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The Laguna Beach Landslide and Homeowners Insurance
Los Angeles, CA
Thursday, June 02, 2005
The site of the Laguna Beach, California landslide this morning sent a chill up my spine. It amazes me that, up until 6:59 a.m., the destroyed structures were real homes to real people. In addition to the ruined edifices, years of holiday gatherings, parties, intimate moments, and other cherished memories have also slid down the embankment, to oblivion. But after the initial shock has passed, the heads of these households will be contacting their insurance companies.
They will be in for a huge surprise: there is usually no coverage for direct damage from such a catastrophe. Landslide as a cause of loss falls under the Earth Movement provision of the standard homeowners policy, the resulting damage of which is normally excluded. If this is the case for any of the Laguna Beach victims, then they will most likely have to pay for the damages themselves.
However, there might be coverage for any ensuing fire, explosion, or breakage of glass, so the policy should be carefully reviewed.
The few pragmatists who bothered to purchase a landslide coverage endorsement, which in the past has been available through Lloyds of London and a few of the larger insurance companies in the United States, should breathe a sigh of relief. Such additional coverage can be costly but then take a look at the televised images of this morning's destruction and ask yourself if the added expense is justified.
R.A. Martinez is President of Mission Claims in San Diego, California, an expert homeowners insurance adjuster, and author of "Mold, Fire, Flood, & Other Topics: Homeowners Insurance Explained," available at www.missionclaims.net" He also offers private homeowners insurance consultations.
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They will be in for a huge surprise: there is usually no coverage for direct damage from such a catastrophe. Landslide as a cause of loss falls under the Earth Movement provision of the standard homeowners policy, the resulting damage of which is normally excluded. If this is the case for any of the Laguna Beach victims, then they will most likely have to pay for the damages themselves.
However, there might be coverage for any ensuing fire, explosion, or breakage of glass, so the policy should be carefully reviewed.
The few pragmatists who bothered to purchase a landslide coverage endorsement, which in the past has been available through Lloyds of London and a few of the larger insurance companies in the United States, should breathe a sigh of relief. Such additional coverage can be costly but then take a look at the televised images of this morning's destruction and ask yourself if the added expense is justified.
R.A. Martinez is President of Mission Claims in San Diego, California, an expert homeowners insurance adjuster, and author of "Mold, Fire, Flood, & Other Topics: Homeowners Insurance Explained," available at www.missionclaims.net" He also offers private homeowners insurance consultations.
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Rafael Martinez
President
Mission Claims
San Diego, CA
619-282-0988 x11
619-282-0959
First Url: Mission Claims
