Aug 10, 2023
In Episode 35 - Crazy Things You Didn't Know Were Covered by Insurance Dan provides insight into commercial and residential insurance policies and the types of things most people wouldn't know about the denial of claims which, perhaps, should be covered. Dan Watkins begins the episode with a bit of a lesson about a Supreme Court Justice, Learned Hand, who decided that insurance was part of the fabric of society and everyone needed to have access to insurance to prevent financial devastation. "It is a fine art between what is possible (to be covered) and what the insurance companies will tell you." Knowing that it "might be" covered is the advantage an attorney brings to the table.
In Episode 35 - Crazy Things You Didn't Know Were Covered by Insurance Dan provides some real world examples such as when you come home from vacation and water is running through your house. If you submit the claim as a "plumbing leak" you will probably be denied. Historically, a leak is maintenance item which is the responsibility of the homeowner to fix. However, as Dan points out, if there is water everywhere the pipe must have BURST. Because a BURSTING pipe is covered, when a leaking pipe is not. Subtle differences between what "might be" covered and what is often denied.
Episode 35 - Crazy Things You Didn't Know Were Covered by Insurance covers a variety of terms, examples of when to call an attorney and ask for help and how the legal strategy pre-trial and during trial may actually affect whether legal fees or "Cumis Counsel" (Counsel who represents you but is paid for by the insurance company) is available. The episode completes with a great story about a real client with a blown engine in a Jeep Cherokee just as it was coming out of warranty. The dealer denied the warranty claim and wanted to charge $16,000 to replace the engine. After questioning our client, Dan realized the client had seen the engine light and called to schedule an appointment but was put off for a few weeks by the dealer. "Do you think that little computer in the Jeep might have recorded WHEN the check engine light came on and what the mileage was at that point?" The warranty paid for the new engine.