Allstate Home Owners Insurance Florida

For renters, a little peace of mind

When Korie and Sergii Bukovelo went to see their insurance agent, the newlyweds just wanted auto insurance.

But the couple, who had just moved into their first apartment in Hamburg, ended up with something extra: renters insurance.

Lori Kozuch, their agent from Niagara National, knew their situation and recommended the policy, which neither Korie nor her husband had heard of before.

It provides coverage for all of their belongings—including everything they received as wedding presents. And they get liability coverage if anyone is hurt while in their apartment. All for less than $100 a year. “It’s really cheap. After she told me what it covers for that price, I’m crazy not to [do it],” said Korie Bukovelo, 23,a North Collins native. She bought a policy with New York Central Mutual Insurance Co. for $80 a year. “I can’t really afford to lose my stuff. The cost is well worth it. It’s peace of mind. So I’ll take it.”

Renters insurance is the lesser-known cousin of homeowners insurance, one of the most common insurance policies for consumers.

It’s highly recommended not only by insurance companies and agents, of course, but also by consumer advocates and other experts because it provides significant protection for a low cost. And it’s available from the same companies that insure homes—but at one-fourth the cost.

“It’s very affordable, especially compared to some homeowners’ policies,” said Jay MacDonald, contributing editor at Bankrate.com, a financial services research firm in Florida. “And renters insurance, like homeowners insurance, is the insurance we buy and hope we never have to use.”

The average price for renters insurance is less than $200 a year, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and it’s been declining for the past few years after peaking at $195 in 2004.

At the Cassetta Agency in Kenmore, for example, a policy with $20,000 in coverage for contents, $100,000 for liability and a$500 deductible averages about $60 per year.

Successful Trial on Homeowners Case : Florida Insurance Law Blog

My clients sustained lightning damage to electrical items in their home. A few weeks later, someone stole their truck from their driveway and torched it.  The truck contained a significant amount of Ham Radio equipment as well as other items. They filed claims with Allstate, their homeowners insurance company, for the lightning damage, and also for the stolen/burned items from the truck.  (Yes, most homeowners policies cover items stolen from your car).  

Because of the amount of electronics and radio equipment involved, as well as what Allstate claimed were other irregularities, Allstate put its Special Investigations Unit on the claims. Prior to us becoming involved, Allstate took 3 recorded statements from our client, and received photographs and documents that supported the claim. Then Allstate set my clients for an Examination Under Oath. At that time we were retained.

Allstate claimed that it had requested our clients to fill out a Sworn Statement in Proof of Loss prior to them retaining us. After we were hired, we requested blank POL forms to fill out, as well as a copy of the policy. Neither was provided to us.

Our clients sat for their EUO’s. The day after the EUO’s were completed, we wrote a letter to Allstate asking if they needed anything else in order to evaluate the claim. They did not respond to that letter. So, we waited, and waited, and waited. Ninety-two days after their EUO’s with no word from the insurer we filed suit.

Allstate defended by claiming that the insureds had failed to timely file a sworn statement in proof of loss, and that the insureds had committed fraud in the presentation of the claim.

The case went to a jury trial in October. We won.

Just prior to the case going to the jury, the judge dismissed Allstate’s claims of fraud. The jury then determined that while the insureds did not file the POL forms, Allstate was not prejudiced by that failure.  In other words, Allstate had all the information it needed to evaluate the claim.

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