Hurricane Ida Mediation Program: Know Your Rights in Louisiana
In August 2021, Louisiana was hit by Hurricane Ida. Since then, the LDI (Louisiana Department of Insurance) has set up the Hurricane Ida Mediation Program so insurers and policyholders can dispute amounts up to $50,000 in hurricane damage claims related to Ida.
This program is entirely voluntary and means to offer relief to those affected by the disaster. Two mediators are working for the Hurricane Ida Mediation Program,
Mediation & Arbitration Professional Systems and Perry Dampf Dispute Solutions. Both charge a flat fee of $600 (to be paid by your insurer) for 90 minutes of mediation.
If you have issues with your insurance claim, contact a hurricane claim lawyer at Montiel Hodge. We are here to help.
Program Extension
Jim Donelon, State Insurance Commissioner, recently announced that the Hurricane Ida Mediation Program has been extended until the end of the year.
Details About the Program
The Hurricane Ida Mediation Program is meant to supplement hurricane insurance in Louisiana. Here are some details you should know about the program:
Claims up to $50,000 will be accepted into the program.
The program applies to residential insurance policies only.
After receiving contact from the mediator, you must give them all relevant documents related to the insurance claim within five days.
Your mediation will be scheduled within 30 days of the assignment.
While it’s not required for your attorney to attend the mediation, they can if you so choose. You must provide the name of your attorney six days before the mediation.
Other people, such as contractors, adjusters, and appraisers, who know your claim, may be present to support the parties.
The first 90 minutes of mediation are free to the policyholder and will be charged to the insurance carrier. But after 90 minutes are up, though mediation can continue, the mediator will bill for the additional time.
Both parties must agree to a settlement amount, and payment must be made within ten days of the agreement.
All parties in mediation must negotiate in good faith, as bad faith insurance disputes will not be resolved through the Hurricane Ida Mediation Program.
Utilizing the Hurricane Ida Mediation Program
At Montiel Hodge, we are the best group of Hurricane Ida lawyers in Louisiana. We can help you figure out the Hurricane Ida Mediation Program or provide counsel if your hurricane insurance claim was denied. Get in touch with us today so we can get started working for you.