Misrepresentation Claims by Insurance Companies in Your Insurance Claim Dispute
In an effort to avoid paying valid insurance claims, insurance companies often deny payment by claiming that a policyholder has made material misrepresentations either before the policy was issued or after the policy was issued. For example, the insurance company may claim that an insured “lied” on the application for insurance. In Tennessee, Tenn. Code…
Read MoreThe Dirtiest Words in the English Language Are “Post-Claims Underwriting”
The French poet Charles Baudelaire once said “The finest trick of the devil is to persuade you that he does not exist.” This is a particular trick of the insurance industry as well, though they call it “post-claims underwriting.” In short, post-claims underwriting means this: you purchase an insurance policy. You suffer a loss. You…
Read MoreIf Your Business Is Online, You May Face Different Challenges for Business Interruption Claims
When you work in a brick-and-mortar shop – a retail outlet, a trading company, a restaurant – and catastrophe hits, you can put a claim in for business interruption. (In case you’re new to the insurance claim game, “business interruption” claims are claims for the money you lost while your business could not proceed, more…
Read More“Your Claim Is Under Investigation,” and Other Reasons You Might Need an Insurance Attorney
Few words strike fear into the heart of a policyholder like “Your claim is under investigation.” It’s understandable: you pay your premiums every month in case something happens, so it can be hard to reconcile your “good” behavior with a potential hold-up in the process. Here’s what you need to remember: your insurance company covers…
Read MoreWhat You Don’t Know about Arbitration Clauses Could Hurt You in an Insurance Dispute
Because we handle a tremendous amount of insurance disputes each year, our team has a firm grasp on arbitration. (You can see a couple of examples right on my attorney bio page.) The average policyholder doesn’t know much about arbitration, though, and that can hurt you in the event that you ever need to make…
Read MoreCondos, Causation and Insurance Claims
When you purchase a unit in a condominium, you own the interior of that unit; the exterior (or from the studs-out, typically) is managed by a homeowners’ association (HOA). As part of your contract, you will pay HOA fees that go towards the upkeep of the land and outside structure. Part of those fees pay…
Read MoreBad Faith and Your Rights When the Insurer Is Wrong
In the simplest of terms, we carry insurance in case of emergencies: fire, wind, hail, flood, illness, etc. When an emergency occurs, policyholders make a claim to their insurance companies to recoup their losses: the burned house, the lost income, the cost of new carpets and drywall, etc. The insurer assesses the damage and then…
Read More