Insurance Claims Help & ServicesFor Insurance Claim Disputes, Independent Appraiser, Insurance Appraisal Process, and Appraisal Umpire Services!

Winter and spring storms can often include tornado activity in many southern states.  In a recent news interview even an insurance company adjuster admits that many damages from tornadoes are often overlooked.  Policyholders should educate themselves of the various items to look for and how to detect subtle damage which could be very costly and show up months or years after the tornado is long gone.

Many Huntsville, AL neighborhoods were affected by an EF-2 tornado on Thursday Jan, 28th 2010.  Most of the damage created by tornadoes and high winds are pretty hard to miss, but even insurance adjusters can miss storm damages, if they fail to look closely.

A thorough inspection by a insurance claim consultant or independent insurance appraiser is suggested.  Too many policyholders take their adjusters word for it, without getting a second opinion.  This should almost never happen.  Protect yourself and your home by educating yourself on these few wind damage inspection tips.

• Plumbing:  High winds can shake or rack your home or building.  Policyholders should turn on all faucets in bathrooms and kitchens, then open all cabinets after a few minutes to check the plumbing lines for leaks.  Flush all toilets and run all baths and showers as well.  Look at the ceilings below for water stains.
• Roofing/Siding:  Look for flying debris that may have cracked, gauges or ripped in to your siding.  High winds can also rip and tear your roof shingles allowing water entry.
• Windows & Gutters:  Wind and flying debris can crack window glass, rip screens, and dent gutters.
• Brick & Foundations:  Check for cracking and separation.  Wind can also cause uplift to foundations.  Check the perimeter of crawlspaces.  Severe damages can be hidden.
• Interior:  High winds can cause stress cracks in corners of walls, and above doors and windows.  Check for settling of floors by using a level.  Over the following few days and weeks, keep an eye out for water stains or yellowing on the walls and ceilings, which could indicate hidden roof leaks.

Insurance companies and their engineers have even been sued for failing to recognize many of these types of damages for insurance claims following high winds and tornadoes.  CNN reported ”State Farm Penalized in Suit Over Tornado Claims :”

State Farm acted “recklessly” and “with malice” in handling insurance claims from dozens of families whose homes were damaged when a wave of tornadoes, including the strongest in recorded history, swept through Oklahoma in 1999, a jury has decided.

The verdict…delivered millions to the lead plaintiffs…

The jury in the District Court of Grady County, Oklahoma, awarded Donald and Bridget Watkins almost $13 million in total damages for their part in the class action suit against the nation’s largest insurer….

As we are all well aware tornadoes have very strong winds.  Even tornadoes that do not actually “touch-down” can cause significant pressure on buildings.  Such winds will push and pull on the structures causing fasteners and building parts to become compromised.

Above all, as stated, call an insurance claim consultant or independent insurance appraiser to inspect your property and be sure your home is safe.  Feel free to call Insurance Claims Group, Inc. at 919-669-9111 to have all your questions answered.

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Claim Consulting Service – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map: What Are They and Where You Can Find One

Flooding is a disastrous event that can occur in a wide number of locations. Despite the fact that flooding can occur just about anywhere in the United States, there are some areas that are more prone to flooding than others. It is often hard for individuals, especially those who are new to the area, to tell if they are living in an area that is prone to flooding. That is one of the many reasons why FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps were developed.

FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps are a collection of maps that detail the likelihood of flooding occurring in a particular area. In addition to keeping the public aware of flooding risks, the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate maps are also used to assist the National Flood Insurance Program in offering affordable flood insurance to Americans living in high-risk flood zones.

FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps are a valuable source of information to homeowners, business owners, construction workers, city officials, and others. While the maps are beneficial, there are many individuals who are unaware that there may be a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map for their area. If you are looking to purchase a home or a business in an area that you are unfamiliar with or you just want to educate yourself on flooding risks, you have a number of ways gain access to your local FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map.

The most common way to obtain access to your local FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map is to visit the FEMA’s online website. Once at FEMA’s website site you should be able to easily search for your local FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. If you are only interested in quickly viewing a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map you can do so for free online. If you are interested in having your own printed FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map then you may have to purchase one.

In addition to obtaining a local FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), you may also be able to view one by speaking to local government officials. Many cities, towns, and state offices have a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map on hand. You may not be able to take the map outside of their offices, but you may be able to quickly examine it.

