Articles Posted in File Claims

uninsured motoristA legendary basketball coach was invited to give an inspirational speech to religious leaders. Midway through the speech the group broke for refreshments. Two punch drinks were offered…. One, was spiked for the Catholics, the second was unspiked for the Baptists.

The coach was talking to a rather self-important Baptist minister who mistakenly took a sip of the spiked punch. When he realized that the punch was spiked, he defiantly poured it back into the punch bowl, telling the coach…”I’d rather commit adultery than drink spiked punch.” To which the coach dryly responded, “by God, I didn’t know I had a choice”! ADULTERY OR SPIKED PUNCHED?

cruise shipTaking a cruise is popular vacation for many people. Each year, approximately 28 million people set sail for some relaxation and fun. You may find yourself dining in, swimming, shopping, rock climbing, ziplining, surfing, etc. However, your dream vacation can quickly become a nightmare if you find yourself becoming injured while on a cruise ship.

Although a cruise ship can contain many fun activities conveniences for its passengers, it also presents many dangers. The most common types of cruise ship accidents include:

caution elevatorWho isn’t afraid of elevators? Who has ever gotten stuck in an elevator and thought of being trapped or worse yet an elevator going into a free fall? Although elevator accidents may seem like a rare occurrence, they are fairly common. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports an average of 10,200 elevator accidents involving injuries each year, with approximately 30 cases being fatal accidents.

Elevators, while a great convenience, can be lethal. These machines can lose power, get stuck between floors, lose traction, and even go into a free fall or abruptly stop for no reason at all. Each of these hazards can produce significant injuries such as disc injury, broken bones, traumatic brain injury, amputated limbs, and death. After an accident, not only may you be traumatized to ever step into an elevator again, but it can also change the entire course of the rest of your life depending on the severity of the injury sustained.

mediationIt has been nearly two months since Hurricane Ida swept through southeast Louisiana leaving homeowners and business owners devastated. By now, many individuals have filed a claim with their insurance company to begin to recover for any losses.

As previously mentioned, homeowners typically have 180 days to file an insurance claim after a hurricane, unless the deadline is extended. Once submitted, the insurance company will review your claim and either deny or approve your claim. However, you may want to contact an attorney to protect your rights in the event that a disagreement arises between you and the insurance company.  Disputes often arise between policy holders and the insurance company when a claim is denied, payments are being delayed, or the damages were undervalued and underpaid.

hurricane ida damageOnce a storm passes and the sky begins to settle, reality kicks in. Many people are left with destruction and just want to get their lives back on track again. This usually means that individuals must start reaching out to their insurance company and file a claim for damages. So, what are the time limits to be mindful of when dealing with hurricane damage claims?

Generally, if an individual is unable to come to an agreement with their insurance company to cover their losses after a catastrophic event like Hurricane Ida, he or she has the right to file a lawsuit. According to La. R.S. 22:868(B), the lawsuit must be initiated within 24 months after the date of loss . Even if the matter is still in dispute with the insurance company, the lawsuit must be filed within two years from the date of damage.

hurricane evacuation route signGetting back on your feet after a storm can be exhausting, especially when trying to deal with your insurance company. In early September, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, Jim Donelon, urged insurance companies to pay evacuation expenses of policyholders affected by Hurricane Ida.

A majority of homeowners policies include coverage for additional living expenses (ALE). This coverage is intended to cover costs when individuals cannot access their homes due to an evacuation order, physical barriers, or hazardous road conditions blocking entry. It generally extends up to two weeks following a disaster if you were ordered to evacuate, but it will extend for a longer period if the home is deemed uninhabitable.

Screenshot-152-300x249As if rebuilding and recovering after a natural disaster is not difficult enough, individuals must also beware of scammers looking to capitalize off of Hurricane Ida. Unfortunately, opportunists are looking for any way to take advantage of vulnerable people devastated by the storm. The biggest types of scams to watch out for are disaster charity relief scams, insurance scams, and FEMA imposters.

Disaster Charity Relief Scams. Whenever Americans see devastation in the U.S., many people feel inspired to help in any way that they can. Often times this includes donating money or supplies to hurricane relief organizations. However, fraudsters are always ready to take advantage of those giving back.

mardi grasEach year, Mardi Gras attracts millions of visitors to the Big Easy. It is one of the city’s largest holidays and generates millions of dollars for New Orleans. But, with the massive crowds, rowdy celebrations, and significant alcohol consumption, an accident seems almost inevitable.

So, what happens if you are involved in an accident during the course of a parade?

injury after accidentImagine one minute you are on your way home from work or just running some errands, and the next thing you know you hear a crashing sound and feel yourself being forcefully flung around in your vehicle.

After an accident, you may be suffering from a devastating injury that can render you unable to return to work for a couple weeks, months, years, or worst of all, forever. Lost wages, loss of earning capacity and outrageous medical expenses can leave you and your family in a terrible financial situation.

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