwhelming, especially when it comes to dealing with insurance claims. Partnering with a Public Adjuster who understands the challenges you face and tailors to you and your property’s needs helps to streamline the claims process. Moreover, a public adjuster is your advocate, equipped with the expertise and knowledge to navigate the intricate landscape of insurance policies. Their partnership allows you to better equip yourself to fight for a fair settlement, enabling you to rebuild and restore your life. Now you may be asking, how do I find a public adjuster near me?

Top 5 Things to Look For in a Public Adjuster

#1 Verify Licensing & Accreditation

Ensure the public adjuster you consider is licensed and accredited by the relevant regulatory bodies. This accreditation validates their expertise and adherence to industry standards, providing you with confidence in their professionalism.

#2 Evaluate Experience & Specialization

Look for an adjuster with a proven track record in handling various types of damages, such as water damage, hail damage, fire damage, and hurricane damage. Specialization in specific areas ensures they possess the expertise needed to handle your unique situation effectively.

#3 Transparency & Trustworthiness

Transparent communication about fees, the claims process, and expected timeline is essential. Furthermore, a trustworthy public adjuster maintains open and honest communication, ensuring you are well-informed at every step.

#4 Check Client Testimonials and Reviews

Reading testimonials and reviews from previous clients provides valuable insights into the adjuster’s reputation and the satisfaction of their clients. Premier Claims takes pride in its positive client feedback, reflecting our commitment to excellent service and successful outcomes.

#5 Investigate Communication & Availability

Effective communication is key to a successful partnership. Evaluate the adjuster’s responsiveness and availability. Premier Claims ensures that our team is readily available to address your concerns and provide updates, offering you peace of mind during the claims process.

Why Choose Premier Claims?

At Premier Claims, our expertise goes beyond mere professional qualifications. Our team, consisting of industry veterans with advanced certifications and ongoing education, ensures we stay ahead of industry trends and policy changes. A public adjuster with a fully equipped team of professionals can significantly impact the outcome of your claim for the better. Premier Claims is dedicated to surpassing industry standards by incorporating innovation, technology, and a meticulous claim management process. Our six-step process is committed to delivering unparalleled results, safeguarding your interests at every stage. Certain states may have regulations that determine the services a public adjuster may provide. Our process and services we are able to provide will be based on the state regulations. To learn more, visit our Public Adjuster Legal Disclaimer. When you choose Premier Claims, you benefit from:

Expert Knowledge & Continuous Education

Our professionals hold advanced degrees and certifications, constantly updating their skills to navigate the ever-evolving insurance landscape effectively.

Tailored Strategies for Maximum Results

We understand the uniqueness of each case. Consequently, our team creates customized strategies, attempting to maximize your settlement based on the intricacies of your specific situation.

Supporting You Beyond the Claim

Our team actively offers personalized policy guidance, addresses industry inquiries, and commits to providing you with tailored support. We’re here to ensure your peace of mind extends beyond the claims process, offering expertise and assistance whenever you need it.

Your journey to reclaiming your life after storm damage begins with choosing the right public adjuster. Moreover, Premier Claims, combines expertise, integrity, and a genuine commitment to your well-being. Contact Premier Claims today to discover how we can help you and your property!

Severe weather events, such as hailstorms, have become increasingly more common and devastating in recent years. As we enter an era where the cost of insured losses from severe storms continues to rise, it becomes crucial for property owners to act promptly after a date of loss. Get ready to explore the significance of taking immediate action in the wake of extreme weather like this year’s hail storms, gain insights on the rising costs of storm damage, and discover valuable guidance on protecting your property.

Why Acting Promptly Matters

When faced with property damage caused by hail or other severe weather, time is of the essence. Acting promptly allows you to:

Mitigate further damage: Addressing issues quickly can prevent additional damage to your property and save you from costly repairs.
Expedite the claims process: Reporting the loss promptly helps initiate the claims process, ensuring you receive compensation in a timely manner.
Preserve evidence: Acting promptly allows you to document the damage before it worsens, providing crucial evidence for your insurance claim.

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The Soaring Costs of Severe Weather:

Hailstorms have had a significant financial impact, with insured losses skyrocketing in recent decades. Gallagher Re, a reinsurance firm, reports insured losses from hail exceeding $10 billion since 2008. In 2023 alone, insured losses from severe convective storms are projected to surpass $30 billion. With the growing number of severe weather events, it’s crucial to be proactive in protecting your property and securing the necessary coverage.

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Protecting Your Property:

To safeguard your property and ensure a smooth claims process, consider the following steps:

Document the damage: Take photographs or videos of the property damage immediately after the event, providing visual evidence for your insurance claim.
Consult with a Public Adjuster: Seeking assistance from a licensed Public Adjuster can help streamline your claims process. They will advocate for your rights, assess the damage accurately, and help negotiate a fair settlement with your insurance carrier based on your states guidelines.
Mitigating further damage: Take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage to your property, such as covering exposed areas or making temporary repairs. Keep receipts and document the expenses incurred.

Acting promptly after a date of loss is essential to protect your property and ensure a smooth claims process. With the increasing costs of severe weather events, it’s crucial to be proactive in securing the necessary coverage and taking immediate steps to mitigate further damage. By documenting the damage, reporting the loss promptly, and seeking assistance from a Public Adjuster, you can navigate the claims process with confidence.

Remember, time is of the essence when it comes to protecting your property from severe weather-related losses. Act promptly, protect your investment, and fight for the coverage you deserve. If you have any questions, please reach out to our team today.

Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana in 2021, and now in 2022, Hurricane Ian is impacting Florida, with a projected hit on Thursday. Hurricane Charley arrived at 150 mph in 2004, but wind speed isn’t the sole threat of a hurricane. Storm surge and storm tide, life-threatening risks for Florida residents during Hurricane Ian, have prompted a Storm Surge Warning in Tampa. Rising water along the coastline will swell and can invade several miles inland. While you can’t prevent a hurricane from coming, you can take a few actions to prepare for the storm.

Hurricane Tips:

- - Secure your home as best you can.
  - Prepare to evacuate.
  - If you don’t have permanent storm shutters, the NOAA recommends 5/8” exterior grade or marine plywood.
  - If your area didn’t evacuate, find the innermost area of your home away from windows or any other glass that could shatter in the storm.

If your local officials direct you to evacuate, don’t hesitate. Your life means more than any possession.

Have you located your property’s policy?

A hurricane brings immense stress, damage, and chaos. Don’t let the worry of finding your policy add to the burden. Secure your vital documents now; this will save time and headaches after the storm passes and the community begins cleaning up.

Download the Premier Claims Hurricane Checklist here. For hurricane tips and guidance on how to prepare for the storm, follow Premier Claims. We’re ready to assist after the storm. Contact us today to ensure that you’re ready to manage any property damage.

Million Oaks Condominium Association

Kenner, Louisiana
Hurricane Ida
August 2021

In the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Ida, the insurance carrier relied heavily on our expertise right from the start of the claim process. This collaboration showcased the mutual respect between the insurance carrier and our public adjusting team, all in the interest of expediting the claim for the policyholder. Recognizing the extensive damage, we assisted residents with their individual claims and coordinated both inspections and repairs for their units. Ultimately, we secured coverage up to the policy limits for the Condo Association and offered complimentary consultation services to residents, helping them recover their losses.

Insurance Carrier Offer: N/A

Premier Claims Settlement: $1,011,000

In the grand theater of meteorological events, two powerful weather phenomena play starring roles: tornadoes and downbursts. Though they both may seem like formidable players causing extensive damage, they are distinct in their formation, the type of winds they produce, and the nature of destruction they cause. This blog will dive into the world of tornadoes and downbursts, with special emphasis on macrobursts and microbursts, and will guide you on how to ensure your property is adequately covered by insurance for such events.

Tornadoes vs. Downbursts: The Basics

Tornado Formation and Wind Type

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Severe Storms Laboratory (NOAA NSSL), “A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground.” The formation of a tornado, also known as tornadogenesis, is a complex process that involves varying wind speeds and directions, change in wind speed and direction with altitude (wind shear), high humidity, and instability in the lower atmosphere.

Tornadoes produce what is known as rotational winds. These are winds that move in a circular pattern around a center point, much like water going down a drain.

Downburst Formation and Wind Type

On the other hand, a downburst is a strong downward current of air from a thunderstorm that hits the ground and spreads out in all directions. There are two types of downbursts: macrobursts and microbursts. A macroburst is a powerful storm with a diameter exceeding 2.5 miles, lasting 5 to 30 minutes. In contrast, a microburst is more concentrated, affecting an area under 2.5 miles wide, lasting around 5 minutes.

Unlike tornadoes, downbursts produce straight-line winds. These winds flow in a more uniform direction, spreading radially once they hit the ground.

The Devastation: Tornado vs. Downburst Damage

The type of wind involved greatly influences the pattern of damage that these events cause. Tornado damage is often identifiable by a distinct path of destruction due to its rotational winds, leaving damage in a somewhat narrow and long trail.

In contrast, the damage from a downburst is typically more “divergent” due to the straight-line winds. The destruction radiates outwards from a central point where the wind initially strikes the ground, often creating a radial or fan-shaped pattern of damage.

Insurance Claims: Navigating the Storm After the Storm

The aftermath of these severe weather events often leads to significant property loss, making insurance claims a necessary, albeit daunting, process. Here are key factors to consider when dealing with insurance for tornado and downburst damages.

Coverage for Tornado Damage

Standard homeowners’ insurance policies typically cover tornado damage. It usually falls under the “windstorm” or “hail” peril covered in your policy. However, it’s essential to review your policy’s specific terms and limits.

In the event of a tornado, you’ll want to document all damage extensively, take photographs, and compile a detailed inventory of damaged items. This information will support your claim.

Coverage for Downburst Damage

Damage from downbursts, including both macrobursts and microbursts, is generally covered under the wind damage provision of your homeowners’ insurance policy. As with tornadoes, it’s crucial to document all damage thoroughly, providing your insurance company with a detailed account of the loss.

Getting Adequate Coverage

While basic homeowners’ insurance usually covers tornado and downburst damages, there are certain scenarios where additional coverage may be needed. For instance, if you live in a tornado-prone area, consider getting a separate, specific tornado insurance policy.

Your standard policy might not cover damage due to flooding following a downburst or a tornado. So, consider adding a flood insurance policy to your existing coverage. Additionally, ensure your policy includes a provision for living expenses in case your home becomes uninhabitable due to storm damage.

Conclusion

Tornadoes and downbursts, including macrobursts and microbursts, are powerful weather phenomena with distinct formations, wind types, and patterns of damage. Securing proper insurance for these situations brings peace of mind amid unpredictable weather. Regularly assess your policies for the right coverage and disaster-response know-how.

Confidential Religious Center

Orlando, Florida
Hail Damage
April 2021

From the start, our team uncovered undeniable evidence of hail damage to the 1,020-square metal roof. In an attempt to stall the process, the insurance carrier issued a ‘reservation of rights’ letter, suggesting the claim might not be sufficiently covered by the policy. They also sent an engineer and their own adjuster for further evaluation. To counter this delay tactic, we conducted a thorough legal review of the policy to confirm coverage and compiled a comprehensive estimate based on our investigations. Despite an ACV policy with endorsements, we successfully negotiated a final settlement of $1,162,000 for a complete roof replacement. After the settlement, and considering the property’s age, we advised the policyholder on upgrading to an RCV policy for more comprehensive future coverage.

Insurance Carrier Offer: Stated No Coverage Available

Premier Claims Settlement: $1,162,000

The Coronavirus global pandemic has significantly impacted not only individuals throughout the world but businesses and their employees’ livelihoods. The United States pledges almost $1 trillion to bail out big businesses and banks, aiming to soften outcomes. However, this action will only help limited small businesses and won’t safeguard the future of everyday working Americans. With an uncertain timeline ahead for the economic impact, many businesses will experience interruption and may fail, resulting in an ever-growing unemployment rate, and a frightening time for those directly affected.

For businesses grappling with prolonged closures due to COVID-19, Premier Claims, a National Public Adjusting Firm, brings hope. We stand by policyholders, advocating for property and business insurance claims. While policies usually cover direct physical loss, extensions might also cover lost revenue during a business interruption. There may also be further coverage for business interruption based on a civil authority shutdown.

Business Interruption Coverage

This coverage typically allows for the recovery of lost income and associated extra expenses. This coverage requires the interruption resulting from direct physical loss or damage of the insured property caused by a covered peril. As many states mandate businesses too close, they are specifically referencing that this is being done, at least in part, due to the damage the virus is doing to the property. This is opening up the door to potential business interruption claims.

Civil Authority Coverage

This coverage is designed to apply when access to an insured’s property is hindered by a civil authority’s order due to physical damage. The damage must result from an insured peril affecting nearby property. This coverage also is opening the door to potential claims.

Whether or not you are going to have coverage is very dependent on your policy. Many policies have an exclusion of loss due to viruses or bacteria. These exclusions generally mean that the carrier will not pay for loss or damage caused or resulting from any virus, bacterium, or other microorganism that induces or is capable of inducing physical distress, illness, or disease. If your policy has this type of exclusion, then recovery under business interruption or civil authority will generally not be a possibility.

Across the nation, states propose bills for COVID-19 business interruption coverage, despite virus exclusion concerns. While questioning their constitutionality, the application of these coverages remains uncertain. The best thing you can do right now, is to review your insurance policies and see if coverage is available. If an exclusion does apply, then you should monitor some of these bills if applicable to your state.

During this time our firm will be conducting complimentary policy reviews and assessments to assist those affected by these business closures. In addition, Premier Claims is dedicated to reducing our fees in handling the claim in cases where coverage exists, and a claim can be filed. We’re here to let businesses and commercial property owners know that we are a resource.

Public Adjuster Near Me: Things to Look for and Consider