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New Jersey and New York Hurricane Sandy Lawyers

Insurance Litigation Regarding Insurance Company Bad Faith

Hurricanes and tropical storms like Sandy are one of the most powerful and destructive forces known to man. Thousands of homeowners and business in the tri-state area and along the east coast experienced firsthand the power of such storms. Sandy, referred to as a Superstorm, struck the U.S. on October 29, 2012, causing an estimated $20-$50 billion in damages. The storm has passed, but for countless businesses and homeowners they are now faced with the need to file insurance claims and recover fair compensation.

We are currently investigating claims on behalf of property owners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and other areas that sustained damage from Hurricane Sandy. Recovering a fair settlement from an insurance company can be difficult, particularly in a situation such as this where thousands of claims are being processed. Insurance companies have a vested interest in paying you as little as they can get away with and delaying payments as long as possible. Unfortunately, in the wake of other natural disasters we have seen insurance companies delay payment, deny valid claims and offer unfairly low settlement amounts to a policyholder. Our hurricane lawyers are here to ensure insurance providers act in good faith and deal with their policyholders in a fair manner.

Many insurance claims will be handled in a fair and timely manner, but there are homeowners and businesses who may experience the ill-effects of deceptive and unfair practices by their insurers. We are committed to representing Hurricane Sandy victims whose claims have been denied, delayed or underpaid in violation of their rights. Whether it takes a simple letter or courtroom litigation to secure a fair settlement or award, our law firm will do what it takes to ensure homeowners get the money they need to repair their homes and land.

The Law on Hurricane Deductibles

Our attorneys can assist homeowners and businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy with determining whether they will be required to pay “hurricane deductibles,” which are higher deductibles triggered by hurricanes. Instead of paying a flat deductible, which usually would range from about $500 to $1,000 or more, homeowners struck by hurricanes may face deductibles equal to 1-5% of the total value of their homes.

According to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, New York Governor Cuomo, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, and insurance officials in Maryland, by the time Hurricane Sandy made landfall, wind speeds had slowed to a point that it was downgraded to a tropical storm. Insurance providers would therefore be unable to enforce hurricane deductibles, which only apply if a storm is at least a Category 1 hurricane with sustained wind speeds of 74 mph or more. If your insurance company is claiming that you must pay a “hurricane deductible,” we can help you.

Denied and Delayed Insurance Claims and Other Bad Faith Practices

Our Hurricane Sandy Attorneys are currently accepting the following insurance ligation claims:

  • Improperly denied claims;
  • Unreasonably delayed payments;
  • Undervalued claims and unfair settlement offers;
  • Improperly calculated deductibles; and
  • Deceptive or unethical practices by insurance adjusters and other insurance company personnel.

Insurance providers are legally bound to act in good faith when investigating, valuing and paying claims. When insurance companies breach this duty, they may be held accountable. Depending on the jurisdiction, the wronged policyholder may be able to seek the full value of the original claim, plus additional damages. We represent plaintiffs in insurance bad faith lawsuits and all other legal matters related to unfairly denied or delayed Hurricane Sandy claims.

Hurricane Sandy Law Firm

If you are a victim of improper or illegal insurance practices related to your Hurricane Sandy insurance claim, contact a Hurricane Sandy Lawyer today for a free consultation.