November 26, 2020 Smoke, Maggots, and Mold: Fire Survivors Fight Insurance Company’s Denials In the Santa Cruz mountains, the charred scars of the CZU fire stretch in every direction. But every once in a while, the scorched landscape yields to a house that survived. Theresa Brees’ home is one of the lucky ones. “Our house is basically an…
October 16, 2020 Guest Blog: An Adjuster’s View on Derecho Claims by: Caeden Tinklenberg, Swift Public Adjusters Two months after the August 10 derecho that swept Iowa, many homeowners are realizing they may be left out in the cold by their insurance company. The damage left by the derecho is unfathomable to me as an Iowa…
October 13, 2020 Santa Rosa firm helps wildfire victims navigate battles with insurance companies Three years since the Tubbs fire, there have been some notable improvements for homeowners who are wrangling with their insurance carriers in the aftermath of a wildfire loss. The state Legislature enacted some reforms, such as boosting rental living expenses from a maximum of two…
October 5, 2020 Wildfire survivors facing total property loss struggle with insurance claims process With a destructive wildfire season still underway, Insurance Commissioner Lara is urging insurance companies to help wildfire survivors. CALIFORNIA, USA — California has had an incredibly destructive wildfire season, which have left many residences without a home or facing significant property damage. As a result,…
October 5, 2020 Gov. Newsom signs insurance bill providing quicker payments for wildfire losses Wildfire victims who lose their home and possessions will be able to recoup money for their expenses faster, thanks to legislation that makes property insurance benefits easier to collect. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 872 into law Thursday, providing a suite of insurance protections…
October 3, 2020 California Insurance Commissioner Urges Insurance Companies to Cover Wildfire Property Losses Without Requiring a Home Inventory October 3, 2020 – SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In response to California’s latest destructive fires, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is requesting that insurance companies help wildfire survivors who are overwhelmed with the task of navigating the claims process by providing up to 100 percent of personal…
September 30, 2020 California wildfires: What you need to know about insurance for your losses As still more wildfires rage in the Bay Area, many wonder how to handle the practicalities if they must evacuate — or worse, if their home is lost or damaged. Here are answers to common questions about insurance, money and real estate. Q: I had…
September 28, 2020 Sonoma County fire survivors embrace roles as guides and counselors to latest wave of disaster victims Vita Iskander had no intention of taking a leadership role when she walked into Santa Rosa’s Unitarian Universalist church on Oct. 25, 2017. Seventeen days earlier, her home in Hidden Valley Estates had burned in the Tubbs fire. Still in something of a daze, she…
September 17, 2020 Dealing With Wildfire Damage? These Free Resources Can Help You File Your Insurance Claim The trauma of a wildfire is compounded only by the stress of trying to figure out if you’re covered under your insurance and how to collect under those policies for any damage to your property. Fortunately, ample free help is available, from coverage information to…
September 8, 2020 California Insurance Commissioner Urges Insurance Companies to Cover Reimbursement Costs for Those Displaced During Wildfires September 7, 2020 – LOS ANGELES, Calif. – To assist Californians displaced by the current and recent wildfires throughout the state, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a Notice to all California property and casualty insurance companies urging them to cover Additional Living Expenses (ALE) for…
August 30, 2020 Statewide town hall to address wildfire assistance and insurance resources Join Cal OES Director, Mark Ghilarducci, CA Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and United Policyholders Executive Director, Amy Bach for a Statewide Virtual Town Hall on wildfires assistance and insurance resources available to renters and homeowners. With many communities experiencing evacuations, loss of homes and the…
April 3, 2020 Tennessee Tornado Insurance Claim and Recovery Help If your home or business was damaged or destroyed in the recent Nashville area tornadoes, we are here to give you reliable guidance during the recovery process. UP recommends focusing on photographing and documenting damaged and destroyed property, getting a complete current copy of your…
November 18, 2019 NEW extended deadline: December 31. How to apply for compensation for uninsured wildfire losses from the PG&E fund If you were affected by the recent (2015, 2017, 2018) Northern California Wildfires you have until 5pm on Monday, October 21st, 2019 December 31, 2019 (deadline extended!) to file a claim form to potentially receive compensation from PG&E for your uninsured losses. We encourage you to watch the…
September 6, 2018 Press Release: Wildfire-impacted households face emotions, decisions at the one-year mark: Help is available, survey underway SAN FRANCISCO, CA – September 6, 2018 – United Policyholders (UP), a nonprofit insurance consumer organization, will offer guidance to wildfire-impacted households on navigating deadlines, decisions and emotions at the one-year anniversary of their devastating losses at a free workshop. UP is also asking all…
November 30, 2016 Big Data and Privacy In the past, insurance companies used straightforward objective criteria and actuarial science to evaluate risks and calculate how much to charge a consumer for an insurance policy. Age, address, income, claim history and education were the main factors. Today, insurers are using subjective factors such…
October 11, 2016 Black Forest Fire victim advises Beulah Hill Fire victims Sherri Bertrand shares experience of losing home. A previous wildfire victim in El Paso County is offering advice to victims of a recent fire in Pueblo County. Sherri Bertrand of Black Forest said she was out of town the first week of the Beulah Hill…
June 15, 2015 FEMA re-opens claims, but some Sandy victims say ‘no thanks A few weeks ago, FEMA sent out 146,000 letters to homeowners who were possible victims of Sandy-related flood insurance fraud, offering to reevaluate their damage awards and make them whole. That’s a lot of people with a lot of money at stake.FEMA is also offering…
