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Risk Worldwide and Shine Lawyers Insurance Recovery
When people take out insurance it is to protect them when things go wrong. It would be fair to assume that if disaster strikes, as long as you have done your bit and paid your premiums your insurance company will keep their end of the bargain.
But if that were the case, we wouldn’t be in business.
93% of all insurance claimants accept the first offer their insurance company makes. We help the other 7% recover what they are really owed.
The strategic partnership of Shine Lawyers and Risk Worldwide has been deliberately established to provide a voice for the many property and business owners in Australia who have been left devastated not only by the events of Cyclones Yasi and Larry, but by the unfair treatment afforded them at the hands of their Insurers who have not provided full recovery for the losses incurred.
Who we areHow we can helpWhat we will doHow much will it cost?Why we do the work we doWhy it’s important for you to act quicklyMeet the TeamWant to know more?We are happy to provide any additional information on anything outlined above and welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular circumstances. You can find us at any of the locations listed below or call us direct on 1800 629 300.Risk Worldwide’s Australian office is located at the Corporate Headquarters of Shine Lawyers, at Level 2, 10 Eagle St, Brisbane. We also have an office in New Zealand at 366 Montreal Street, Christchurch. In addition, Shine Lawyers has offices in both Cairns and Townsville. Details of all office locations are noted below.
Who we areShine Lawyers is an Australian based Plaintiff Litigation firm and we have been specialising in Insurance Litigation for 35 years. We work on behalf of Australians who have been wronged and are in need of assistance to battle insurance companies.We have recently joined forces with International Disaster Insurance recovery experts Risk Worldwide, a specialist team of loss assessors and insurance litigation experts to assist everyday Australians recover the true value of their losses and to rebuild their lives and their livelihoods. The strategic partnership of Shine Lawyers and Risk Worldwide has been deliberately established to provide a voice for the many property and business owners in Australia who have been left devastated not only by the events of Cyclones Yasi and Larry, but by the unfair treatment afforded them at the hands of their insurers who have not honoured their policies and paid what they should. Risk Worldwide, with the assistance of Shine Lawyers, are currently investigating claims for property and business owners in Australia who have been subjected to losses stemming from the wind and water in South East Queensland and the Cyclones Larry and Yasi in Far North Queensland. More recently, we have opened an office in New Zealand and commenced work to assist property and business owners in Christchurch, following the recent Earthquake disasters. Risk Worldwide has particular expertise in assisting to recover losses in the tourism industry and understand not only what it takes to restore a property to the high standards required within the tourism industry, but the additional pressures on owners due to lost income and lengthy delays. We’ve represented and successfully recovered losses for some of the world’s largest hospitality organisations so you can be sure we know your industry and exactly what to look for. How we can help property owners like youIf your property has sustained damage from a natural disaster, the chances are, one of the first things you did was to contact your insurance company. Sadly, for a large majority of policyholders, this is the start of a distressing and disruptive time as they seek to rebuild their lives only to be told by their insurance company that the policy they were sold and paid premiums for amazingly doesn't cover the losses they sustained. Risk Worldwide recognises that property and business owners who have suffered losses from natural disasters do not have the time, expertise or resources to undertake the enormous task of going head to head with their insurer. Nor are they equipped to deal with aggressive insurers intent on limiting their liability as much as possible. This is where we come in.What we will doStep One - Policy AnalysisWe will review your policy to ascertain whether you have appropriate insurance coverage in place for the losses sustained. We have extensive knowledge of property insurance policies around areas of coverage, policy definitions and interpretations. We think outside the box and approach the loss from a different angle, an angle that may grant coverage when initially it appeared to be excluded. In short, we’ll tell you straight whether or not we think you’re getting a fair deal. Step Two - Thorough Inspection We carry out close scrutiny of the physical loss to your property and evaluate the true damages. Once the investigation is complete we will correctly value and accurately document your case to create the foundation for a positive claim. On completion of the assessment we will enter into a detailed negotiation process with your insurer to recover full losses for your property and your business. In the event this can occur without recourse to litigation, the funds will be recovered and the claim will conclude. Step Three - Taking Legal Action In the event that a satisfactory result cannot be achieved through the negotiation process, Risk Worldwide and Shine Lawyers will enter into a retainer agreement with you and together we will commence proceedings to recover the losses incurred. This will involve a series of steps through the court process, culminating in either a mediated result between the parties, or a determination by a Court. If we are successful in recovering more for you than your original offer from the insurance company, only then will you pay us a fee. How Much Will It CostWhen you engage us to act on your behalf, we carry all the costs and only charge a fee if we have been successful in recovering more from your insurance company than their original offer. The fees set by Risk Worldwide are pegged at 35% of additional damages recovered, plus out-of-pocket claim costs. This means if your insurance company assessed the loss at say $300,000 and we recover $700,000 for you, the fees payable to us will be 35% of the additional $400,000 recovered, plus advanced expert’s costs. If we have to pursue your insurer through litigation, your legal fees will also come out of damages recovered. But if we do not recover anything additional than the original offer, you don't pay us anything.Why we do the work we doWhen disaster strikes, strong and successful people can find themselves in a vulnerable position, and it's at times like this that you need confidence in your insurer. Sadly, all too often claimants find their ability to recover their losses is much lower than they originally thought. Two issues typically emerge in times of natural disaster.Failure to