Homeowners and business owners still waiting on insurance proceeds are likely frustrated to the point of giving up. Who can blame them? It simply shouldn’t take a year to settle matters. However, many New Yorkers and New Jerseyans refuse to throw in the towel and have taken matters into their own hands.
One of those people is Pat Dixon, a 34-year-old strength and conditioning coach for the St. John’s University basketball team. Frustrated with his insurance company’s proposed settlement offers and contractor estimates, he decided to rebuild his Long Beach house – on his own.
Frustration, Resilience & Triumph
Those three words can be used to describe Dixon. According to the New York Times, Dixon’s house, a single story brick bungalow on Wyoming Street in Long Beach, was destroyed in Hurricane Sandy. Like many others after the storm, Dixon sought compensation from his insurance policy to rebuild. However, the amount was less than what he expected – or needed – to get the job done.
Dixon purchased his home in 2011 for $265,000. However, his insurance company only offered to pay him $95,000. Contractor estimates weren’t much better. In fact, most estimates came in at about $150,000. All of Dixon’s options meant that he would be left in a worse situation than he was already in. So, he decided to do the work himself.
Over the course of the past year, he single-handedly tore the house down piece by piece and built a new one. That’s a herculean effort, especially for Dixon, who is not a contractor. So, why did he do it? According to the Times, Dixon says that he always urges his players to confront challenges, not run from them. He said:
You can wallow in self-pity or you can get up and get the job done. It was the defining moment of my life – getting punched hard in the face and choosing to get back up and fight. You’re faced with a massive problem and you can either stick your head in the sand or grab a hammer and get started.
Dixon chose the latter and ended up with more than just a triumph. He turned his small bungalow into a two-story, four-bedroom, three-bath house that is now raised off the ground to protect it from future storms. The best part is that he has inspired not only his athletes, but the entire Long Beach community.
Achieving Your Goals – One Way Or Another
Dixon’s achievement is remarkable. While he decided to do it himself, the fact is that many people could not have done the same. Typically, homeowners have to rely on their insurance company to step up and pay for what is rightfully theirs in the first place. Unfortunately, most do not. Instead, they engage in tactics such as disputing settlement amounts, improperly calculating deductibles, undervaluing claims, proposing unfair settlements, denying claims and engaging in bad faith insurance practices.
If your insurance company hasn’t treated you in good faith, contact Belluck & Fox and let one of our experienced New York insurance dispute attorneys analyze your situation, determine what your settlement should be and get your claim settled once and for all. We can also determine whether you might be entitled to other compensation for bad faith insurance practices. Call us today at 855-323-4864 and let us help you achieve your goals.