You have insurance; but what will the cost be to you?
Theft or Vandalism may affect your personal property, home or business. As a result, each loss must be carefully and individually evaluated to determine all potentially applicable coverages. The insurance carrier will aggressively investigate all vandalism and theft claims. Often they will even suspect that you, the insured, were involved in the loss.
While you have a duty to cooperate with an insured's investigation, do not attend an "Examination Under Oath" or submit a "Proof of Loss" without qualified legal representation.
Take steps to stop leaks:
A simple water stain on the ceiling may be a sign of a very serious problem. Moisture may have penetrated the sheetrock. The texture coating could contain asbestos. What if the water was able to get into the duct work where mold, mildew and spores could develop? In the case of water damage to the floor where the baseboards are stained, water clearly got into the wall cavities. The walls need to be opened up and the damage ascertained.
Take steps to stop leaks and protect any property inside your home. If you call a service person for leaks, save the receipt. Insurance coverage for the repairs and any interior damage will depend on the cause of a leak and the type of policy you have.
Replacing old leaky plumbing is ordinarily not covered by the basic homeowner's policy; but damage to personal property might be.
Resolving disputes:
I often advise clients to exhaust avenues of negotiation with contractors before initiating a civil lawsuit. If the general contractor, subcontractor, and manufacturer blame each other, litigation then becomes a viable option.
Cases involving contractor disputes may be resolved through the Oregon Contractor's Board (CCB). Once a complaint is made, a CCB investigator is assigned to the case. Shortly thereafter, the contractor's board assigns a "field investigator" to examine the contractor's work and attempts to negotiate a settlement. If no settlement can be reached the CCB will issue a decision aimed at resolving the dispute. Richard Rizk has experience protecting and representing both contractors and homeowners in these disputes.
Land & Mudslides can strike without warning:
The two types of landslides are block - the hill comes tumbling down and slumps, or the slippage of a whole block of earth at once. Warning signs: If you live on a hillside or on sloped terrain, routinely examine your property for:
- New cracks in your house foundation, cracks on paved areas
- Cracks that widen
- Doors and windows that stick or jam for the first time
- Fences, trees, retaining walls, utility poles that tilt more
- Ground water saturation in areas that have not been wet
Who to contact
The local police, fire or public works departments, the county geologist.
Insurance
Many homeowner policies contain exclusions for damage due to mudslide. Richard Rizk will carefully evaluate all your insurance for possible coverage.
