TOMS RIVER, NJ — Staff from the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) and the American Arbitration Association met with Toms River-area consumers yesterday to assist them in filing insurance claims related to damages caused by the Superstorm Sandy and review cases for participation in the State’s mediation program.

The mediation program, launched in May, allows property owners to submit unresolved automobile and commercial property claims related to Superstorm Sandy to an independent mediator who will review the case and assist in settlement discussions free of charge to the insured.

More than two dozen Toms River residents visited DOBI and American Arbitration Association staff at the Township of Toms River Municipal Building to receive assistance with their claims. Many have applied or will soon apply to participate in the Sandy Mediation Program.

Although 96 percent of the non-flood insurance claims related to Superstorm Sandy in New Jersey have been closed, there are still more than 17,000 claims yet to be settled.

Ocean County has the largest number of unsettled non-flood, Sandy-related claims with 4,020. In Toms River, there are 614 non-flood Sandy-related claims that have not been closed.

To date, there have been 488 requests for mediation from 20 of the state’s 21 counties including 193 from Ocean County. Of the 223 claims mediated so far, 68 percent have been settled in some form.

For more information on mediation, consumers should contact their insurance company directly or contact the American Arbitration Association at www.adr.org/njsandy or by calling 855-366-9774.

The Sandy Mediation Program does not currently include flood claims which are administered by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). However, New Jersey continues to invite the NFIP to include disputed claims in the mediation program. Previously Governor Christie and DOBI Commissioner Ken Kobylowski have hosted more than 30 mobile cabinets or offices in communities including Asbury Park, Brigantine, Sayreville, Oakhurst, Bayville, Brick, Little Ferry, Sea Bright, Union Beach, Neptune, Atlantic Highlands, North Wildwood, Stratford, Highlands, Manasquan, Vineland, Seaside Heights and Mantoloking.