New York property-insurance claims

Claims involving homes, possessions and businesses

Levin-Epstein & Associates, P.C. reviews residential and commercial first-party claims. The first question is not simply whether damage occurred, but which policy provisions, exclusions, limits, conditions and valuation rules govern each part of the loss.

• Homeowners, renters, condominium and cooperative claims
• Commercial-building, contents and business-income claims
• Water, fire, smoke, theft, jewelry, roof and storm losses
• Additional living expense and loss-of-use claims
• Denied, delayed and underpaid claims

What a claim review examines

The declarations page identifies the named insured, coverage limits, deductibles and endorsements. The complete policy supplies the operative definitions, grants of coverage, exclusions and conditions. Those documents must then be read against the loss timeline and the carrier's written position.

• The exact insurer, policy period and forms in effect on the date of loss
• The cause and sequence of physical damage
• Notice, mitigation, proof-of-loss and cooperation requirements
• Scope, pricing, depreciation, limits and prior payments
• Appraisal, suit-limitation and other potentially urgent provisions

Possible paths after review

Not every dispute begins or ends with a lawsuit. Depending on the policy and record, the next step may include focused document production, a response to the coverage position, expert investigation, negotiation, appraisal or litigation. The remedy should fit the issue.