Hurricane Harvey, then Hurricane Irma, tore through several states and caused billions of dollars in property damage. Businesses were forced to shut down and lost profits was the result. Most businesses have first-party property insurance which provides coverage for property damage losses, including but not limited to damage to real and personal property, lost profits, debris removal, extra expense, business interruption, and contingent business interruption losses. When making a first-party property damage claim to the insurance company, businesses should engage insurance coverage counsel and a forensic accountant to assist with organizing and presenting the claim. Here are a few reasons why.
Insurance coverage counsel know that an insurance claim should be made as soon as possible with the insurance carrier to avoid a late notice argument. Property insurance policies have several timing requirements and complying with those requirements is necessary in order to obtain coverage. If any extensions are necessary, insurance coverage counsel can seek the extension and obtain written confirmation of the extension.
Insurance coverage counsel can carefully review the insurance policy and the facts to determine if there is any policy language that the insurance carrier may assert to avoid coverage, then prepare the claim, with the forensic accountant, to address the potential coverage defenses. For instance, after Hurricane Katrina, several insurance carriers argued that the damage was caused by flood waters, which was excluded by the insurance policies, but insurance coverage counsel were able to successfully argue that the damage was caused by wind and rain, which was not excluded by the insurance policies.
Insurance coverage counsel can respond to the insurance carrier’s general reservation of rights letter, demand a coverage position from the insurance carrier, and address the coverage defenses raised by the insurance carrier.
Insurance coverage counsel can protect the attorney client privilege of the business in its communications with the insurance carrier.
A forensic accountant can gather, document and organize the loss data in such a way to assist insurance coverage counsel to maximize coverage in the presentation of the claim to the insurance carrier. Photographs, video, business records and historical data can be used to help document the claim.
Insurance coverage counsel can work with the forensic accountant to provide interim reports and supporting documentation to the insurance carrier and assist the business in obtaining advance payments.
The retention of a forensic accountant and coverage counsel should be at the top of a business “To Do” list after suffering a hurricane-related loss. Insurance coverage counsel and a forensic accountant can help the business maximize coverage, and after a hurricane, those losses can be significant.
Insurance coverage counsel can carefully review the insurance policy and the facts to determine if there is any policy language that the insurance carrier may assert to avoid coverage, then prepare the claim, with the forensic accountant, to address the potential coverage defenses. For instance, after Hurricane Katrina, several insurance carriers argued that the damage was caused by flood waters, which was excluded by the insurance policies, but insurance coverage counsel were able to successfully argue that the damage was caused by wind and rain, which was not excluded by the insurance policies.
Insurance coverage counsel can respond to the insurance carrier’s general reservation of rights letter, demand a coverage position from the insurance carrier, and address the coverage defenses raised by the insurance carrier.
Insurance coverage counsel can protect the attorney client privilege of the business in its communications with the insurance carrier.
A forensic accountant can gather, document and organize the loss data in such a way to assist insurance coverage counsel to maximize coverage in the presentation of the claim to the insurance carrier. Photographs, video, business records and historical data can be used to help document the claim.
Insurance coverage counsel can work with the forensic accountant to provide interim reports and supporting documentation to the insurance carrier and assist the business in obtaining advance payments.
The retention of a forensic accountant and coverage counsel should be at the top of a business “To Do” list after suffering a hurricane-related loss. Insurance coverage counsel and a forensic accountant can help the business maximize coverage, and after a hurricane, those losses can be significant.
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