Maui Wildfire Insurance Recoveries: In the Rush to Lay Blame, Remember Your Claim
Pryor Cashman Partner Christopher Loeber, chair of the Insurance Recovery + Counseling Practice, and Associate Helen Hunter, a member of the Litigation Group, co-authored an article that appeared in Mealey’s Catastrophic Loss and Mealey’s Emerging Insurance Disputes, that discusses insurance lessons drawn from the Maui wildfires.
In “Maui Wildfire Insurance Recoveries: In the Rush to Lay Blame, Remember Your Claim,” Chris and Helen say:
In the aftermath of any catastrophe, impacted individuals and businesses will feel tempted to act quickly. And headline-grabbing class actions may seem like the best, and perhaps only, option. But that is not always the case. Litigation is just one side of the recovery coin. Insurance is the other.
This is not to suggest that victims should forego joining, or initiating, legal actions. Quite the opposite, as lawsuits are a natural – and often necessary – means to a full recovery. But any decision to litigate must be made in conjunction with a well-conceived insurance recovery plan.
They note that “Insurance can be complicated” in a disaster situation and outline essential steps that policyholders should take in order to maximize their insurance recoveries, including identifying all potentially triggered policies, carefully documenting losses, and involving insurance coverage counsel and related professionals in the process.