indemnify On occasions, Insurers will refuse to pay on a policy claiming either a particular event is not covered in the policy, or for some other reason, they are not obliged to pay on the policy. This is all too common when an insurance company is faced with significant payouts as a result of a natural disaster. Having the tough conversations with insurers is a daily experience for Risk Worldwide, and we've got a track record of making sure insurance companies honour their commitments and pay their policies. Over the past 5 years alone, we have recovered over $500 million for claimants. Failure to pay for all losses Routinely, when a natural disaster occurs for which an Insurer has agreed to provide coverage, the insurer will deploy its own assessors to review the damage and quantify the loss, but typically, their objective is to reduce their level of exposure as much as possible. However, it is the obligation of Insurers to pay for all recoverable losses on policies, not just losses they choose to identify. Risk Worldwide's key experts consistently unearth damage to properties that is overlooked by Insurance company assessors, and in many cases, this can amount to significant sums of money. We do this by looking beyond the superficial damage to uncover the true extent of the damage and advising business owners on what they should be claiming. A small crack that your assessor suggests is minor may be hiding severe structural damage, but without an independent thrid party of insurance experts working for you and not the insurance company, you have no way of knowing the true extent of the damage. This is where you need someone who understands the cause and not just the symptom. Why it’s important for you to act quicklyIn most countries, legislators pass laws that restrict the time in which a loss can be recovered from an Insurer. In Queensland, the Limitation of Actions Act 1974 provides that a claim for breach of a Property Insurance contract must be commenced in the Courts by no later than six years from the date on which the cause of action arose.In the case of losses stemming from Cyclone Larry, this means that, potentially, claims may be statute barred after March 2012, being the six-year anniversary of Cyclone Larry. Following discussions we have had with property owners in North Queensland, it has become evident that many properties appear to have damage from both Cyclone Larry and Cyclone Yasi. Subsequent inspections have found that significant damage has been in fact undetected by Insurers, including water damage to properties, cracking to walls and other structures, and window damage following wind events. For these property owners, it's important the process to recover losses from Insurers commences as soon as possible so that key evidence can be obtained and preserved. If these losses are not recovered prior to the expiration of the Statute of Limitations, property owners may forever lose their right to recover for damage to their properties that should have been paid by Insurers. Meet The TeamWith over 30 years of experience in representing policyholders, Risk Worldwide is the critical link between you, your insurer, and your ability to recover your losses in full. We have a team of insurance industry experts dedicated to protecting policyholders. Michael ChildressMichael Childress has extensive experience in understanding the insurance policy from the property owner/mortgage lender's perspective, including its coverages, exclusions and interpretations, as well as the practices utilised by insurers to delay and/or deny payment. He counsels national and international policyholders in matters that involve risk management, disaster recovery, and insurance coverage.
Contact Michael on: 021 062 0496 or at mchildress@RiskWorldwide.com  Katherine Smith DedrickKatherine Smith Dedrick consults with corporate and property owners on risk assessment, insurance coverage and post-loss recovery of assets. Having worked as national coverage counsel for an insurance company, she gained extensive knowledge about the insurance industry, coverage matters, and the resolution and payment of claims, captives and reinsurance.
Contact Katherine on: 021 262 0036 or at kdedrick@RiskWorldwide.com  George W. KeysGeorge W. Keys has extensive experience as a key advocate for policyholders and specialises in condominium, commercial, and resort losses. Analyzing and applying all of the complicated provisions of the policy, he presents the claim in the language of the claims industry to expedite a proper conclusion. As a Senior Professional Public Adjuster (SPPA), he holds the highest designation obtainable by exam from the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters and he is a Past President and current member of the Board of Directors for the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA). He is also accredited to evalute earthquake damage.
Contact George on: 021 065 9736 or at gkeys@RiskWorldwide.com  Curt YearwoodCurt Yearwood has extensive experience devoted to assisting insureds obtain the maximum insurance recovery possible from their policies. As a consultant to policyholders and attorneys, he is highly sought after to provide expert testimony and, in the mediation of insurance claims, serves as an appraiser or umpire. He has successfully negotiated property claims for commercial, industrial, retail, residential, and hotel type structures, many of which consisted of business personal property, equipment, and complicated business interruption. Contact Curt at cyearwood@RiskWorldwide.com  Simon MorrisonSimon Morrison is an expert insurance litigator and Executive Director of Shine Lawyers. Simon has also enjoyed a role as the preceding National President of the Australian Lawyers’ Alliance (ALA) and sits on the Alliance's Queensland Committee. He is an acknowledged leader at both an Australian state and national level, and has given evidence at numerous government inquiries, as well as assisted in drafting legislation. Contact Simon at smorrison@shine.com.au  Stephen RocheStephen Roche is often referred to as a legal activist, and he is famous for his tireless efforts on behalf of the wronged. He is passionate in his beliefs that the rights of us all are being eroded by our governments, and he is not afraid to stand up against insurance companies. Stephen is an Executive Director of Shine Lawyers, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an active member of The Executive Connection (TEC).
Contact Stephen at sroche@shine.com.au |
Media Mentions George Keys, of Risk Worldwide, says the widespread damage caused by disasters such as earthquakes heaps a demand on insurers they cannot meet. Expert voices insurance worries Town Hall Meetings in Queensland Make WIN News George Keys was interviewed by WIN News in Cairns on Friday, December 2, in a feature story regarding skyrocketing insurance premiums and concerns over cyclone-repair workmanship.  Our Partners Shine Lawyers have partnered with Risk Worldwide to help us deliver the best possible result for you.   |