“The very fact that they’re trying to do that is a very good indication that they’re not somebody you want to be working with,” Tucker said.
Beware of Scammers and FEMA Rules
The panelists noted that public adjusters should only be hired further into the insurance claims process as a “last resort,” if a policyholder is running into obvious trouble with their insurer, because adjusters take a portion of any insurance payout, and although that portion is usually around 5%, some have been asking for 15% to 20%, according to Tucker.
The panelists also noted that some attorneys are claiming fire victims must sue right away, and although some lawsuits have already been filed, there’s a three-year statute of limitations on property damage claims and a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims, so they have time to find legal representation. And, the panelists said, it will take years to litigate any claims.
“Don’t rush into something because somebody scares you,” Paletz said.
Instead, fire victims should focus on filing claims with their insurance companies and documenting losses and displacement expenses over the coming weeks.