Many individuals prefer to look at a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map, but sometimes hearing the information on those maps is just as good. If you are unable to find a free FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map, you can contact a local or national flood insurance agent for more information. These maps are taken into consideration when flood insurance is offered; therefore, most flood insurance agents would have access to multiple FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps.

Many individuals who are searching for a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map are doing so because they are interested in obtaining flood insurance. If you contact a flood insurance agent, you may be able to determine your flooding risk and obtain flood insurance coverage all at the same time. In addition to providing valuable flood insurance information, a small number of agents are also able to offer National Flood Insurance Program coverage for a discounted price. That discount can be as high as 12%.

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Claim Consulting Service – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

There are many risks that people are accustomed to insuring against. These will include, health insurance, auto insurance and fire insurance. There are others that are less familiar, such as dental and flood insurance but there are many reasons why you should reassess the insurances you currently have in place and perhaps consider relocating them to cover the risks that you are most afraid of experiencing.

For example, did you know that losses due to floods are thirty times more likely to occur than fire insurance claims? This is especially true if your home is located in a flood prone zone. While a flood loss is generally less devastating than a fire loss, if your home is located in a flood prone zone, the chance of even experiencing catastrophic damage is still 25% greater from flood than from fire.

Flood loss: Most basic home insurance policies do not automatically include coverage for flood loss as a standard. Commercial property policies are the same, with flood loss only being covered if it is specifically mentioned in the policy. If the flood is extremely severe, it may be classified as a disaster site by the federal government. This will cause some protection to be made available in the form of loans. These loans, which come through the Federal Emergency Management Assistance program, are not like insurance however, as you are required to pay back the loan that they give you, as well as any other home loans you already have. They will also require you to carry flood insurance in the future. The other thing about the Federal Emergency Management Assistance program is that it only kicks in if your area and flood are declared a federal disaster site. This can be fairly rare when compared to the amount of floods that are experienced annually.

Flood insurance is offered by various insurance companies but should be backed by the National Flood Insurance Program. This type of coverage, which is supported and regulated by the federal government, is the only type of flood insurance that will fully protect your home and contents from rising water flood insurance.

Shop Around: If you are considering taking out a policy of this kind, shop around for the best rate and find out what is covered and what is excluded. It may be that a specific company’s exclusion is exactly the situation in which you require coverage and other companies may not have the same exclusion so you are wise to shop around. Also, all insurance companies vary in what they offer and what they charge. Do not accept the first offer or quote you receive and do not expect all companies to provide the same deals. You should always shop around when it comes to insurance and find yourself the best deal available for the flood insureance you require.

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Claim Consulting Service – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

Disputes, especially when it comes to settling insurance claims, are not new scenarios. In fact, they take place every day. Just what causes these disputes? Well, one of the obvious reasons is most policyholders believe that they deserve to be paid a larger settlement than what they have received. Second, many insurance companies are trying to pay as little as possible on a claim. And third, claims are sometimes denied. All of which can result in a dispute.

There are various ways to deal with your insurance loss. First, is the aggressive approach, which I do not encourage. Too much aggression will cause further delays. I also believe that everything can be settled in a peaceful and civilized manner. There are actually several peaceful options which a policyholder may undertake depending on the degree of the insurance claim dispute.

For cases where you are at an impasse with your insurance adjuster, it is advised to get the name and then the phone number of the adjusters supervisor by calling the company directly or asking the adjuster for such information. Call the supervisor and/or the consumer complaint department and advise them of your problem as they may be able to help you. You can also request a “re-inspection” by another adjuster. Request that a “General Adjuster” e-inspect you claim. A General Adjuster is one that has over 15 years experience. It’s important not to forget to get the name of the person whom you talked with in the consumer complaint department as well.

If you have a dispute about repairing a structure that has suffered a large loss, you can hire an engineer to provide an analysis report of the damages. If the result still has not satisfied you there you should file a complaint at Department Of Insurance in the state you live in.

However, if you still feel that you have not been given a satisfying solution to your insurance loss problems you can call (919) 669-9111 which is a consumer information hotline that can answer questions related to insurance loss claims that are a result of fire, water, flood, smoke, wind, hail, tornado, and hurricanes. They have trained personnel that are available to assist and answer queries relating to various property damage complaints.

