New Special Investigation Support Services!

Winkler Treger & Associates is proud to announce that we now offer Special Investigation Support Services to the Insurance Industry throughout Florida and Louisiana.
The Special Investigations Support Service unit is staffed by professional insurance industry leaders with more than 50 combined years of experience. We offer in house training for Adjuster CE Credits, review your SIU Fraud Plan to ensure that your company complies with all Florida and Louisiana Statutes and Rules. We also offer on line reviews of your claim files to identify potential fraud and subrogation potential. We provide our clients with professional and ethically sound investigations in a clear and concise format which enables our clients to make informed claims decisions.
A unique part of our Special Investigations Support Service is our Case Management service. Our insurance professionals will provide the review of first notice of loss fire claims and assist in the immediate coordination of the investigation regarding the cause of the fire, evidence preservation, assignments to appropriate experts as necessary to avoid response delays and spoliation of critical evidence. Our Case Management includes the coordination of the investigation all the way through to the claims decision, defense and or recovery in subrogation or restitution cases.
Investigative reports and invoices can be provided electronically to include photographs to help hold down your expenses. Hard copies can be mailed upon request.
Our goal is to:

• Ensure that your company is in compliance by properly investigating and reporting suspected claims to the Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF) or State Fire Marshal (SFM).
• Reduce losses due to fraud/arson and assist in the prosecution and defense of fraudulent claims.
• Help your adjusters and field staff to identify and refer claims that require additional investigation.
• Assist your company in the immediate review of fire losses avoiding unnecessary delays, evidence spoliation, and coordinating additional investigation as necessary to make timely and informed decisions to avoid bad faith exposure.

We can provide the following services:

• In house training for your adjusters providing CE Credits.
• Review to ensure that your company is in compliance with the filing of your fraud plan, adjuster training and the reporting of suspected fraud/arson claims.
• Our review of files to identify fraud/arson indicators.
• Case Management of claims involving fraud/arson.
• Subrogation review and assistance with recovery procedures.
• Assist in obtaining the right experts for the job.

Our Special Investigation Support Services Coordinator is Barbara Slawiak. Barbara has over 30 years of claims experience and is recognized as a leader in the fight against insurance fraud and arson. She has testified in depositions and trials throughout the southeast and is considered a skilled professional in the fight against fraud and arson. She has established a team of claims investigative experts and defense attorneys in Florida and Louisiana who have successfully defended these highly complex claims. Barbara has worked for major insurance companies such as United Services Automobile Association (USAA), HomeWise Insurance Company, Colonial Penn Insurance Company and Metropolitan Property & Liability Insurance Company.
She has been affiliated with industry associations such as:
Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention – she has held the position of President and a member of the Board of Directors, annual educational seminar speaker coordinator, and registration chairman, planning committee and instructor.

Tampa Association of Insurance Professionals – Past President and Director.

Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee - annual education committee seminar member and instructor.

Insurance Committee on Arson Prevention – educational seminar committee and instructor.

Certified by the State of Florida as an instructor

Barbara has received the following awards and recognition:
Claims Professional of the Year – Tampa Association of Insurance Professionals and State of Florida

Distinguished Service Award – Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention

Life Time Membership Award – Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention