Gov. Christie signs order to protect homeowners from high insurance deductibles

Governor Chris Christie signed Executive Order 107, prohibiting insurance companies from imposing costly hurricane deductibles on New Jersey homeowners.

An important part of the recovery of New Jersey will be the influx of funds that occurs when insurers settle claims by New Jersey homeowners. This action will increase the total size of the payments made by the insurance industry, helping residents rebuild their homes and speed New Jersey's path to recovery.

We called an expert and authority on home related legal issues attorney at law Joshua Denbeaux, of the law firm, Denbeaux & Denbeaux who has represented over 1,000 homeowners in disputes with their mortgage lenders about what what homeowners need to make sure they better understand their Homeowners Insurance Policy.

[Note: it is important to note that although the media has identified the stom as "Hurricane Sandy", there are implications in the type of storm-event terminology used when making a claim.]

"Due to Tropical Storm Sandy, New Jersey homeowners face an additional hurdle: their Homeowners Insurance coverage.We are hearing reports of insurers denying coverage, refusing to acknowledge or respond to claims, adjusters improperly forbidding repairs during insurance ‘investigation’ and lowball settlement offers," says Mr. Denbeaux.

"A homeowner's insurer has a fiduciary duty to them, and must provide them with all reasonable coverage under the insurance policy. If they want to know what their policy entitles them, they can bring us the policy.  I will read it and tell them their rights, in a free of charge consultation," he concludes. 

Source: http://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2012/11/gov_christie_signs_order_to_pr.html