Mercury Insurance Dispatches Claims Team to San Bruno Neighborhoods Affected by Yesterday's Natural Gas Line Explosion and Fire

Mobile response units are set to visit the homes of Mercury's customers to provide assistance and expedite claims

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Sep 10, 2010, 08:20 ET

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Claims adjusters for Mercury Insurance are at the scene of yesterday's massive explosion and fire that has burned 15 acres and destroyed several neighborhoods in San Bruno. Today and through this weekend, Mercury's mobile claims team is assisting homeowners, who have suffered property damage from the fire and were forced to evacuate their homes. Claims can also be reported 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the Mercury Claims Hotline at (800) 503-3724.

"Mercury has identified the addresses of family's we insure in San Bruno, and our claims team is at the Red Cross emergency shelter and ready to meet with our customers," said Joanna Moore, Mercury's chief claims officer. "As soon as fire officials open the evacuated area, our team will be going door-to-door to provide additional assistance and expedite claims. We understand the devastation and chaos caused by these kinds of events, and we will do everything we can to help our policyholders get back to normal as quickly as possible."

Last evening the American Red Cross established an emergency shelter located in San Bruno at 251 City Park Way at Crystal Springs Road. The shelter is providing food, shelter and supplies for pets to evacuees. Mercury's mobile response unit is also at the shelter serving to expedite the claims process for victims.

Claimants may also contact Mercury directly at the company's Claims Hotline at (800) 503-3724. To help speed the claims process, Mercury suggests claimants consider the following tips when filing a claim:

Returning home after evacuation

If your home has sustained serious structural damage, be extremely careful inside. Debris can be hazardous, and the structure could be unstable.
If your home is uninhabitable, find out what additional living expenses your insurance may provide.

When filing a claim

Prepare to file your claim by gathering all relevant policy numbers. Contact Mercury immediately to report your loss.
Do not remove debris or damaged property that may be related to your claim.
Remember to provide claims adjusters with alternate (mobile) contact phone numbers.

Steps after filing a claim

Prepare a detailed inventory of destroyed or damaged property.
Offer photos or videotapes of your home and possessions to your adjuster, if these are available.
Keep copies of communications between you and your adjuster.
Keep records and receipts for additional living expenses that were incurred if you were forced to leave your home, and provide copies to your adjuster.

About Mercury Insurance

Founded in 1962, Mercury Insurance (MCY) is a multiple-line insurance organization offering predominantly personal automobile and homeowners insurance through a network of independent agents and brokers in California, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, Arizona, New York, Georgia, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Virginia and Pennsylvania.