Preserving and Maximizing Insurance Claims in the Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy

Superstorm Sandy -- the freakish result of a massive tropical storm colliding with a cold mass that turned the storm inland -- has caused unprecedented damage to coastal areas lying in its destructive path, from North Carolina to Connecticut, and inland up to the Great Lakes. The storm caused enormous tidal surges that have inundated Lower Manhattan, flooded New York airports, and damaged railroads and other public transportation infrastructure critical to businesses up and down the coast. At the same time, the storm blanketed mountain areas to the west, from Virginia to Pennsylvania, with several feet of snow. In New York, the deluge flooded subways and tunnels, shorted out electrical systems supplying a variety of businesses, from telecom providers to internet services, leaving a corrosive moisture that could require weeks if not months to repair. As business and property owners take stock of their losses, plan their response, and examine their insurance policies, numerous questions will arise. To help address some of the inevitable issues, and to assist with the initial insurance claim process, we have prepared this guidance for our clients. We will likely issue a supplemental Advisory in the coming weeks in response to future developments.

Obtain and Evaluate Policies

To begin with, it is crucial to obtain, review and evaluate all potentially applicable insurance policies for coverage. Understanding your rights and obligations requires a thorough review of the policies to determine what coverages may apply. Property insurance is the most obvious source of coverage, but do not overlook auto policies, marine cargo policies, pollution policies, and for those facing potential third-party claims, liability policies.

Place All Insurers on Notice

Notifying each insurer of losses as soon as possible is one of the most important steps to preserving potential insurance rights. Most insurance policies include express instructions for providing notice to the insurer. These instructions should be followed meticulously. Notice is generally provided through the insurance broker, but it is important to verify that the notice is accurate and sent to the correct parties. Even if you have not yet identified all of your losses, or determined conclusively that a policy might respond, make sure to notify all insurers that may provide coverage, including excess and quota share participants on your property program.

Document Your Losses

Properly documenting the loss or damage to property is crucial. This includes not only property that was damaged during the storm, but also any property rendered unusable in the days following the storm -- for example, inventory exposed to moisture. Aside from emergency repairs, it is important to document the damage with photographic evidence before undertaking any restoration activities. Establish separate accounts to track losses, including any extra expenses, professional fees, miti-gation and clean-up costs, and other expenses associated with the storm and the recovery period. Keep a log of all actions taken. Save all repair receipts and other records of additional expenses made necessary by storm-related damage.

Engage Experts

It is usually prudent to engage professional claim consultants, such as forensic accountants, particularly where there is business interruption loss. Additional experts may be needed to model the unique financial aspects of your business. Their professional fees and other mitigation expenses are frequently covered under property policies, subject to sub-limits. Usually, public adjuster fees are not covered. It is also a good idea to retain an experienced insurance coverage lawyer, not just when you need an advocate, but to help you protect the privileged nature of your communications and to avoid many of the traps for the unwary when presenting your insurance claim. Counsel may work in the background, without revealing their involvement to carriers. Carriers usually do the same thing. Cooperate with the insurance company adjuster, but don't forget they work for your insurer, not for you. If you need an advocate, hire your own.

Follow the Policy to Preserve the Claim

After the initial notice of loss, most property policies also require that the insured later submit a sworn “proof of loss” to catalogue the damages. Although this is usually done after reaching agreement with the insurer on the amount of the insured claim, occasionally, policies require the proof of loss to be submitted within a fairly short time after the event. Insurers are usually amenable to extending these deadlines if requested, but make sure that any extensions are memorialized in writing. In addition to notice and proof of loss, insureds must also preserve and protect the property from further losses, including taking any and all steps necessary to mitigate (or minimize) additional damage, including business interruption. Because such steps are required to be taken, the mitigation expenses are covered under property insurance policies. For example, if a building is flooded, the policy requires the insured to take necessary steps to dry out flooded areas; and, accordingly, provides reimbursement of such mitigation expense, subject to certain limits. Lastly, the insurer may have salvage rights to damaged property and stock, so it is important to preserve any salvageable property to the extent possible.

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