Anytime a large storm hits, you hear about the hail damage. But how much does that damage cost Americans each year? The Insurance Information Institute states that 2017 saw 6,045 major hail storms, which caused about $1.8 billion in crop and property damage. When combined with wind damage, that figure rises to well over $2 billion. Where does hail hit…
An insurance policy is a contract that is binding and enforceable on both the policyholder and the insurance company. Within the policy, both parties have certain obligation and duties. The “duty to cooperate” is one of the most important policyholder duties. From a practical viewpoint, the duty to cooperate requires the policyholder to allow an insurance company to investigate the…
No one can predict when you will experience damage to your property from a fire, flood or other unexpected event. When it is time to make a claim to your insurance company for damage to your property, your insurer will almost certainly request a personal property inventory that will include a description of the property, its age and the cost…
Property insurance is something that anyone owning property should have. Insurable property includes your home, vehicle, and personal possessions that you own. Property insurance is intended to compensate you for the loss of your property in event of an accidental and unintended event to help you put your life back together. Typical losses are related to natural disasters, fires and…
SJJ attorney Tim Johnson recently won a huge case at the Iowa Supreme Court in Walnut Creek v. Depositors that will allow policyholders to have their disputed insurance claims resolved outside of court through the quicker and less expensive insurance appraisal process. The Walnut Creek case started as a disputed insurance claim. The insurance company claimed that hail had not damaged the…
SJJ attorneys Tim Johnson and Alex Jadin won another case before the Minnesota Court of Appeals upholding a policyholder’s right to collect interest on an appraisal award. In Andersen v. Owners Insurance, the policyholder prevailed against its insurance company at appraisal and sought to recover interest on the appraisal award. The insurance company argued the policyholder was not entitled to…
SJJ attorneys Alex Jadin and Tim Johnson recently won another case with significant implications for the insurance appraisal process in Minnesota. Niakwa Village Home Owners Association v. American Family Mutual Insurance Company involved a residential community that suffered hail damage in a recent storm. The Association made a claim for the damage to its insurance company, but the insurance company…
While most people choose an insurance policy for their home due to the price, it should not be your only consideration. It is equally important to choose the right coverage based upon the types of risks in your geographical area, and to be sure you have high enough policy limits to protect all of your property. In order to find…
Most jurisdictions provide that a disputed insurance loss can be resolved through the appraisal process. That process typically begins when either the insurance company or policyholder sends a written demand to the other invoking appraisal and naming their own appraiser. Once the written demand is sent, the other party usually has 15-20 days to respond and name their appraiser. The…
Working Through the Property Insurance Claim Process in Minnesota When fire damages your home or business, you must think fast and act quickly. You must get your family or employees to safety and summon the fire department to extinguish the flames. Next, you must call an emergency repair contractor, take steps to protect your property, and contact your insurance company.…
