Archive for September, 2011
10 Tips for Hurricane Preparedness in Texas
With all of the hurricanes that have pummeled the U.S. this season, it is important to remember to always be vigilantly prepared. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) has offered 10 tips for hurricane preparedness.
Be sure to keep up with routine home maintenance. For example, keep your foundation sound and roof in good condition, which can greatly help reduce water and wind damage.
Be sure to obtain BOTH windstorm and flood insurance. Windstorm insurance does not cover flood damage, and flood insurance does not cover wind damage.
Take an inventory of your property, and keep all property records in a location away from your home, for example, a safe deposit box.
Be sure to insure your property for what it will cost to actually REPLACE your belongings rather than basing coverage amount on the current value.
At least once a year, schedule an insurance “check-up” with your agent.
Do not wait until the last minute to make changes to your insurance coverage if changes are needed. Delaying may present problems, for example, flood coverage has a 30 day waiting period before it becomes effective, and also many insurers cannot offer a windstorm policy when a storm appears in the Gulf.
Keep your insurance agent’s contact information available, and know how to file an insurance claim.
Be sure to read your insurance policies in order to know what is or is not covered, and if you have any questions, ask your agent.
Have hurricane supplies on hand, such as food and water, and possibly supplies for cleaning up debris, such as a chainsaw, rake and gloves.
Prepare for a possible evacuation by learning hurricane evacuation routes, keep your car’s gas tank full, plan what location you wish to evacuate to and bring clothes, food, cash and important family mementos.
Hurricane season can bring great destruction and heartache, but being properly prepared can ease the burden of getting your life back
Patrick Dennis Speaks on Insurance Bad Faith at Texas Bar CLE
Patrick Dennis presented at the Advanced Personal Injury Law Course, sponsored by the State Bar of Texas, in Houston, Texas on September 15, 2011. Mr. Dennis’s speech, entitled “Insurance Bad Faith: Into the Heart of Darkness,” focused on bad faith insurance disputes, with a particular focus on bad faith workers’ compensation claims.
The Advanced Personal Injury Law Course will also be held in Houston again from November 2 to 4, and later this year in South Padre Island and Fort Worth.
Deadline for Arizona Hail Claim Damages
We have received a number of inquiries in recent days about the statute of limitations and deadlines for filing suit for claims arising out of the October 5, 2010 hail storm in Phoenix. Arizona has a unique law that allows the insurance industry, in certain circumstances, to reduce the statute of limitations from 6 years for contract claims to as low as one year.
Read our article Deadlines for Arizona Hail Damage Claims are Approaching on our website for more information.
Remembering 9/11/01 Ten Years Later
On September 11, 2011, we remember the victims and heros of 10 years ago, as well as the sacrifice of those men and women who have kept us safe since then through their service to our nation.
Doyle Raizner is proud to represent U.S. servicemen and members of the British Royal Air Force, who served to protect our freedom and safety in Afghanistan and Iraq.
