Coverage attorney here in NY. Three coverage fights that never seem to die…

Hey everyone, I’m a coverage attorney and insurance broker in New York. After more than a decade staring at policy language, I still see the same issues again and again. Not legal advice (see disclaimer below), just sharing what I keep running into.

1. Late notice
   Even with New York’s prejudice rule, carriers still deny on notice. I’ve seen good claims die over a week’s delay depending on the fact pattern. Hit “send” early and document everything.

2. Missing insureds
   Subsidiaries, contractors, and DBAs get left off policies all the time. Everyone assumes someone else handled it until it’s too late.

3. Water vs. flood
   The policyholder says water damage is covered. The carrier says flood. Both are generally half-right. Like most coverage issues, the answer is in the policy language.

DISCLAIMER: I’m a coverage attorney licensed in New York. This post is for discussion and general information only. It isn’t legal advice, doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship, and shouldn’t be relied on for any specific claim or policy issue.