INSURANCE CLAIM TIPS FOR VICTIMS OF THE TEXAS WILDFIRES

1.) PROMPTLY REPORT YOUR CLAIM TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY

2.) REQUEST AN ADJUSTER TO ESTIMATE YOUR DAMAGES

3.) MAKE SURE YOU GET ALL THE ADJUSTER’S CONTACT INFORMATION AS WELL AS PROVIDING HIM/HER WITH YOUR BEST CONTACT NUMBER

4.) TAKE ALL REASONABLE STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY FROM FURTHER DAMAGE IF POSSIBLE (keep a record of all your receipts/expenses)

5.) TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS/VIDEO OF ALL DAMAGE

6.) MAKE AN INVENTORY OF ALL DAMAGED PROPERTY(include quantities, description of item, approximate age, and value of item)

7.) GIVE A COPY OF ANY AND ALL PHOTOS, RECEIPTS, EXPENSES AND INVENTORY LIST TO YOUR INSURANCE ADJUSTER(create your own file and retain a copy of EVERYTHING for yourself, i.e. photos, videos, receipts, expenses)

8.) GET YOUR OWN ESTIMATE FOR REBUILDING YOUR HOME/BUSINESS FROM AN EXPERT CONTRACTOR/BUILDER.

9.) ON A TOTAL LOSS, YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY MAY OR MAY NOT BE ALLOWING MONIES FOR THE TEARING OUT AND REPOURING OF YOUR FOUNDATION/SLAB. A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER MAY BE NECESSARY TO DETERMINE IF THE STRUCTURAL INTREGITY OF YOUR FOUNDATION/SLAB HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSURANCE POLICY

a.) If you do not have a copy of your Homeowners/Commercial owner’s Insurance Policy, Request a copy from your Insurance Agent/Company or access ONLINE and Print)

b.) Important to have a Copy of your Insurance Policy to Know All your available Coverage for ALL your damages

c.) The Declaration Page, usually in the first couple of pages of your Homeowner’s/Business owner’s Policy will show your POLICY LIMITS for the following:

STANDARD HOMEOWNER’S POLICY – DWELLING, OTHER STRUCTURES, PERSONAL PROPERTY, ALE, AND (RECONSTRUCTION COSTS)

ALE (ADDITIONAL LIVING EXPENSES) – monies available to you under your insurance policy when you are displaced or when your home is untenable, in most situations it is paid as incurred, meaning you find a place, pay for it and submit your receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement, However, when there is a Catastrophic Loss, Some insurance companies will advance some monies for lodging.

STANDARD COMMERCIAL OWNERS POLICY – BUILDING, BUILDING PERSONAL PROPERTY, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, DEBRIS REMOVAL, ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING HARDWARE, VALUABLE PARES AND RECORDS, OUTDOOR PROPERTY (Trees, Shrubs, Plants, Fences, Radio & T.V. Antennas, OUTDOOR SIGNS, ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, and MONEY & SECURITIES

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR LOSS OR THE INSURANCE CLAIMS PROCESS PLEASE CONTACT ATTORNEY RICK GONZALES @ (210) 732-9900 – Office, (210) 380-9602 – Cell

I would like to offer my condolences to all the families who have been a victim of these fires in Texas.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/07/texas-fires-homes-destroyed-bastrop?CMP=NECNETTXT8187

Due to the amount of damage, destruction and homes that have been destroyed, The law office of Xalli Gonzales and the Law Office of Rick Gonzales are extending their services to anyone who needs questions answered in regards to property damages and/or any insurance related questions regarding policy terms, limits, deductibles and coverage.

The Law Office of Rick Gonzales is located in San Antonio texas. Rick has been specializing in the field of Insurance law in the representation of home and business owners. Please contact Rick Gonzales at 210-380-9602 (cell) or (Office) at 210-732-9900.

Please don’t hesitate to call and ask questions, Thank You!

A New York judge dealt a blow to mandatory arbitration clauses in workers’ compensation policies, ruling that a Chartis subsidiary cannot compel arbitration in a dispute with an employment agency.

The decision by Judge Eileen Bransten of the New York Supreme Court in New York County denied the petition of National Union Fire Insurance Co. to force arbitration with Source One Staffing. Bransten left the door open for the insurers to replead within 20 days.

At issue is whether state insurance law — in this case, California law — is pre-empted by the Federal Arbitration Act. The court determined that the McCarran-Ferguson Act upholds the validity of the California law.

“It affirms the important point that state laws regulating insurance are not pre-empted by the Federal Arbitration Act,” said Alex D. Hardiman of Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C., counsel to Source One.