Nevertheless, if you still feel that after you have applied all the above-mentioned options and you still believe you have not been provided a fair insurance settlement, you can always turn to a clause buried in your policy called APPRAISAL. The Insurance Appraisal Clause allows each party of a dispute to settle the differences out of court. It’s similar to an arbitration. (For a complete explanation of the Insurance Appraisal Clause by visiting What Is The Insurance Appraisal Clause).  The process calls for an unbiased, impartial, and competent Insurance Appraisal Umpire to work with two appraisers to settle the differences. Having such an individual can go a long way for a policyholder that is requesting a fair shake. The Appraisal Umpire has no interest. In turn, they base their decision on the facts.

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Claim Consulting Service – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

Most people buy an insurance product – whether it is a homeowners insurance or another – without reflecting much over what they actually are buying. One thing is the premium or the price you pay for it. This is the single issue or part of the insurance purchase that seem to concern most people. When it comes to other elements of the insurance product they buy, their concerns are almost absent. Most people seem to take for granted that the insurance you buy is the same, no matter which insurance company you buy it from. This attitude is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of what an insurance product is and how the insurance industry is functioning.

Of course it is important not to pay more for an insurance product than necessary as it is for any product. But sometimes we are unaware of what coverages we have with our homeowners insurance until we file a claim and find out too late that we weren’t covered for a particular loss. Such as fire damage or flood damage and these can lead to expensive Fire Insurance Claims and flood insurance claims down the road. Owners of motorcycles, boats and motorhomes may be surprised to learn that neither their homeowners insurance nor their auto insurance covers them for any loss associated with these items.

Non-traditional (or inland marine as some policies are called) insurance is a custom sector of insurance dealing with properties and items that would not traditionally fall under a typical property or automobile insurance. Such items include boats, snowmobiles, ATV’s and person watercraft. You may find that your current insurance company does not even write policies for these types of goods, in which case you will need to check out a specialty insurance company.

Accidents happen no matter if we are in our home, car or riding our ATV. By making sure you are covered you can prevent a small accident from becoming a financial nightmare by making sure you have the correct insurance coverage no matter what you might own. This alone can help you avoid costly Insurance Claims and Disputes at a later date.

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Claim Consulting Service – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

In the event that a policyholder or the insurance company invoke appraisal the two appraisers must choose an umpire. Most policies require that the two appraisers must select and agree upon the Insurance Appraisal Umpire within 15-days of the two appraisers being named. The chosen appraisal umpire must be an impartial, unbiased, and disinterested party in the outcome of the appraisal award.

Have you ever been involved in a mediation, arbitration, or appraisal where the judge or umpire didn’t really do anything except try to reach a happy medium? To execute the job of Appraisal Umpire properly, not only should one be impartial, unbiased, and disinterested, but one should also be qualified to review the differences between the two parties. Our extensive experience with construction, building repairs, building materials, and the insurance appraisal process qualifies us as a choice above all to act as an Insurance Appraisal Umpire to resolve disputes. We have extensive knowledge of Xactimate and MSB IntegriClaim. We are capable of reading and understanding the unit costs these estimating software’s provide and work with the appraisers to determine a realistic amount of loss.

Many umpires are not willing or are not qualified to review and discuss the details of a structure or contents loss. An umpire that tries to settle the claim by meeting in the middle is not providing the services that he or she was hired to do. Have your appraisal documents looked at, reviewed, and discussed in an intelligent manner with a qualified insurance adjuster, appraiser, and umpire.

We use our extensive, real life, experiences to evaluate a loss based on the facts! Our philosophy is simple… IT IS WHAT IT IS. We believe that if resulting damages to property covered by an insurance policy can be repaired then it should be repaired. However, if the property cannot be repaired it must be replaced. Simply put; the damage… IS WHAT IT IS! In many cases, appraisers can become unreasonable on what can be repaired or what should be replaced. The repair or replacement must be real, the work and materials used should be replaced with that of materials of like – kind – and quality, and the work should be completed by a professional and competent repair contractor. Again, the damage IS WHAT IT IS.

So, choose a qualified, experienced appraisal umpire that understands the facts you are presenting, as opposed to a mediator that just wants to split it down the middle. The appraisers of each side have a voice… They Should Be Heard!

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Claim Consulting Service – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims