NAPIA Offers Tips to Consumers for Hurricane Sandy Insurance Claims

National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAPIA Offers Tips to Consumers for Hurricane Sandy Insurance Claims

Potomac Falls, Virginia (October 29, 2012) – With Hurricane Sandy wreaking havoc up and down the east coast, members of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) offer the following tips to property owners who may experience property loss as a result of the storm:

• Immediately consider the use of a public adjuster to help you settle a claim. Public adjusters work for consumers, interacting with insurance companies and their independent adjusters to fairly and timely settle claims. In a storm such as Sandy, there may be an effort by insurers to settle claims quickly; a public adjuster can assure that the settlement is also consistent with the terms of your coverage.
• Due to the type of storm this is, your policy may have a deductible that applies to hurricanes. This can be a tricky and complex area to navigate as it is often difficult to determine which deductible may apply -- this will depend on numerous factors and the specific timeline of events of the loss.

·            Check to make sure that the public insurance adjuster you do select is licensed if the local jurisdiction requires it (45 states currently have a licensing statute), and know if your jurisdiction has limits on the fees that can be charged by a licensed adjuster. In many cases, fees may be capped given the size of the storm and the number of claims it produces.

·            Ask the public adjuster for their professional qualifications, past experience and whether they have been cited by their regulators for poor or unethical performance before you sign anything;

·            Know that insurers cannot prohibit a property owner from utilizing the services of a public insurance adjuster;

·            Understand that independent adjusters and insurance company adjusters represent the interests of the insurance company, and do not represent the interests of the claimant.

·            Be aware that many contractors, roofers and others hold themselves out as public adjusters, and that the unauthorized practice of public adjusting is illegal in many states.

Check to see if your public adjuster is a member of NAPIA by visiting www.napia.com or by calling 1-703-433-9217. Also, do not hesitate to contact NAPIA or your local state insurance department if you believe that a public adjuster is acting improperly or someone is acting like an adjuster without a license.

“We hold our members to the highest standards of ethical conduct and professionalism,” said NAPIA President Ronald Reitz, CPPA. “With meteorologists calling for this storm to cause severe property damage, consumers should not hesitate to reach out to our members should they need any assistance in filing their insurance claims.”

Public Adjusters are experts on property loss adjustment who are retained by policyholders to assist in preparing, filing and adjusting insurance claims. Employed exclusively by a policyholder who has sustained an insured loss, these professionals manage every detail of the claim, working closely with the insured to provide the most equitable and prompt settlement possible. A Public Adjuster inspects the loss site immediately, analyzes the damages, assembles claim support data, reviews the insured's coverage, determines current replacement costs and exclusively serves the client, not the insurance company. To find a member of NAPIA who can assist you in preparing your claim, visit http://www.napia.com/search/index.asp.

NAPIA strongly encourages the public to reach out to their insurance departments or other regulators of public adjusters to know more about the critical role that public adjusters play, or to report concerns over the actions of parties purporting to be public adjusters. The public can also reach out to NAPIA with any questions or concerns by calling 1-703-433-9217.

To read NAPIA’s Top Ten Tips for Maximizing Claims After a Storm or Natural Disaster, visit http://www.napia.com/news/documents/NAPIAStormTipPressRelease.pdf.

Founded in 1951, the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) promotes the highest standards of professional education, conduct and ethics in the field of public insurance adjusting. NAPIA’s 750 plus members are committed to working in the best interest of their client – the policyholder – and to conducting business with honesty and integrity. To find out more about the association, please visit www.napia.com.

Media Contact:

Marjorie Musick, Director of Communications and Events

marjorie@napia.com

(571) 217-2915

###

The Great California ShakeOut

Quality Claims will join the Great California ShakeOut this week as they host their annual statewide earthquake drill.  The drill has garnered more than 9.1 million registered participants for 2012, and will officially shake out at 10:18 am on Thursday, October 18th.  Quality Claims’ Safety Squad strives to offer many drills and safety seminars for employees throughout the year.  For additional information on this week’s event and earthquake preparedness tips, please visit:  shakeout.org/california.

Quality Claims to Present at National 2012 First Party Claims Conference

Quality Claims’ President Ron Reitz will present at this year’s First Party Claims Conference in Providence, Rhode Island.  The event is set to take place October 15-17.  Reitz will speak on Mortgage(e) Rights and Interests and the Dispensing of Insurance Proceeds.  The conference is a dynamic educational event for professionals in the first party property insurance claims community.  For additional information, visit http://www.firstpartyclaims.com.

Quality Claims Puts Safety First

Quality Claims’ Safety Squad recently visited Kensington Fire Station 18 to thank them for their service and contributions to the community.  The Fire Department offered Quality Claims helpful tips on fire safety and prevention earlier this year.  As we embrace fire season here in San Diego, it is important to keep this advice in mind.

Quality Claims at the San Diego Fall Home Show

Quality Claims exhibited at the San Diego Fall Home Show this past weekend.  They informed homeowners how to prepare for a property insurance claim and how to properly manage insurance claims after experiencing a loss to their home or business.  The San Diego Fall Home Show, held at the San Diego Convention Center, featured hundreds of exhibitors who offered home improvement products and services.

NAPIA Welcomes Quality Claims’ Ron Reitz as President

Quality Claims Management attended the Annual Meeting of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) this past June to participate in discussions and educational sessions about Public Adjusting, and to witness the commencement of their own President, Ron Reitz, as NAPIA President for 2012-2013.  The NAPIA Annual Meeting, held at The Grand Del Mar in San Diego, had Public Adjusters and other NAPIA members from all over the country in attendance.

Ron Reitz, President of Quality Claims, carries a wealth of experience as he has been in the Public Adjusting field since 1994. The NAPIA community is excited to have him lead the organization for this coming year.  In addition to Ron’s presidential term commencement, Kim Cary, also of Quality Claims Management, was nominated to the Board of Directors for NAPIA.

The NAPIA Annual Meeting gives members the opportunity to network with fellow public adjusters from across the country and to advance their insurance knowledge.

Quality Claims at I-Day

Quality Claims recently had the exciting opportunity to exhibit at I-Day, an event connecting insurance brokers with vendors in the field.  Hosted by the Insurance Brokers and Agents of San Diego, this special event welcomed hundreds of veteran participants who have been in attendance annually for nearly two decades.

The Quality Claims Team educated insurance brokers about the added value a claims management company can offer their business.  Brokers can benefit by trusting Quality Claims with assistance in preparing, presenting, and negotiating a complex settlement on behalf of their client, the homeowner or business in the event of property damage.  By eliminating the broker from a possible “conflict of interest” between the insurance company and client, Quality Claims ensures a seamless transaction for all involved parties.