CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- It has been exactly one month since a historic flash flood struck the Chattanooga area and left four people dead.
This was caused by a storm that dropped seven inches of rain in three hours.
You may remember that earlier this week, we spoke with Cheri Dinshah.
Dinshah was one of the drivers stuck out here on I-24 this time last month during a historic flash flood.
Her Hyundai Elantra suffered over $5,000 in damages from the water.
Dinshah told us, “I can’t afford that. I have to get back and forth to work everyday.”
However, her insurance carrier, USAA, denied her insurance claim.
So she reached out for help.
She reached out to attorneys at McMahan Law Firm, including attorney Jay Kennamer.
He says this is far from the only situation of insurance companies denying coverage in disaster situations.
Kennamer said, “It is extremely common. There is a reason why there’s a phrase that has now cropped up that is “deny, delay, and dispose” because that is what happens now. All of the insurance companies now have pretty much made it to where you have to file suit to get fairer offers and claims.”
Nick: So Kennamer says that’s exactly what they had to do.
He said, “I contacted the insurance company rather sternly and pointed out the errors of their ways… Within 72 hours we got a reversal of that decision and they are covering her property damage, so we’re happy to report a happy ending to that.”
USAA reached out for clarifying information after our report Tuesday, but have not directly commented as to why they denied Dinshah’s claim in the first place.
Kennamer says that there’s not much claimants can do on the front end to avoid a denial.
He said, “Especially since COVID, one of the big names, and I won’t name them, and has made it where you have to file suit to get a serious offer or a serious reply to your claim.”
However, he says there is a lesson for anyone dealing with the aftermath of any disaster.
Kennamer said, “Fight for your rights just like Ms. Dinshah. She did the right thing. She called us right away when she did not agree with her denial letter or the terminology or the claim they were trying to make.”
